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Legendary Pictures, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryMotion picture
Founded2000
FounderThomas Tull
Headquarters,
Key people
  • Thomas Tull
  • (Founder and CEO)
  • Chris Hardwick
  • (Co-president of digital content)
  • Bob Schreck
  • (Editor-in-chief of Legendary Comics)
Owner
  • Thomas Tull (majority)
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Fortress Investment Group
Divisions
  • Digital
  • Legendary Comics
  • Legendary Pictures
  • Legendary Television
Subsidiaries
  • Legendary East Ltd. (40%)
  • Nerdist Industries, LLC
Websitewww.legendary.com

Legendary Pictures, Inc. (also referred to as Legendary Entertainment) is an American film production company, whose parent company is based in Burbank, California and was founded by Thomas Tull in 2000. In 2005 the company concluded a 40-picture agreement to co-produce and co-finance with Warner Bros.

History[]

Thomas Tull founded Legendary Entertainment after raising $500 million from private equity firms.[1] 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.[2] The company was incorporated in California in 2000[3] and in 2005 it signed a seven-year agreement with Warner Bros. to co-produce and co-finance 40 films over seven years.[2] In 2010 Tull and two other investors, Fidelity Investments and Fortress Investment Group, bought all the shares of the original investors. Following the transaction, Tull became the largest shareholder, thus enabling him to more easily direct the company's operations.[4] By 2011 the company was reported to have been valued at more than $1 billion.[2] In September 2011, Chief Creative Officer Jon Jashni was appointed to the new position of President.[5]

Divisions and ventures[]

In addition to producing American feature films, Legendary Entertainment has announced various other business endeavors, which are currently in the early stages of development.

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.[6] The goal of the division was reoriented in 2012 with the acquisition of Nerdist Industries, a pop culture blog with a synonymous podcast.[7] Nerdsit founder Chris Hardwick announced that he and his partner Peter Levin (founder of GeekChicDaily) would still have complete control editorial autonomy and that they would become the new presidents of the digital division, with Levin heading digital strategy and he digital content.[8]

In 2010, the company announced the launch of a comic book division called Legendary Comics under the direction of editor-in-chief Bob Schreck.[9] The first graphic novel published by the company was Holy Terror by Frank Miller, which was released in 2011.[10]

In 2011, the company announced the creation of Legendary Television to focus on developing television productions. The division will be headed by Jeremy Elice and a co-financing contract with Warner Bros. Television was reported to be under consideration.[11]

In 2011, the company also announced the formation of Legendary East, a joint venture film production company based in Hong Kong. Half of the company will be owned by the shell corporation Paul Y. Engineering Group (which will be partially owned by Kelvin Wu, who will be Legendary East's CEO), 40% will be owned by Legendary Entertainment, and 10% will be owned by the Chinese film distributor Huayi Brothers International.[12] Starting in 2013 Legendary East is slated to produce one to two globally marketed English-language films per year and could finance a quarter of the production of an additional two films per year. Because the company will be based in China, it will be able to circumvent the quota on theatrically released foreign films.[12] 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.[13] However, because financing did not meet the targeted goal, Legendary East is planning to continue its efforts to secure financing in 2012.[13] The first film announced by the company is The Great Wall.[14]

Filmography[]

Legendary Entertainment has co-produced 24 feature films. In addition, the company is also in the process of producing an additional five films and is developing various other projects. Of the 24 feature films produced, 23 have had theatrical releases and one has had a direct-to-video release. All films that were theatrically released were distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (except for Watchmen which was distributed by both Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures) and the direct-to-video film was distributed by Warner Premiere. Note that in all cases the distributor or distributors are also co-producers. Also, in all cases the film listed is a work of Legendary Pictures, unless the film's name is followed by a subscript "E", indicating that Legendary East is the production company. The box office column reflects the worldwide gross for the theatrical release of the film in United States dollars.

