 Logo used since 2019 | |
 Legendary Entertainment headquarters at the Pointe office building in Burbank | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Thomas Tull |
| Headquarters | 2900 West Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California 91505 , United States |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | 153[1] |
| Parent | Legendary's management Apollo Global Management (co-owners) |
| Divisions |
|
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | www |
Legendary Entertainment, LLC[3] (also known as Legendary Pictures or simply Legendary) is an American mass media and film production company based in Burbank, California, founded by Thomas Tull in 2000. The company has often collaborated with the major studios, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures, as well as streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.
In 2016, Legendary became a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group, with American equity firm Apollo buying a minority stake in 2022.[4] In 2024, Legendary Entertainment bought out Wanda's stake, making Legendary and Apollo equal partners.[5]
History
Thomas Tull founded Legendary Entertainment with co-founders, Jon Jashni, Larry Clark, William Fay and Scott Mednick[6][7][8] after raising $500 million from private equity firms.[9] It was one of the first companies of its kind to pair major motion picture production with major Wall Street private equity and hedge fund investors, including ABRY Partners, AIG Direct Investments, Bank of America Capital Investors, Columbia Capital, Falcon Investment Advisors, and M/C Venture Partners.[10] Legendary Pictures, Inc. was incorporated in California and in 2005 it signed an agreement with Warner Bros. to co-produce and co-finance up to 40 films over seven years.[10]
In 2010, Tull, Fidelity Investments, and Fortress Investment Group bought all the shares of the original investors. The buyout also included a $25 million investment by Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment. Following the transaction, Tull became the largest shareholder, thus enabling him to more easily direct the company's operations.[11] Golden Harvest later sold its stake in the company for $30 million.[12] In 2011, Accel Partners bought $40 million-worth of shares and Accel partner Jim Breyer joined the company's board of directors.[13] That same year the company was reported to have been valued at more than $1 billion.[10]
In September 2011, Legendary Pictures Chief Creative Officer Jon Jashni was appointed to the new position of President and Chief Creative Officer of the parent company, Legendary Entertainment.[14] William Fay left Legendary Pictures in September 2011.[15] In December 2012, Waddell & Reed bought around 20% of Legendary's shares for $443 million.[16]
On July 10, 2013, Legendary reached an agreement with Universal Pictures in which it would market, co-finance, and distribute Legendary's films for five years starting in 2014, the year that Legendary's similar agreement with Warner Bros. expired.[17] In October 2014, SoftBank bought $250 million shares in Legendary for a 10% stake. The transaction increased the company's total value to around $3 billion.[18]
In 2014, Legendary acquired the television producer Asylum Entertainment, which made ESPN's 30 for 30 and miniseries The Kennedys, for $100 million, with Asylum Entertainment to continue operating as a separate company.[19][20]
On January 11, 2016, Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group announced that it had concluded an agreement with shareholders to acquire Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion, making it the largest acquisition of an American media company by a Chinese firm.[21]
In March 2016, it was announced that Jon Jashni had decided, on the heels of the sale, to leave the company to establish Raintree Ventures, a media investment and advisory firm.[22]
On January 17, 2017, it was announced that Tull had exited as Legendary Entertainment CEO.[23] He was replaced by the senior vice president of Wanda's cultural industry group, Jack Gao, as interim CEO.[24]
On October 17, 2017, it was reported that Gao stepped down from his positions at Legendary Entertainment and Wanda Group.[25][26] The resignation comes after an announcement by Wanda's chairman Wang Jianlin earlier that year that Wanda would refocus its investments onto the Chinese domestic market in an attempt to "actively respond to the call of the country".[25] This, in turn, is thought to be a consequence of the Chinese government banning Chinese banks from providing loans to Wanda Group's foreign operations, which was intended to stop the firm's offshore acquisition plans.[27]
