Chernin Entertainment (original) (raw)

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American film and television production company

Chernin Entertainment

Logo used since 2011
Company type	Division
Industry	Film production company
Founded	February 24, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-02-24)
Founder	Peter Chernin
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Key people	Peter Chernin (CEO)Jenno Topping(president of Film and Television)David Ready (Executive vice president of Film and TV)
Products	Motion Pictures
Parent	The Chernin Group (2009–2022)The North Road Company (2022–present)

Chernin Entertainment is an American film and television production company owned by The North Road Company that is based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on February 24, 2009 by producer and former media executive Peter Chernin, who is chairman and chief executive officer of the company. Jenno Topping is the president of film and television, with David Ready as executive vice president of film and TV. Kristen Campo is executive vice president of television.[1] Twenty-seven films have been produced by the company, most of them with 20th Century Fox (now known as 20th Century Studios).[2]

Chernin Entertainment was founded by Peter Chernin after he stepped down as president of Fox's then-parent company News Corporation in 2009. The firm's first film was Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011.[2] Chernin Entertainment's five-year first-look deal for the film and television was signed with 20th Century Fox and 20th Century Fox Television in 2009.[3]

In March 2011, after leaving Maguire Entertainment, Jenno Topping joined the company as executive Vice President of film division,[4] and then in February 2013 she was promoted to President of films, vacated by Dylan Clark.[5][6] David Ready was hired as Senior VP to report to Topping.[5] In June 2015, the company's TV division's president Katherine Pope left the company, while Topping was promoted to President of Film and Television.[7][8] In August 2015, Dante Di Loreto was hired and appointed as President of Television at the company, reporting to Topping. Kristen Campo joined the company in 2016 to run television after Di Loreto's departure.[9]

In November 2014, the company signed an extension of the first-look deal with 20th Century Fox for film at a less lucrative terms. With only one hit TV show, New Girl, the TV pact was being shopped around.[3] In June 2015, Chernin signed its television production deal for two years with NBCUniversal, in which Chernin would develop and produce projects for NBC though Universal Television.[7] That deal was followed with one with Endeavor Content for a scripted drama pact in 2017.[2]

On January 17, 2020, 20th Century Studios, now under the operation of Walt Disney Studios, ended its production deal with Chernin Entertainment, which had about four years remaining. The move was cited to Disney's preference of self-financing its films, and the studio's mandate of having 20th Century refocus on its franchises. Chernin will continue to work with Disney and 20th Century on the Planet of the Apes franchise and about 9 other films with the studio, while taking 70 out of 80 films in development in the split.[2] On April 7, Chernin made a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix to make films.[10]

In September 2020, Chernin Entertainment signed a multi-year partnership agreement with Spotify to allow the former to adapt films and TV shows from Spotify's original podcast catalog.[11][12][13]

In February 2021, Chernin Entertainment announced that it had launched a non-scripted documentary production studio that could produce documentaries both inside and outside the sports genre named Words + Pictures with former ESPN content chief Connor Schell who became the chief executive officer of the new unscripted programme company with Chernin Entertainment's president Jenno Tapping overseeing the company's relationship with them.[14][15][16]

On October 27, 2021, Nancy Utley, former veteran of Searchlight Pictures had started Lake Ellyn Entertainment, with a first-look affiliate deal at the studio, and Netflix.[17]

In April 2022, Chernin Entertainment announced that they hired former chairman and CEO of Red Arrow Studios and the president of Westbrook International Jan Frouman in an unspecified role as Chernin Entertainment announced that they were going to expand their film and television operations with them eyeing the acquisition of German production and distribution company Red Arrow Studios from ProSiebenSat.1 Media.[18]

In July 2022, Peter Chernin announced that he was launching a global independent and production content studio named The North Road Company along with his film & television production company Chernin Entertainment becoming part of his new company and announced that they've acquired the US assets of German entertainment and international distribution company Red Arrow Studios from ProSiebenSat.1 Media along with the acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in unscripted documentary production company Words + Pictures with Peter Chernin becoming the CEO and chairman of the new company with Chernin Entertainment veteran Jenno Topping continued to be the president of The North Road Company's division Chernin Entertainment overseeing The North Road Company's scripted film and television operations alongside Words + Pictures founder Connor Schell continued to run the unscripted operations company taking on The North Road Company's unscripted operations. Jan Frouman who joined Chernin Entertainment back in April became The North Road Company's president and former AMC Networks executive Kirstin Jones became The North Road Company's president of international film & television and the two will run North Road's new international division with their international office being based in London, England.[19][20][21][22]