Released[]

Year Title Director Co-production company(s) Distributor(s) Box office Ref.
2005 Batman Begins Nolan, ChristopherChristopher Nolan DC Comics / Syncopy / Patalex III Productions Warner Bros. $372,710,015 [15]
2006 Superman Returns Singer, BryanBryan Singer DC Comics / Peters Entertainment / Bad Hat Harry Productions Warner Bros. $391,081,192 [16]
2006 Lady in the Water Shyamalan, M. NightM. Night Shyamalan Blinding Edge Pictures Warner Bros. $72,785,169 [17]
2006 The Ant Bully Davis, John A.John A. Davis Playtone / DNA Productions Warner Bros. $55,181,129 [18]
2006 Beerfest Chandrasekhar, JayJay Chandrasekhar Gerber Pictures / Cataland Films / Broken Lizard Warner Bros. $20,387,597 [19]
2006 We Are Marshall McG Thunder Road Films / Wonderland Sound and Vision Warner Bros. $43,545,364 [20]
2007 300 Snyder, ZackZack Snyder Virtual Studios Warner Bros. $456,068,181 [21]
2008 10,000 BC Emmerich, RolandRoland Emmerich Centropolis Entertainment Warner Bros. $269,784,201 [22]
2008 The Dark Knight Nolan, ChristopherChristopher Nolan DC Comics / Syncopy Warner Bros. $1,001,921,825 [23]
2009 Watchmen Snyder, ZackZack Snyder DC Comics / Lawrence Gordon Productions Warner Bros. / Paramount $185,258,983 [24]
2009 Observe and Report Hill, JodyJody Hill DeLine Pictures Warner Bros. $26,973,554 [25]
2009 The Hangover Phillips, ToddTodd Phillips Green Hat Films Warner Bros. $467,483,912 [26]
2009 Trick 'r Treat Dougherty, MichaelMichael Dougherty Bad Hat Harry Productions Warner Premiere [27]
2009 Where the Wild Things Are Jonze, SpikeSpike Jonze Playtone / Village Roadshow Pictures Warner Bros. $100,086,793 [28]
2009 Ninja Assassin McTeigue, JamesJames McTeigue Dark Castle Entertainment / Anarchos Productions Warner Bros. $61,601,280 [29]
2010 Clash of the Titans Leterrier, LouisLouis Leterrier Thunder Road Films / The Zanuck Company Warner Bros. $493,214,993 [30]
2010 Jonah Hex Hayward, JimmyJimmy Hayward DC Comics / Mad Chance / Weed Road Pictures Warner Bros. $10,903,112 [31]
2010 Inception Nolan, ChristopherChristopher Nolan Syncopy Warner Bros. $825,532,764 [32]
2010 The Town Affleck, BenBen Affleck GK Films / Thunder Road Films Warner Bros. $154,026,136 [33]
2010 Due Date Phillips, ToddTodd Phillips Green Hat Films Warner Bros. $211,780,824 [34]
2011 Sucker Punch Snyder, ZackZack Snyder Cruel and Unusual Films Warner Bros. $89,792,502 [35]
2011 The Hangover Part II Phillips, ToddTodd Phillips Green Hat Films Warner Bros. $581,464,305 [36]
2012 Wrath of the Titans Liebesman, JonathanJonathan Liebesman Thunder Road Films Warner Bros. $301,970,083 [37]
2012 The Dark Knight Rises Nolan, ChristopherChristopher Nolan DC Entertainment / Syncopy Warner Bros. $837,232,219 [38]
2013 Jack the Giant Slayer Bryan Singer New Line Cinema / Original Film / Big Kid Pictures / Bad Hat Harry Warner Bros.
2013 42 Brian Helgeland Warner Bros.
2013 The Hangover Part III Todd Phillips Green Hat Films / BenderSpink Warner Bros.
2013 Man of Steel Zack Snyder DC Entertainment / Syncopy / Peters Entertainment Warner Bros.
2013 Pacific Rim Guillermo del Toro Double Dare You Productions Warner Bros.
2014 300: Rise of an Empire Noam Murro Cruel and Unusual Films / Atmosphere Pictures / Hollywood Gang Warner Bros.
2014 Godzilla Gareth Edwards Warner Bros. / Toho
2014 As Above, So Below John Erick Dowdle Brothers Dowdle Productions Universal
2014 Dracula Untold Gary Shore Michael De Luca Productions Universal