On December 5, 2017, it was announced that Joshua Grode had been named as Legendary Entertainment CEO.[28]
On August 13, 2018, following the box office failure of several films including Blackhat, Seventh Son, Steve Jobs, Crimson Peak, Warcraft, The Great Wall, Pacific Rim Uprising and Skyscraper, the distribution deal between Legendary and Universal ended and a new agreement was reached to return to Warner Bros.[29]
In December 2020, Variety and Deadline Hollywood reported that Legendary Entertainment, financiers, and talent with backend deals were not pleased with WarnerMedia's multi-release plans and non-transparent intentions. Legendary was not given advanced notice of the multi-release decision nor given a say in how Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong would be distributed. The studio planned to have discussions with Warner Bros. regarding a more "generous deal" however legal action was considered.[30][31] A few weeks later, Deadline reported that the film could keep its HBO Max release but only if Warner Bros. matches Netflix's $250 million bid.[32] In January 2021, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a legal battle was averted due to Legendary and WarnerMedia nearing an agreement to keep the film's simultaneous release.[33]
On April 30, 2021, the company hired LionTree Advisors to explore possible deals, including the possibility of merging with a SPAC, making acquisitions, or finding partners.[34] On July 22, 2021, it was announced that Legendary is looking for a merger instead of a SPAC.[35] On January 31, 2022, a minority stake in Legendary was sold to Apollo Global Management, with Wanda still remaining the majority owner.[4]
On August 31, 2022, following the lapse of their deal with Warner Bros., Legendary Entertainment began seeking a new partnership, with Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures among the companies interested.[36]
On November 28, 2022, Legendary Entertainment reached an agreement with Sony Pictures in which Sony would market, co-finance, and distribute Legendary's films with the exception of China where Legendary East would handle all marketing and distribution on its movies. Sony would also handle home entertainment and television distribution for the Legendary titles it distributes. The partnership pact does not include Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire as Legendary would continue to remain in business for Warner Bros. Pictures. Legendary would also continue to partner with other companies for streaming, such as Netflix, as Sony does not have a streaming service.[37]
In October 2024, Legendary bought the Wanda Group out of its majority stake in the company for an undisclosed sum, in what its CEO Josh Grode described as a transaction in a "right place, right time situation" accretive to both management and Apollo Global Management, which would share a "roughly equal" stake. Grode further stated that Legendary's board of directors would be evenly split between management and Apollo executives, although its creative team led by Mary Parent would remain unchanged, with the company attaining more flexibility to pursue mergers and acquisitions on a large scale, "...when we would have conversations around large scale M&A, we would have to deal with the foreign ownership issue, and that's now no longer an issue."[5]
In November 2024, following the poor box office performances of their films such as The Machine and The Book of Clarence, the distribution deal between Legendary and Sony Pictures lapsed.[38]
On January 21, 2025, the company entered into a joint venture with Patrick Wachsberger to launch 193, a production and sales company which would develop and produce its own slate, outside of Legendary.[39]
On July 11, 2025, Legendary is eyeing a deal to acquire Lionsgate Studios, following the latter company's recent separation from Starz.[40] On August 18, 2025, it was announced that Legendary was also eyeing a multi-picture global theatrical distribution deal with Paramount Pictures.[41] In September, they closed the deal, which was set for three years.[42]
In October 2025, Legendary's owner, Apollo, came and talked with Paramount Skydance about joining David Ellison's possible bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery – a megadeal that could cost upwards of $60 billion.[43]
Divisions and ventures
In addition to producing American films, Legendary Entertainment has announced various other business endeavors.
