Utopia Welcomes Greg Lauritano as Producer to Boost Original Productions at Sundance
Greg Lauritano Joins Utopia Originals Ahead of Sundance Premiere
As anticipation builds for the Sundance Film Festival, producer Greg Lauritano is set to enhance Utopia’s New York operations by joining Utopia Originals. Founded by Robert Schwartzman, Utopia Originals operates as a standalone entity, developing feature and episodic content while securing global distribution deals with major studios including Universal, Sony, and Lionsgate.
Utopia Originals has recently gained recognition for its award-winning projects, such as Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, which was released by Roadside Attractions in 2024. Lauritano’s new role is expected to usher in a focus on higher-budget independent films featuring established talent.
Lauritano’s latest production, The Musical, will have its world premiere at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah, on Sunday as part of Sundance’s U.S. dramatic competition. Directed by Giselle Bonilla and featuring stars Will Brill, Rob Lowe, and Gillian Jacobs, the film tells the story of a disillusioned playwright and middle school theater teacher determined to sabotage the principal, his rival, after learning of the principal’s new romance with his ex-girlfriend.
In addition to The Musical, Lauritano is also involved with Family Movie, which will premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival in March. Directed by and starring Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, the film features their children, Travis and Sosie.
Further expanding his portfolio, Lauritano produced the British gothic-horror film The Dreadful, starring Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, and Marcia Gay Harden, which will be released in theaters next month by Lionsgate. Additionally, he collaborated with Sofia Coppola on Fairyland, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film boasted an impressive cast including Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy, and Geena Davis, achieving a significant 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and receiving a nomination for a GLAAD Award.
Notable prior works of Lauritano include Bleeding Love and Big Gold Brick, showcasing a diverse array of storytelling and talent.
“I’ve been an admirer of Utopia for a long time,” Lauritano stated. “The company occupies a vital space in the independent film world, championing bold filmmakers with distinctive voices. I’m thrilled to have built a relationship with the team, as well as directly with Robert, whose range of talents and impeccable taste are truly inspiring.”
Robert Schwartzman echoed Lauritano’s sentiments, noting the importance of trust and collaboration in advancing projects amid current market uncertainties. “Greg has those qualities, and we’re looking forward to growing Utopia’s original content division together,” he added.
Utopia Originals has also gained attention for recent projects such as Pavements and The Good Half, along with the critically acclaimed documentary Hung Up On A Dream: The Zombies, featuring executive producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.
Utopia’s catalog includes prominent titles such as Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, Gaspar Noé’s Vortex, and Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby. Lauritano continues to be represented by WME Independent.
