Skydance Productions

Skydance Media, LLC (formerly known as Skydance Productions) is an American production company based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by David Ellison in 2006, the company entered a five-year partnership to co-produce and co-finance films with Paramount Pictures starting in 2009, and renewed the agreement twice extending to 2021. The company specializes in films, animation, television, and video games.

History

Skydance Productions was formed in 2006 by David Ellison. The firm's first film was '' Flyboys'' in 2006, starring Ellison and co-financed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

In the fall of 2009, Skydance and Paramount Pictures signed a five-year co-financing, production and distribution agreement, with Paramount holding the additional option of distribution. Before August 2010, Skydance hired Dana Goldberg, formerly of Village Roadshow Pictures, to oversee development and production. In August 2010, with the Paramount partnership and an equity investment by Ellison's father and Oracle Corporation co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison, who was then the sixth richest person in the world, Skydance raised $350 million in equity and credit to co-finance its films. On October 25, 2011, Skydance tried to sign its own first production client with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci of K/O Paper Products, but the deal was never materialized.

On May 1, 2013, Skydance launched Skydance Television, hiring Marcy Ross as division president. In 2014, Jesse Sisgold joined Skydance as President of Business Affairs & Strategic Planning and later that year was upped to Chief Operating Officer. He was again promoted in 2017 to President & COO. In March 2014, Don Granger joined the company as the EVP of Feature Productions, a newly created position; he reports to Dana Goldberg who is the company's chief creative officer. In March 2015, Anne Globe joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer. Later that same year, Skydance raised $700 million in new financing. The refinancing included $200 million in equity from a group of investors, and a $500 million line of credit from J.P. Morgan Chase. Skydance renewed it slate deal with Paramount in the summer of 2013 for four more years.

On May 3, 2016, Skydance launched the Skydance Interactive division last year following the acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment and announced in January 2017 for a new VR story-driven game titled ''Archangel''. Skydance also created a production label named Uncharted in December 2016 in order to house content that falls outside of the action, sci-fi or fantasy genre. On March 16, 2017, Skydance launched the Skydance Animation division by forming a multi-year partnership with Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios. In August 2017, Skydance and Paramount renewed their slate deal for another four years to 2021, with the addition of Skydance's animated films for distribution. On January 25, 2018, Tencent bought a 5% to 10% minority stake. Jun Oh was hired by Skydance Media as head of theatrical, interactive and legal affairs in October 2018. In February 2020, RedBird Capital Partners and CJ ENM invested in the company.

On October 20, 2021, Skydance tapped veteran producer Jon Weinbach to lead a new sports division called Skydance Sports, a new unit will develop scripted and unscripted sports-related content. In January 2022, Skydance formed a multi-year feature film deal with Apple TV+, ending its deal with Paramount. However, Skydance will continue to work with Paramount on franchises such as '' Mission: Impossible'', Star Trek, Top Gun, Terminator, Jack Ryan, and ''Transformers''. On October 13, 2022, Skydance completed a $400 million strategic investment round led by KKR, a first-time investor, and joined by the Ellison family who remain majority shareholders.

Films

Released

Upcoming

In development

Skydance Television

Skydance Television is a television production company launched by Skydance on May 1, 2013. The division was hired by Marcy Ross as division president, and a month later, Carolyn Harris joined Skydance Television as vice president. However, in January 2020, Marcy Ross left her position and transitioning to an overall producing deal with the media company, where she will continue to serve as executive producer on ''Grace and Frankie'', ''Altered Carbon'', ''Condor'' and ''Foundation''. In her place, Bill Bost has been upped from senior vice president to president of Skydance Television. By November 2022, Bost steps down and launches his own company while Netflix's Matt Thunell takes his place.

In May 2014, Jake Rose joins Skydance Television as EVP Production before in March 2018, Carol Turner joined Skydance to replace Rose on overseeing all physical production at the studio. By July 2014, its first show, ''Manhattan'', was launched on WGN America, reciving critical acclaim throughout its run, but failed to secure adequate ratings, resulting the series cancelled for 2 seasons in 2015.

Later in April 2017, director Sam Raimi signed his first look deal at Skydance Television with his television producing partner Debbie Liebling. By September 2017, a multi-year overall agreement was signed to producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman for Skydance Television after joining on a series based on ''Sword Art Online''. After the 2017 announcement of developing a series adaptation of Isaac Asimov's science fiction book series ''Foundation'' with David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman serving as the production's writers, in 2018, Apple Studios to brought the rights to the series and renewed a second season upon its release in 2021, making it the first Skydance series to air from Apple Inc.. In June 2018, ''Dietland'' aired on AMC for over 10 episodes along with a companion talk show hosted by Aisha Tyler from ''Archer'', under its label company Uncharted.