Legendary Digital Networks
In 2009, the company announced the establishment of a digital division, to be headed by Kathy Vrabeck, that would primarily focus on game development, a move which surprised many industry analysts because of the film industry's previous disengagement with the video game industry.[44] The goal of the division was reoriented in 2012 with the acquisition of Nerdist Industries, LLC, a pop culture blog with an eponymous podcast.[45] Nerdist founder Chris Hardwick announced that he and his partner Peter Levin (founder of GeekChicDaily) would still have complete editorial autonomy and that they would become the new presidents of the digital division, with Levin heading digital strategy and the digital content.[46] In 2014, Legendary acquired both Geek & Sundry, Inc., a YouTube channel and production company,[47] and the website Amy Poehler's Smart Girls.[48] On June 10, 2016, LDN announced a subscription streaming service, Alpha, which will include programming from both Nerdist and Geek & Sundry.[49] The Alpha service was shut down on March 31, 2019.[50]
In July 2020, Legendary laid off 30% of the LDN staff.[51][52] Variety reported that "there was a sense that the operations were a money drain on the company's profitable film and television operations. Those cuts were accelerated by the onset of COVID-19, which has resulted in layoffs and furloughs across the entertainment industry".[51] The Hollywood Reporter reported that "the digital brands have become less important to the strategic direction of Legendary in recent years as the online content business has shifted away from the networks that grew big during the early heyday of YouTube stardom. Legendary Digital is not a moneymaker for the business the way its core film and TV divisions are".[52] In April 2021, CBR reported that "Geek & Sundry as an original content producer hasn't exactly been operational for a couple of years".[53]
Legendary Comics
In 2010, the company announced the launch of a comic book division called Legendary Comics, LLC under the direction of editor-in-chief Bob Schreck.[54] The first graphic novel published by the company was Holy Terror by Frank Miller, which was released in 2011.[55] The division is now overseen by Robert Napton.
Legendary Television and Digital Media
In 2011, the company announced the creation of Legendary Television to focus on developing television productions and a co-financing contract with Warner Bros. Television was signed.[56] However, in 2012, Legendary decided to postpone its expansion into television and put the division on hold while restructuring; the contract with Warner Bros. Television was terminated.[57]
In 2013, Legendary purchased film marketing agency Five33 Ltd. The company, which in the past has worked on marketing campaigns for various studios, would now work exclusively on marketing Legendary's films.[58] Also in 2013, Legendary hired former head of Warner Bros. Television, Bruce Rosenblum, to head Legendary's television and digital media operations.[59] In December 2013, Legendary acquired television production company Asylum Entertainment, best known for producing sports programming and reality and scripted television series such as Beyond the Glory and The Kennedys.[60]
Legendary East
In 2011, the company announced the formation of Legendary East Ltd., a joint venture film production company based in Hong Kong. The purpose of the company is to co-produce films with Chinese companies to bypass Chinese quotas on foreign film releases in the country.
Under an initial agreement with Chinese film distributor Huayi Brothers International, half of the company was to be owned by the shell corporation Paul Y. Engineering Group, 40% was to be owned by Legendary Entertainment (through holding companies such as Legendary Asian Pacific, LLC or Legendary East Holdings, LLC[61]), and 10% was to owned by the Huayi Brothers International.[62] Legendary East initially hoped to produce one to two globally marketed English-language films per year and finance a quarter of the production of an additional two films per year. The company hoped to raise US$220.5 million through the sale of stock of Paul Y. Engineering Group on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by the end of 2011.[63] However, because financing did not meet the targeted goal, Legendary East scrapped the deal with Huayi Brothers International and continued its efforts to secure financing in 2012.[63]
In 2013, Legendary East announced a new agreement with China Film Group. Under the new agreement, the two companies were to co-produce multiple films over a three-year period.[64] Peter Loehr oversaw the company's activities in China and brokered an alliance with Wanda Group which eventually led to the company's sale to Wanda.
Filmography
Television
References
- ^ "Working at Legendary Entertainment".
