Suspected of swindling investors of the Beijing-based VFX and animation company, as well as Knightsbridge Entertainment, out of at least $234 million, the former producer died of liver failure on July 31 in Blackpool, with his alleged co-conspirator still at large.
Remington Chase, previously accused of swindling investors out of at least $234 million, reportedly died of liver failure on July 31 in Blackpool, U.K., according to Variety. While his passing was confirmed by his wife, Linda Biron, and comes with an official death certificate, skepticism surrounds the truth of the news due to his ongoing litigation with numerous parties claiming fraud.
“He was only interested in raising money to make a good movie,” Biron stated. “Everybody will blame him for everything. They can’t go after him anymore. He’s at peace.”
BASE FX, a leading Chinese VFX and animation company that has worked on shows like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Mandalorian, was the first party to file a lawsuit claiming fraud by two Americans who impersonated CEO Chris Bremble, forged documents, and scammed investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars. Bremble’s BASE Media produced the 3DCG animated comedy Wish Dragon, which debuted on Netflix June 11, 2021.
The suit alleged that Remington Chase and partner Kevin Robl had been engaged with the company in multiple financing arrangements and a joint venture in Malaysia over the course of several years. However, the company discovered the two had used those arrangements to deceive financiers into loaning or otherwise investing in the company and its projects to the tune of more than $234 million.
“While many questions remain unanswered, Remington Chase knowingly defrauded hundreds of victims through forgery and identity theft as confirmed by a California court and should be remembered for his crimes,” Bremble told AWN. “BASE [Media] remains committed to its clients, partners, teams, and to working with the victims of Chase’s criminal activity to recover what was lost. We will tell our story - so that this may never happen again - in due time.”
Variety originally reported that BASE FX claimed Chase and Robl had forged the CEO’s signature on investment documents, created fake entities and bank accounts, has an imposter pose as the CEO on calls with investors, and even setup a fake company office in Pasadena, California.
An SEC civil case against Chase was announced in September 2020 alleging he swindled investors in another company, Knightsbridge Entertainment; according to the complaint, of the $62 million raised, only 1/3 went to its stated purpose. In November 2020, BASE FX investors began demanding repayment on company loans made through Chase and Robl, at which time the company began to uncover the various forgeries used to secure money it had no idea had been raised.
Chase and Robl never responded in court to any of the lawsuits filed, and this past June BASE Media was granted a $10 million default judgment against the duo, stripping Chase of his 5% stock in the company as well as a 15% share of profits from Wish Dragon.
Chase has left a trail of other parties searching for the products of their investments. Actor and producer Dan Andreiu claims to have been in contact with the deceased over the months leading up to his death, and had even sent money for a mystery film project and a Hummer. Andreiu reportedly never received the Hummer.
Cybersecurity specialist by day, investigative journalist by night.
