Conservative Koch Brothers Are Secret Investors in 'Wonder Woman'

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Though they might be the most reviled figures among Hollywood's liberal crowd, the Koch brothers have been a silent investor in Warner Bros.' slate of movies for four years.

Sources say Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch — who are worth a combined $96.2 billion and wield enormous power in political circles as major backers of right-wing politicians — took a significant stake valued at tens of millions of dollars in RatPac-Dune Entertainment. Now-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin brought the brothers in as investors as part of a $450 million deal struck in 2013 — a move that was never disclosed because RatPac-Dune is a private company.

Though Mnuchin is no longer involved with the slate financing facility, having recently put his stake into a blind trust in order to avoid a conflict of interest, the Koch brothers continue to be stakeholders in such films as Wonder Woman, Dunkirk and Steven Spielberg's upcoming Ready Player One.

A RatPac spokesperson didn't respond to a request. A spokesperson for Koch Industries says, "Charles Koch, David Koch and Koch Industries do not have any involvement with this investment."

Read more: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/conservative-koch-brothers-are-secret-investors-wonder-woman-1027376

[leftynyc]

1. David Koch lives in NY and has

been heavily involved with the arts for many years. They named what was the New York State Theater (part of Lincoln Center complex where the NYC Ballet dances) the David Koch theater a few years ago. Now it stands directly across from what used to be Avery Fisher Hall where the Philharmonic plays now named the David Geffen theater.

[RhodeIslandOne]

5. It's why Mika and Joe defend him n/m

[7962]

6. Along with the hospital that treated Larry O'Donnell after his serious accident

On his show he said that center ws a direct result of many millions in donations

[leftynyc]

9. I still flip that building the bird

whenever I'm heading to the opera house and will as long as his name is on it. But he does give a boatload to the arts.

[7962]

16. HA!

[LakeArenal]

2. Buying the world so you can't have it.. nt

[LeftInTX]

3. This is why it is hard to boycott the Kochs

They have their hands in just about everything: Including PBS and NPR

[Doc Coco]

4. Then I'll boycott Wonder Woman

to deny Koch brothers any profits dervied from me.

[leftynyc]

11. It's a terrific movie

I would have to stop going to Lincoln Center to cut koch off and that's never going to happen.

[obamanut2012]

15. lulz

[geek tragedy]

7. meh, not everyone in Hollywood is going to share my politics.

I'm going to see Clint Eastwood films because he makes good ones.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I generally agree

unless somebody goes bonkers (like Mel Gibson), I tend to be more concerned about the quality of their movie or TV show.

I used to love a lot of Gibson's movies (Lethal Weapon 1 and 2, Mad Max, Road Warrior, Braveheart, etc), but I've found it hard to like his newer movies or even rewatch those older ones now.

[geek tragedy]

12. easier to enjoy films he directs instead of where he stars in them

Braveheart has some pretty gross homophobia in it, as well as having Gibson in it.

Apocalypto was fairly entertaining.

[NewJeffCT]

13. True

Looking back, I did watch Hacksaw Ridge when I was flying back from China earlier this year.

That said, wasn't it the bad guy in Braveheart that was homophobic and killed his gay son?

[geek tragedy]

14. the film had the bad guy killing his gay son's lover, for comedic effect

It was timed and orchestrated to make people snicker at the murder.

Also the film explicitly juxtaposed the effeminate, homosexual son vs the "real man" Gibson.

Just gross.

[7962]

17. My favorite Gibson movie is "Payback". Dont think it did great at the box office though

Also thought the one where he suddenly knows what women want was a funny one.

[BigmanPigman]

8. They fund a lot on PBS too.