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (January 21, 2025). "Patrick Wachsberger, Legendary Join Forces To Launch Film Production & Sales Outfit 193". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ "LEGENDARY ENTERTAINMENT, LLC". Dun & Bradstreet. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b Lang, Bret (January 31, 2022). "'Dune' Producer Legendary Entertainment Sells $760 Million Stake to Apollo". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Weprin, Alex (October 14, 2024). "Legendary Entertainment Buys Out Wanda, With An Eye Toward M&A". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks; Cieply, Michael (February 4, 2013). "Film Financier Faces a Critical Juncture". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "I'm ready for my closeup Mr. Demille". Hurlingham Polo. September 8, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "| SyncSummit". Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Brophy-Warren, Jamin (February 27, 2009). "A Producer of Superheroes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ a b c Abrams, Rachel and Marc Graser (April 15, 2011). "Legendary Pictures eyes new credit line". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ Fritz, Ben (October 5, 2010). "Legendary Pictures chairman engineers takeover". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ^ Rainey, James (December 8, 2015). "Dalian Wanda Eyes Investment in Thomas Tull's Legendary Pictures". Variety. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "Accel Partners Buys $40M in Legendary Shares". The Wrap. April 6, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ Weinstein, Joshua L. (September 20, 2011). "Jon Jashni Promoted to President of Legendary Pictures". TheWrap. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Finke, Nikki (September 2, 2011). "Top Exec Bill Fay Leaves Legendary Pictures". Deadline. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Fritz, Ben (December 18, 2012). "Legendary raises $443 million as big 2013 looms". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
- ^ Faughnder, Ryan (July 10, 2013). "Legendary Entertainment strikes five-year deal with NBCUniversal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ^ Faughnder, Ryan (October 3, 2014). "SoftBank Corp. investing $250 million in Legendary Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 10, 2013). "Legendary Acquires Asylum Entertainment For More Than $100 Million". Archived from the original on August 20, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- ^ Graser, Marc (December 9, 2013). "Legendary Entertainment Acquires Asylum Entertainment". Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- ^ Kaiman, Jonathan (January 11, 2016). "China's Dalian Wanda Group buys Legendary Entertainment for up to $3.5 billion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 29, 2016). "Legendary Entertainment President Jon Jashni Exits To Form Raintree Ventures". Deadline. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Busch, Anita (January 17, 2017). "Thomas Tull Exiting As Legendary's Chairman & CEO".
- ^ Faughnder, Ryan (October 17, 2017). "Jack Gao leaves Wanda and Legendary Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ a b "Jack Gao exits Wanda, Legendary Entertainment as group's global push faces setback". South China Morning Post. October 17, 2017.
- ^ Ma, Wayne (October 18, 2017). "Wanda's Man in Hollywood Steps Down". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "China cracks down on Dalian Wanda's overseas deals: sources". Reuters. July 17, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 5, 2017). "Joshua Grode Takes Legendary CEO Post; How He And Mary Parent Intend To Write Wanda-Backed Company's Next Chapter". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ Evangelista, Chris (August 13, 2018). "'Legendary Pictures Is Leaving Universal And Going Back Home To Warner Bros". Slash Film. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca; Lang, Brent (December 7, 2020). "'Dune' Producer Legendary Entertainment May Sue Warner Bros. Over HBO Max Deal". Variety. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
Legendary financed a significant portion of "Dune", which cost roughly $175 million, and "Godzilla vs. Kong", which carries a price tag around $160 million.
- ^ Bart, Peter; Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 7, 2020). "Bart & Fleming: While WGA, CAA & WME Fight In Court, Streamers Rewrite Movie Paydays; Will Legendary Challenge WarnerMedia Over 'Dune' & Godzilla Vs. Kong' HBO Max Move?". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 22, 2020). "John Lee Hancock On A 30-Year Odyssey Making 'The Little Things' With Denzel Washington, Rami Malek & Jared Leto, And The Abrupt HBO Max Pandemic Pivot: The Deadline Q&A". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
Godzilla vs. Kong might stay an HBO Max hybrid in its May 21 slot, but only if Warner Bros makes a deal with Legendary that uses as a base the $250 million value established when the film was shopped earlier to Netflix.
