Amblin Partners

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Storyteller Distribution Co., LLC
Amblin Partners, LLC.
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryEntertainment
PredecessorDreamWorks SKG
FoundedDecember 16, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12-16)
Founders
Headquarters
Universal City, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
  • Motion pictures
  • Television
Owners
Divisions
Websiteamblin.com

Storyteller Distribution Co., LLC, doing business as Amblin Partners, LLC., is an American entertainment production company. It develops and produces films under the Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures banners, as well as television series through Amblin Television. The company's investment partners include Reliance Group's Reliance Entertainment, Lionsgate, Alibaba Group's Alibaba Pictures, and NBCUniversal/Comcast's Universal Pictures.[3] Films produced by Amblin Partners are primarily distributed by Universal in North America and select international territories, and by third-party distributors through Mister Smith Entertainment in other countries.[4][5]

History

Amblin Partners, LLC. was founded by Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll of Participant Media, Anil Ambani of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, and Darren Throop of Entertainment One on December 16, 2015. The company primarily would focus on producing and distributing films and television using the DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, and Participant Media brands.[6] For films, it uses the original DreamWorks label for mature content, Amblin label for family-friendly content (with the exception of Maestro, which is rated R), and Participant label for social justice content, although the latter remained a separate company.[7]

On the same day as the company's formation, Amblin Partners announced that it entered into a five-year distribution deal with Universal Pictures by which the films would be distributed and marketed by either the main Universal banner or its specialty label, Focus Features.[4][8] The Girl on the Train was the first film released under the deal.[9] Mister Smith Entertainment, which began its international distribution deal with DreamWorks on August 2012,[10] continued to handle distribution sales for Amblin Partners in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.[5]

On October 9, 2016, Amblin Partners struck a deal with China's Alibaba Pictures, in which Alibaba acquired a minority equity stake in the company and would handle marketing, distribution support, and merchandising of Amblin Partners films in China in addition to co-financing Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures films worldwide.[1][11] On February 15, 2017, Comcast's Universal acquired a minority stake in Amblin Partners,[12] strengthening the relationship between Universal and Amblin.[2]

On December 18, 2017, Amblin Partners signed a music publishing deal with BMG Rights Management, covering music from its films and television series.[13]

On August 22, 2019, Hasbro announced that it would acquire Entertainment One for at least $4 billion. The acquisition was completed on December 30, 2019, resulting in the toy company inheriting Entertainment One's stake in Amblin Partners.[14] On November 30, 2020, Amblin Partners renewed its distribution deal with Universal, which continued to be an equity stake holder.[15] That same month however, Participant terminated its equity stake in Amblin Partners, ending its relationship with the company.[15]

On June 21, 2021, Amblin Partners inked a multi-year deal to produce "multiple new feature films per year" for Netflix.[16]

On November 17, 2022, Hasbro announced that was selling part of Entertainment One's TV and film business not directly supporting their Branded Entertainment strategy, which included their stake in Amblin Partners.[17][18] In March 2023, Deadline reported that Lionsgate (which Hasbro attempted to acquire in 2017), Fremantle, and Legendary Entertainment were among bidders for the assets of Entertainment One.[19] The following month, it was reported Lionsgate, Legendary, and GoDigital Media Group were among the potential buyers, with Fremantle dropping out of contention following an increase in the selling price, which was beyond what the company was willing to pay for the assets.[20] On April 20, 2023, it was reported that Hasbro was in talks with Throop, whose bid was backed by CVC Capital Partners, on the possibility of buying the company back.[21] On July 11, 2023, Amblin Partners announced it entered a partnership with its distributor, Universal, where the latter will co-finance Amblin's productions, as Amblin announced it would lay off 20% of its staff.[22] In the same month Deadline reported that Lionsgate was a frontrunner to acquire Entertainment One, with Legendary and GoDigital still among the potential buyers and Throop attempting to launch another bid for the company after his previous attempt with CVC failed.[23] On August 3, 2023, Lionsgate announced it would acquire Entertainment One from Hasbro for $500 million, with the transaction closed on December 27, 2023.[24]