In September 2019, writer David S. Goyer also signed an deal with Skydance Television for an exclusive multi-year overall agreement as well under his Phantom Four company. On April 2019, '' Daredevil'' writer Lewaa Nasserdeen joins Skydance Television on a overall deal as well while developing a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama series on Showtime. In May 2019, Alison Schapker, showrunner of ''Altered Carbon'', makes a overall deal with Skydance Television to develop various series at the studio, including an US remake of a South Korea series called ''Hotel del Luna''.
By August 2019, writer Olivia Purnell had an overall deal with Skydance Television on writing projects for the studio. In May 2020, Nick Santora was also on an overall deal with Skydance Television with a series starting Arnold Schwarzenegger called ''FUBAR'', soon to be released on Netflix. During the month on the same year, Skydance Television names Drew Brown as head of production with others joining in from various companies.

In December 2020, Skydance Television signed a first look deal with Exile Content Studio to develop and produce scripted English-language series. But by February 2021, the studio also signed a first look deal with Impact, a global talent network and development accelerator program owned by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer for television productions. On November 2021, Peter Johnson joins Skydance Television as a television executive reporting for Bill Bost.

Television series

Released

Upcoming

Scrapped projects

Skydance Interactive

Skydance Interactive (formerally known as ''The Workshop Entertainment'') is a game division launched on May 5, 2016, focusing on developing ambitious titles, managing projects licenses to other developers, and software developing innovative game mechanics and for VR and emerging platforms.

In May 2017, Chris Hewish was hired as EVP Interactive help to set and execute overall strategy for Skydance Interactive, and oversee development, partnerships, and new business opportunities.
On July 18, 2017, its first VR game, ''Archangel'' was launched. The game recently expanded into an online multiplayer upgrade, ''Archangel: Hellfire''. Two days later, Skydance Interactive revealed their second original game called ''PWND'', an multiplayer free to play game released on April 6, 2018, where players uses Pwns to win.

In 2018, Skydance Interactive partnered with Skybound Entertainment to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of ''The Walking Dead'' universe. ''The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners'' and ''The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution'' were to be the inaugural titles co-developed by the two companies.

Games

Released

Upcoming

Skydance Animation

Skydance Animation is the animation division of Skydance Media, which focuses on animated feature films and television series, founded on March 16, 2017. Its first film was ''Luck'' with its first short film was '' Blush''.

Skydance New Media

Skydance New Media is a video game development studio founded by Skydance in November 18, 2019, led by Amy Hennig.

In October 2021, the studio announced a planned collaboration with Marvel Entertainment for an action-adventure game. In April 2022, it was announced that Lucasfilm Games would collaborate to make a game based in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Some have speculated that the game will be a revival of ''Project Ragtag'', which was also led by Henning.

In August 2022, Marvel's parent corporation The Walt Disney Company announced their intentions to showcase a slate of video games based on their IP at the joint ''Disney & Marvel Games Showcase'', which would be taking place in conjunction with the company's annual D23 Expo in person and through broadcast on multiple streaming platforms. Alongside the announcement, Disney stated that the panel would also debut a "sneak peek" at Skydance New Media's Marvel title, which was described as being an "ensemble game". During the showcase in September 9, 2022, the Marvel project confirmed prior reports that it would be set during World War II and that Captain America and Azzuri / Black Panther would feature as the main characters in the ensemble, alongside Gabriel Jones of the Howling Commandos unit and Nanali, leader of the Wakandan Spy Network, while the Hydra organization would serve as the main villains.

Games

Skydance Sports

Skydance Sports is a sports content division launched by Skydance on October 20, 2021, led by Jon Weinbach.

In January 2022, Skydance Sports sets up a partnership with Meadowlark Media for the production of unscripted sports content. One of their projects is a soccer documentary series called ''Good Rivals'', originally called ''Good Neighbors'', a three-part series coming on Amazon Prime Video around the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which begins on November 24, 2022. The second project would follow the chronciles of Diana Taurasi, most accomplished player in the history of women's basketball.

In March 2022, Religion of Sports signs up with Skydance Sports to develop, finance and produce a slate of sports-related content for multiple platforms, starting with a series called ''The Owl'', created and executive produced by Michael Perri and directed by Aurora Guerrero. In April 2022, Skydance Sports signed their first film being picked up at Amazon Studios based on Nike Inc, with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon teaming to rewrite the script and star in the film, with Affleck to direct. On October 12, 2022, Kylian Mbappé and his production banner, Zebra Valley, have signed a multiyear first-look deal with Skydance Sports.

On November 3, 2022, Skydance Sports teams up with America's Cup for an "all-access, behind-the-scenes" documentary series on the next America's Cup race, helmed by original ''Free Solo'' team Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin under their production company Little Monster Films. By the same month, NFL annouced a partnership to create the premier global multi-sports production studio in the industry with Skydance Sports.

References

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Skydance Media
Film production companies of the United States
Television production companies of the United States
Companies based in Santa Monica, California
Mass media companies established in 2006
American companies established in 2006
2006 establishments in California
Entertainment companies based in California