Bevan returned to England and went into business, setting up Aldabra, a music video production company. In 1984 Aldabra evolved into the London-based Working Title Films, its first feature was the box office success and critically acclaimed MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (1985) directed by Stephen Frears. In 1991, Working Title linked up with Polygram, Sarah Radclyffe, co-founder of Working Title, left the company at this point to remain an independent filmmaker. Eric Fellner, who had previously produced films including THE RACHEL PAPERS (1989) and HIDDEN AGENDA (1990), filled Radclyffe's departure. Polygram has later absorbed into Universal Pictures, allowing Bevan greater access to Hollywood money and Universall's world distribution network. Bevan and Fellner's production company has overseen such hits as FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994), BEAN (1997), ELIZABETH (1998), NOTTING HILL (1999), BILLY ELLIOTT (2000) and BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001).
Bevan's other producing or executive producing credits include HIGH FIDELITY, O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? and THE MAN WHO CRIED (both 2000), CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN, "Further Tales of the City" (TV mini-series) and THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE (all 2001), LONG TIME DEAD, 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, ABOUT A BOY, THE GURU and MY LITTLE EYE (all 2002), THIRTEEN, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, NED KELLY, JOHNNY ENGLISH, THE ITALIAN JOB and LOVE ACTUALLY (all 2003), THE CALCIUM KID, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, THUNDERBIRDS, MICKYBO AND ME, WIMBLEDON, INSIDE I'M DANCING and BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON (all 2004), THE INTERPRETER, PRIDE & PREJUDICE and NANNY McPHEE (all 2005), NO. 2, UNITED 93, CATCH A FIRE, SIXTY SIX and SMOKIN' ACES (all 2006), HOT FUZZ, GONE, MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY, YOUNG AT HEART, ATONEMENT, ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, DEFINITELY, MAYBE, FROST/NIXON, WILD CHILD, HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE, BURN AFTER READING, THE SOLOIST and RACHEL'S HOLIDAY (all 2008), and upcoming productions of GREEN ZONE, STATE OF PLAY, THE BOAT THAT ROCKED and THE TROUBLESHOOTER (all announced for 2009) and BRAN MAK MORN (announced for 2010).
Bevan's first wife was Amy Gadney; they have 2 children. He was married to actress Joely Richardson from 1992 to 2001; they have a child. Bevan was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to the film industry.
Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 1998: ELIZABETH - Producer at Working Title Productions (w. Alison Owen & Eric Fellner)
Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 2007: ATONEMENT - Producer at Working Title Productions (w.Eric Fellner & Paul Webster)
2 nominations