Film library

Released

Title Release date Label Other production companies Distributor
The BFG July 1, 2016 Amblin Entertainment Walt Disney Pictures, Walden Media and Reliance Entertainment Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Light Between Oceans September 2, 2016 DreamWorks Pictures Touchstone Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, Participant Media and Heyday Films
The Girl on the Train October 7, 2016 Reliance Entertainment and Marc Platt Productions Universal Pictures
Office Christmas Party December 9, 2016 Reliance Entertainment, Entertainment 360 and Bluegrass Films Paramount Pictures
A Dog's Purpose January 27, 2017 Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment, Walden Media and Pariah Entertainment Group Universal Pictures
Ghost in the Shell March 31, 2017 DreamWorks Pictures Reliance Entertainment, Grosvenor Park Productions, Seaside Entertainment and Arad Productions Paramount Pictures
Thank You for Your Service October 27, 2017 Reliance Entertainment and Rahway Road Productions Universal Pictures[25]
The Post December 22, 2017 Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures Reliance Entertainment, Pascal Pictures and Star Thrower Entertainment 20th Century Fox[25]
7 Days in Entebbe March 16, 2018 Participant Media Working Title Films Focus Features
The House with a Clock in Its Walls September 21, 2018 Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment and Mythology Entertainment Universal Pictures
First Man October 12, 2018 DreamWorks Pictures Temple Hill Entertainment, Phantasma Films, and Perfect World Pictures
Green Book November 16, 2018 Participant Media, Innisfree Pictures and Cinetic Media
Welcome to Marwen December 21, 2018 ImageMovers and Perfect World Pictures
On the Basis of Sex December 25, 2018 Participant Media Robert Cort Productions Focus Features
Captive State March 15, 2019 Lightfuse & Gettaway
A Dog's Journey May 17, 2019 Amblin Entertainment Walden Media and Pariah Entertainment Group Universal Pictures
Dark Waters November 22, 2019 Participant Killer Films Focus Features
1917 December 25, 2019 DreamWorks Pictures New Republic Pictures, Neal Street Productions and Mogambo Universal Pictures
The Turning January 24, 2020 Vertigo Entertainment[26]
Come Play October 30, 2020 Amblin Partners The Picture Company and Reliance Entertainment Focus Features[27]
Stillwater July 30, 2021 Participant and DreamWorks Pictures Slow Pony, Anonymous Content, 3dot Productions and Supernatural Pictures
Finch November 5, 2021 Amblin Entertainment ImageMovers, Misher Films and Walden Media Apple TV+
Easter Sunday August 5, 2022 DreamWorks Pictures Rideback Universal Pictures
The Good House September 30, 2022 Participant and DreamWorks Pictures Roadside Attractions, Faliro House, Reliance Entertainment and FilmNation Entertainment Lionsgate
The Fabelmans November 11, 2022 Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment Universal Pictures
The Last Voyage of the Demeter August 11, 2023 DreamWorks Pictures Reliance Entertainment, Storyworks Productions, Studio Babelsberg, Phoenix Pictures and Wise Owl Media[28]
Maestro[29] November 22, 2023 Amblin Entertainment Sikelia Productions, Fred Berner Films and Joint Effort Netflix
The Color Purple[30] December 25, 2023 OW Films, SGS Pictures, Quincy Jones Productions and Domain Entertainment Warner Bros. Pictures

Upcoming

Title Release date Label Other production companies Film distributor
Twisters July 19, 2024 Amblin Entertainment The Kennedy/Marshall Company Universal Pictures
Carry-On[31] 2024 Dylan Clark Productions Netflix
Untitled Jurassic World film[32] July 2, 2025 The Kennedy/Marshall Company Universal Pictures
Untitled Bee Gees biopic 2025[33] Scott Free Productions, GK Films and Sister Films Paramount Pictures
Distant[34] TBA DreamWorks Pictures Automatik Entertainment and Six Foot Turkey Productions Universal Pictures

In development

Title Label Other production companies Film distributor
Arachnophobia[35] TBA Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster TBA
Apeirogon[36] TBA
American Reaper[37] Intrepid Pictures
Assassins Anonymous[38] TBA
Beautiful Ruins[39] Neal Street Productions
Carrier[40] Automatik Entertainment and QCode
Cheshire Crossing[41] Michael De Luca Productions
Confessions in B-Flat[42] Orit Entertainment and Marcy Place Productions
Hamnet[43] Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions and Book of Shadows
Homecoming Queen[44] TBA
Miss Macy[45]
Super in Love[46]
Stage 13[47]
The Act[48]
The Bear[49] Marc Platt Productions
The Exchange[50] Escape Artists
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August[51] Blueprint Pictures and OddBall Entertainment
The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara[52] DreamWorks Pictures Spielberg/Krieger[53]
The Light of Days[54] TBA TBA
The Richest Black Girl in America[55]
The Switch[56]
The Thursday Murder Club[57] Amblin Entertainment
Untitled Jutta Kleinschmidt biopic[58] TBA 87North Productions and Devonsheer Media
Untitled true-life show choir film[59] Safehouse Pictures
Upgrade[60] TBA