In June 2023, The North Road Company announced that they had acquired Istanbul and LA-based Turkish/American film and television production company Karga Seven Pictures marking The North Road Company's first international acquisition and their first international expansion along with their expansion of their international operations with Karga Seven Pictures founders and producers Sarah Wetherbee, Emre Sahin and Kelly McPherson continued to be the leaders of the acquired company with Sarah Wetherbee and Emre Sahin becoming global CEOs and Ömer Müjdat Özgüner was hired by Karga Seven Pictures and became the new CEO of the company.[23][24][25]

In November 2023, Chernin Entertainment's parent company The North Road Company had announced that they had acquired a majority stake in Los Angeles-based production company Two One Five Entertainment which was led by the co-founders of the hip hop band The Roots Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson with The North Road Company financing Two One Five Entertainment's future film and television projects along with North Road expanding Two One Five into the scripted business.[26][27][28]

In November 2023, The North Road Company announced that it had acquired documentary production company Little Room Films, expanding The North Road Company's operations and will be placed under North Road's arm Words + Pictures with founder and director Jason Hehir continued remaining the president of Little Room Films.[29][30]

Chernin Entertainment produces for television and film.

The company's first feature film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was released in August 2011[2] and has grossed more than $480 million at the worldwide box office.[31][32] It has also produced Parental Guidance, a comedy starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler, which was released in December 2012,[33] the sci-fi thriller from Joseph Kosinski, Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise,[34] and The Heat, starring Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock.[35]