- ^ Masters, Kim; Kit, Borys (January 8, 2021). "Warner Bros., Legendary Nearing Deal to Resolve Clash Over 'Godzilla vs. Kong' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ Baker, Liana (April 30, 2021). "'Godzilla' Producer Legendary Enlists LionTree in Deal Hunt". Bloomberg. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ Lang, Bret; Frater, Patrick (July 22, 2021). "'Dune' Producer Legendary Entertainment Exploring Sale, Possible Merger (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "Legendary Entertainment Eyeing Rival Studio Options with Warner Deal over". August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Legendary & Sony Ink Multi-Year Global Theatrical Distribution Pact". November 28, 2022.
- ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (November 20, 2024). "Sony Pictures, Legendary to End Film Distribution Partnership". www.thewrap.com.
- ^ Clarke, Stewart (January 21, 2025). "Patrick Wachsberger, Legendary Join Forces To Launch Film Production & Sales Outfit 193". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (July 11, 2025). "Legendary Is Mulling Acquisition of Lionsgate Studios". Variety. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony. "Legendary In Talks For Global Theatrical Output Deal With Skydance-Owned Paramount – The Dish".
- ^ Kroll, Justin (September 4, 2025). "Paramount Sets Three Year Distribution Deal With Legendary".
- ^ "Paramount Skydance talking to Apollo, buyout firms to join possible $60B Warner Bros. Discovery bid: sources". New York Post. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Pham, Alex (March 18, 2009). "It's official: Legendary Pictures hired Kathy Vrabeck to head up digital division". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ Finke, Nikki (July 10, 2012). "TOLDJA! Legendary Acquiring Nerdist On Eve Of Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ "Legendary Entertainment Acquires Nerdist Industries". Legendary Entertainment. July 10, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ Graser, Marc (August 4, 2014). "Legendary Buys Felicia Day's Geek & Sundry". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ Graser, Marc (October 13, 2014). "Legendary Entertainment Buys Amy Poehler's Smart Girls at the Party". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (June 10, 2016). "Legendary Digital Subscription Service to Feature Live, Interactive Shows from Nerdist, Geek & Sundry". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 2, 2019). "Legendary Is Shutting Down Alpha Streaming Service From Nerdist, Geek & Sundry". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Lang, Brent (July 31, 2020). "Layoffs Hit Legendary's Digital Division (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Jarvey, Natalie (July 31, 2020). "Legendary Digital Cuts 30 Percent of Staff | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ "The History of International Tabletop Day". CBR. April 7, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Eller, Claudia (November 3, 2010). "Legendary Pictures forges into comic books". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff (June 30, 2011). "Frank Miller brings 'Holy Terror' to 9/11 anniversary: 'I hope it shakes people up'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 18, 2011). "Legendary Pictures Forms TV Division To Be Based At WBTV & Taps AMC's Jeremy Elice". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 22, 2012). "Legendary Pictures Closes TV Division, Ends Deal With Warner Bros. Television". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Graser, Marc (May 16, 2013). "Legendary Entertainment Buys Marketing Agency FIVE33". Variety. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ James, Meg (June 17, 2013). "Bruce Rosenblum joins Legendary Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 9, 2013). "Legendary Acquires Asylum Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ "Business Search for 'Legendary Pictures'". Secretary of State of California. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Fritz, Ben (August 22, 2011). "Legendary East to go public with initial value of $441 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Fritz, Ben (December 30, 2011). "Legendary's China venture faces funding delay". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ Graser, Marc (May 30, 2013). "Legendary East Finds Key Partner in China Film Co". Variety. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
External links
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- 2000 establishments in California
- 2016 mergers and acquisitions
- American companies established in 2000
- American subsidiaries of foreign companies
- Apollo Global Management companies
- Companies based in Burbank, California
- Dalian Wanda Group
- Entertainment companies based in California
- Film production companies of the United States
- Mass media companies established in 2000