References

  1. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (October 9, 2016). "Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners Inks Strategic Pact With Alibaba Pictures". Variety. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Perry, Spencer (February 15, 2017). "Universal Studios Buys a Minority Stake in Amblin Partners". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  3. ^ "DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One Form Amblin Partners, a New Film, Television and Digital Content Creation Company". Participant. December 16, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Lang, Brent (December 16, 2015). "Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Bring Amblin Partners, LLC. to Universal". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  5. ^ a b McNary, Dave (November 4, 2016). "AFM: Mister Smith Pacts Power its Picture Pipeline". Variety. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Cieply, Michael (December 16, 2015). "Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Studios in Deal to Form New Company". The New York Times. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Relaunches as Amblin Partners". The Wall Street Journal. December 16, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  8. ^ Busch, Anita (December 16, 2015). "It's Official: Spielberg, DreamWorks, Participant, eOne, Others Pact For Amblin Partners". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  9. ^ Pamela McClintock; Gregg Kilday (December 16, 2015). "Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Team to Form Amblin Partners, Strike Distribution Deal With Universal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  10. ^ Fritz, Ben (August 29, 2012). "DreamWorks replaces Disney with new international partner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  11. ^ Faughnder, Ryan (February 15, 2017). "Universal buys minority stake in Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  12. ^ Lieberman, David (February 15, 2017). "Universal Buys Minority Stake In Amblin Partners". Deadline. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  13. ^ "Amblin Partners Inks Exclusive Music-Publishing Deal With BMG". December 18, 2017.
  14. ^ Low, Elaine (August 22, 2019). "Hasbro Acquires Entertainment One in $4 Billion All-Cash Deal". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Lang, Brent (November 30, 2020). "Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners Extends Deal With Universal". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Spielberg's Amblin inks multiyear feature film deal with Netflix". TechCrunch. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Hasbro Puts eOne up for Sale Less Than 3 Years After Closing $3.8 Billion Acquisition". Variety. November 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Hasbro Initiates Sale Process for eOne TV and Film Business". Hasbro. November 17, 2022.
  19. ^ "eOne: Fremantle, Lionsgate & Legendary In Pursuit Of Hasbro Company As Sale Process Enters Final Stage". Deadline Hollywood. March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 17, 2023). "eOne: Lionsgate & Legendary Remain Among 4 Potential Buyers As Hasbro Company Sale Nears Finish Line". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  21. ^ Shaw, Lucas; Buckley, Thomas (April 20, 2023). "Hasbro Is in Talks to Sell 'Yellowjackets' Studio to Its Founder". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "Amblin Partners And Universal Pictures Set New Multi-Year Partnership As Amblin Expects Future Job Cuts". July 11, 2023.
  23. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Andreeva, Nellie (July 17, 2023). "Lionsgate In Pole Position On Entertainment One Acquisition: The Dish". Deadline. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "Hasbro to Sell eOne Film & TV Business to Lionsgate" (Press release). August 3, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Film releases". Variety Insight. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  26. ^ Hermanns, Grant (September 27, 2018). "How to Train Your Dragon 3 Release Date Moved Up One Week". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  27. ^ Douglas, Edward (February 12, 2018). "Amblin Partners, Picture Co. Turning Jacob Chase Horror Short "Larry" into Feature". The Tracking Board. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  28. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 27, 2021). "Corey Hawkins To Star In 'Last Voyage Of The Demeter' For Amblin And André Øvredal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 10, 2018). "Bradley Cooper To Star In & Direct Leonard Bernstein Movie As Dueling Biopics Tune Up". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  30. ^ Kit, Borys (November 2, 2018). "Spielberg, Oprah Bringing 'Color Purple' to Big Screen (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  31. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 27, 2022). "Taron Egerton To Star In Thriller 'Carry On' For Jaume Collet-Serra, Amblin And Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  32. ^ Vary, Adam (January 22, 2024). "New 'Jurassic World' Movie in the Works From Franchise's Original Screenwriter David Koepp". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  33. