We’ve got some pretty damn big business news that is particularly interesting to horror fans – even if it doesn’t seem that way on the surface. Legendary, the studio behind big franchises such as Jurassic World and the MonsterVerse (where Godzilla and Kong currently live), has a brand new home. The studio has partnered with Sony Pictures on a new multi-year distribution deal. That means Sony will now be home to future Legendary projects, not Warner Bros. or Universal. And that, my friends, is a big deal. Let’s get into the why of it all.
According to a press release, Sony Pictures will market and distribute new Legendary theatrical releases worldwide (excluding China). Sony also handles home entertainment and TV distribution for the titles it releases. Previously, Legendary was set up at Warner Bros. where it generated hits such as Godzilla vs. Kong and Pacific Rim. Legendary also had a stint with Universal, which resulted in the Jurassic World trilogy and movies like Krampus and Crimson Peak. Not to mention that they also brought us the cult favorite Trick ‘r Treat. Legendary CEO Joshua Grode had this to say about it:
“As we continue to grow our content offerings, we are excited to forge this relationship with Tony, Tom, Sanford, Josh and the rest of the exceptional Sony team. Sony’s commitment to theatrical distribution aligns with our vision of how to best derive the most value for Legendary’s movies. The incredible slate of movies that Mary Parent has amassed are built for the theatrical experience and we are excited about our partnership with Sony for this next phase of Legendary’s growth.”
So, in short, whatever comes next from Legendary will come from Sony. That means it could be an original like Krampus, or it could be Legendary playing in Sony’s big franchise sandbox. Who knows? Maybe they’ll produce a Spider-Man spin-off like Venom or something of the like. Legendary did make The Dark Knight trilogy, after all. Josh Greenstein and Sanford Panitch, Presidents of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, had this to add:
“It’s a rare opportunity to partner in this mutually beneficial way with true pros, who are completely aligned in our theatrical commitment and vision for this business. The creative brilliance and power of Legendary is huge and we look forward to bringing their work to theaters across the world.”
Crucially, movies like the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong sequel and Dune: Part Two will still be released by Warner Bros., as those titles are connected to the previous partnership. Everything else flows through Sony. And, as Grode mentioned, Sony is deeply committed to theatrical releases at this stage, as they don’t have a big streaming service. So, in theory, that could be very good for the future of big, theatrical horror/genre films. That having been said, the press release does note that Legendary “retains the option to produce and distribute feature film content for a wide range of streaming platforms.” So they could also work with streamers if a project is a better fit.
Regardless, the studio that made some of the biggest genre films of the last decade has a new home, and that is no small thing. What does the future hold? It’s a big, bright mystery, but one that could yield big rewards.
