Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish concluding MBO of Imaginarium

Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish are in the final stages of conducting a management buy out of the Imaginarium studio which they founded, citing creative differences with the investors which had been funding the project. Current work will not be affected, management has confirmed, with several projects in the works due for release over the next 12 months.

Although founded primarily as a motion-capture and production house, Imaginarium has also recently increased its involvement in the world of games, hiring Gina Jackson to head up all games activities. In January last year, the company formed a partnership with Creative England which saw them become an indie publisher, although that deal is yet to result in any published games.

Currently, the company is involved in an interesting game adaptation of the forthcoming Planet of the Apes movie, which is being handled by Martin Alltimes' company Imaginati. Operating in close partnership and from the same campus, Imaginarium and Imaginati are nonetheless separate entities. A statement released this morning indicates that work continues on the project and that Imaginarium will publish the game in December, under licence from 20th Century Fox.

More news is expected on the buy out and its ramifications later today.