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 30, 2022). "'Once' Director John Carney To Direct Bee Gees Biopic For Paramount; John Logan To Pen Script". Deadline. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  34. ^ "Naomi Scott to Star in Sci-Fi Amblin Movie 'Distant'". The Hollywood Reporter. August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  35. ^ Kit, Borys (June 2, 2022). "Christopher Landon to Write, Direct 'Arachnophobia' Remake for Amblin Partners (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  36. ^ Vlessing, Etan (May 27, 2020). "Luke Davies to Adapt 'Apeirogon' Novel for Amblin (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  37. ^ "Pat Mills and Clint Langley’s “American Reaper” optioned for the big screen" by John Freeman, at downthetubes.net, 22 August 2020
  38. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 13, 2023). "Amblin Partners Lands Feature Rights To Rob Hart's 'Assassins Anonymous'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  39. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 13, 2020). "Post '1917' Oscar Success, Sam Mendes & Pippa Harris' 'Beautiful Ruins' Moves From Fox 2000 To Amblin". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  40. ^ McNary, Dave (February 12, 2020). "Cynthia Erivo to Star in Film Adaptation of Her Podcast 'Carrier'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  41. ^ Kit, Borys (November 15, 2019). "Amblin, Michael De Luca Tackling 'Martian' Author's Fantasy Graphic Novel 'Cheshire Crossing' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  42. ^ Jackson, Angelique (March 9, 2023). "Octavia Spencer, Amblin Partners' Kristie Macosko Krieger to Produce Film Adaptation of Donna Hill's 'Confessions in B-Flat' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  43. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 4, 2023). "Chloé Zhao To Direct Adaptation Of Maggie O'Farrell's Novel 'Hamnet' For Amblin Partners, Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions and Book of Shadows". Deadline. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  44. ^ Kit, Borys (July 7, 2020). "Tiffany Haddish, Amblin Team for Comedy 'Homecoming Queen' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  45. ^ Vlessing, Etan (May 27, 2020). "Jean Smart to Star in 'Miss Macy' Drama for Amblin Partners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  46. ^ Vlessling, Etan (September 23, 2021). "Peter Farrelly to Direct 'Super In Love' Comedy for Amblin Partners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  47. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 22, 2020). "Amblin Lands Rights To The Simon Rich Short Story 'Stage 13' With Edgar Wright On Board To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  48. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 2, 2021). "Amblin Taps 'The Act' Writer Michelle Dean To Pen 'Stolen Time'; Tells True Story Of Wrongfully Convicted Death Row Inmate Sonia "Sunny" Jacobs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  49. ^ Galuppo, Mia (January 30, 2020). "Amblin, Marc Platt Team for High School Comedy 'The Bear' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  50. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 12, 2022). "Amblin Lands Sci-Fi Pic 'The Exchange' From 'Outer Range' Creator Brian Watkins And Escape Artists". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  51. ^ McNary, Dave (April 29, 2020). "Film News Roundup: 'Maze Runner' Director Boards 'First Fifteen Lives of Harry August'". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  52. ^ Masters, Kim (June 16, 2016). "Steven Spielberg on DreamWorks' Past, Amblin's Present and His Own Future". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  53. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 11, 2016). "Mark Rylance to Reteam With Steven Spielberg in 'The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara'". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  54. ^ D'Nuka, Amanda (November 2, 2020). "Amblin Partners Adapting Judy Batalion's 'The Light of Days' Book; Batalion & 'The Current War' Scribe Michael Mitnick Scripting". Deadline Holywood. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  55. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 18, 2021). "'Bridgerton' Writer Azia Squire To Adapt 'The Richest Black Girl In America' For Amblin". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  56. ^ Gallupo, Mia (May 12, 2020). "Rachel Brosnahan to Star in Dramedy 'The Switch' for Amblin". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  57. ^ "Richard Osman: "We are obsessed with young people"". RTÉ. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  58. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 20, 2020). "Amblin, David Leitch and Kelly McCormick Team on Jutta Kleinschmidt Biopic (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  59. ^ Galuppo, Mia (March 3, 2020). "Amblin, 'John Wick 3' Producer Team for Real-Life Show Choir Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  60. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 10, 2022). "Amblin Lands Rights To 'Wayward Pines' Author Blake Crouch's Upcoming Sci-Fi Thriller 'Upgrade'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2023.

External links