1. ^ Spetner, James (16 August 2018). "Chernin Entertainment Promotes David Ready To Exec Veep Film & Television". Deadline Hollywood. Mike Fleming Jr. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vary, Adam B. (January 17, 2020). "Disney and Chernin Entertainment Parting Ways". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
3. ^ a b Siegel, Tatiana (November 5, 2014). "Peter Chernin Nears Renewal of Fox Film Pact; TV Deal to Be Shopped". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
4. ^ "Jenno Topping Joins Chernin Entertainment as EVP". The Hollywood Reporter. March 19, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
5. ^ a b "Chernin Ent. Promotes Jenno Topping To President Of Film". Deadline. February 27, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
6. ^ Abrams, Rachel (February 27, 2013). "Jenno Topping to Run Film Division at Chernin". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
7. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2015). "Peter Chernin Inks TV Deal With NBCUniversal". Deadline. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
8. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (June 23, 2015). "Katherine Pope Exits Chernin Entertainment to Launch TV Division at Studio 8". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
9. ^ Spetner, James (30 May 2017). "Dante Di Loreto Tapped As President Scripted Entertainment At FremantleMedia North America". Deadline Hollywood. Denise Petski. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
10. ^ "Chernin Entertainment, Netflix Sign First-Look Deal for Film". 8 April 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
11. ^ "Spotify and Chernin Entertainment enter first-look deal to turn podcasts into TV shows and movies". TechCrunch. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
12. ^ "Spotify Partners With Chernin Entertainment to Turn Podcasts Into Film and TV Projects". Billboard. 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
13. ^ Salkowitz, Rob. "Spotify Inks First Look Deal For Podcast Media Adaptations With Chernin Entertainment". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
14. ^ White, Peter (February 10, 2021). "Former ESPN Content Boss Connor Schell Sets Up Unscripted Venture With Chernin Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
15. ^ Weprin, Alex (February 10, 2021). "Peter Chernin Backing New Unscripted Studio From Former ESPN Content Chief". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
16. ^ Kaminska, Karolina (February 11, 2021). "Schell, Chernin launch unscripted prodco". C21Media. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
17. ^ Donnelly, Matt (2021-10-27). "Former Searchlight Chief Nancy Utley Enters First-Look Deal With Chernin, Netflix". Variety. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
18. ^ "Chernin Entertainment Hires Former Red Arrow Studios Boss Jan Frouman As 'Bosch' & 'Love Is Blind' Production Group Draws Interest From Buyers". Deadline Hollywood. April 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
19. ^ White, Peter (July 6, 2022). "Peter Chernin Forms Global Content Studio North Road, Pays $200M For Red Arrow Studios' U.S. Assets & Plots More Major Acquisitions With Multimillion-Dollar Funds". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
20. ^ Weprin, Alex (July 6, 2022). "Peter Chernin Launching $1B+ Content Studio Rollup The North Road Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
21. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (July 6, 2022). "Peter Chernin Pacts With Providence Equity and Apollo to Launch North Road Co". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
22. ^ Pinto, Jordan (July 6, 2022). "Chernin buys Red Arrow Studios' US assets for $200m, sets up North Road". C21Media. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
23. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (June 6, 2023). "Peter Chernin's The North Road Company Buys Turkish Film and TV Powerhouse Karga Seven Pictures". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
24. ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Goldbart, Max (June 6, 2023). "Peter Chernin's North Road Company Makes First Major International Acquisition With Turkish Film & TV Firm Karga Seven". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
25. ^ Dams, Tim (June 7, 2023). "Peter Chernin's North Road Company acquires Turkey's Karga Seven Pictures". Screen Daily. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
26. ^ White, Peter (November 7, 2023). "Peter Chernin's North Road Acquires "Significant" Stake In Questlove & Black Thought's Two One Five Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
27. ^ Weprin, Alex (November 7, 2023). "North Road Company Acquires Stake in Questlove and Black Thought's Two One Five Entertainment". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
28. ^ Pinto, Jordan (November 8, 2023). "Chernin's North Road buys into Summer of Soul prodco Two One Five Entertainment". C21Media. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
29. ^ Pinto, Jordan (November 16, 2023). "North Road acquires Jason Hehir's prodco Little Room Film". C21Media. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
30. ^ White, Peter (November 16, 2023). "Peter Chernin's The North Road Company Acquires 'The Last Dance' Director Jason Hehir's Little Room Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
31. ^ Corliss, Richard (August 4, 2011). "Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Chimpan-tastic!". Time. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011.
32. ^ "Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
33. ^ a b Fernandez, Jay (October 27, 2011). "The State of the Studio Deals: Who's Doing What Where". The Hollywood Reporter.
34. ^ a b Fleming, Mike (27 June 2011). "Peter Chernin And Dylan Clark Board Tom Cruise-Starrer 'Oblivion' As Producers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
35. ^ a b Sneider, Jeff; Abrams, Rachel (May 19, 2012). "Bullock, McCarthy tapped for cop pic". Variety.
36. ^ "Film releases". Variety Insight. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
37. ^ "New 'Planet of the Apes' Movie in the Works With 'Maze Runner' Filmmaker Wes Ball". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
38. ^ Grobar, Matt (April 17, 2023). "'Rez Ball': Netflix Sets Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon & More For Sydney Freeland's Native American Basketball Underdog Pic". Deadline Hollywood.
39. ^ Zee, Michaela (March 26, 2024). "Netflix's Fear Street: Prom Queen Sets Ensemble Cast". Variety. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
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41. ^ Magazine, Animation (July 25, 2022). "Tim Miller Says 'The Goon' Movie a Go with Netflix, Director Patrick Osborne". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
42. ^ Donnelly, Matt (April 15, 2021). "Robert Zemeckis Boards Kandell Brothers Pitch 'Mr. Lucky,' Set for Apple Studios (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2021. "Sidekicks," a reimagining of classic fairy tales through the eyes of the heroes' under-appreciated helpers, for Paramount and Chernin;
43. ^ Donnelly, Matt (March 19, 2024). "Popeye the Sailor Man Live-Action Film in Development From Chernin, King Features (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
44. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (25 July 2024). "A24 Unveils Horror Film Altar Starring January Jones, Kyle MacLachlan, David Krumholtz, Lily Collias and Hudson Behling (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
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46. ^ Lowry, Brian (September 16, 2011). "New Girl". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
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48. ^ Milligran, Mercedes (May 9, 2024). "Trailer: Feline Foes Collide in Netflix's 'Exploding Kittens'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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