2014 Interstellar Christopher Nolan Syncopy / Lynda Obst Productions Paramount / Warner Bros.
2014 Seventh Son Sergei Bodrov Thunder Road Pictures / Wigram Productions Universal
2014 Unbroken Angelina Jolie Jolie Pas / 3 Arts Entertainment Universal
2015 Blackhat Michael Mann Forward Pass Universal
2015 The Hive David Yarovesky Midnight Road Entertainment / Witness Protection Films Nerdist
2015 Dead Rising: Watchtower Zach Lipovsky Contradiction Films / Di Bonaventura Digital Crackle / Content Media
2015 Jurassic World Colin Trevorrow Amblin Entertainment / The Kennedy/Marshall Company Universal
2015 Straight Outta Compton F. Gary Gray New Line Cinema / Cube Vision / Crucial Films / Broken Chair Flickz Universal
2015 Steve Jobs Danny Boyle Scott Rudin Productions / Mark Gordon Company / Entertainment 360 / Decibel Films / Cloud Eight Films Universal
2015 Crimson Peak Guillermo del Toro DDY Universal
2015 Krampus Michael Dougherty Zam Pictures Universal
2016 Fastball Jonathan Hock Major League Baseball Gravitas Ventures
2016 Warcraft Duncan Jones Atlas Entertainment / Blizzard Entertainment / Tencent Pictures / H. Brothers / Taihe Entertainment Universal
2016 Dead Rising: Endgame Pat Williams DR2 / Contradiction Films Crackle
2016 The Thinning Michael Gallagher Cinemand/kidsatplay YouTube Premium
2016 Spectral Nic Mathieu Netflix
2016 The Great Wall Zhang Yimou Atlas Entertainment / Kava Productions / Le Vision Pictures Universal / CFGC
2017 Kong: Skull Island Jordan Vogt-Roberts Tencent Pictures Warner Bros.
2017 Flesh and Sand Alejandro González Iñárritu ILMxLAB / Fondazione Prada Distribution only
2018 Pacific Rim: Uprising Steven S. DeKnight DDY Universal
2018 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom J. A. Bayona Amblin Entertainment / Perfect World Pictures / The Kennedy/Marshall Company Universal
2018 Skyscraper Rawson Marshall Thurber Flynn Picture Company / Seven Bucks Productions Universal
2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Ol Parker Littlestar / Playtone / Perfect World Pictures Universal
2018 BlacKkKlansman Spike Lee Blumhouse Productions / Monkeypaw Productions / 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks / QC Entertainment / Perfect World Pictures Focus Features
2019 Little Tina Gordon Chism Will Packer Productions / Perfect World Pictures Universal
2019 Pokémon Detective Pikachu Rob Letterman The Pokémon Company Warner Bros. / Toho
2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters Michael Dougherty Huahua Media Warner Bros. / Toho
2020 Enola Holmes Harry Bradbeer PCMA Productions Netflix
2020 Console Wars Jonah Tulis / Blake J. Harris CBS Television Studios Paramount+
2021 Godzilla vs. Kong Adam Wingard Warner Bros. / Universal / Toho
2021 Dune Denis Villeneuve Warner Bros.
2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre David Blue Garcia Bad Hombre / Exurbia Films Netflix
Box office total: $7,030,786,133

Upcoming Films[]

Bibliography[]

Legendary Comics has published one graphic novel. An additional seven are in development.

Released[]

In development[]

  • The Majestic Files (2013, story by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils by Geoff Shaw, inks by Matt Banning)[40]
  • One Trick Rip-Off (December 2012, Paul Pope, ISBN 978-1937278045)[41]
  • PulpHope: Redux (December 2012, Paul Pope, ISBN 978-1937278038)[42]
  • Shadow Walk (story by Mark Waid, penciling by Shane Davis, inks by Mark Morales)[43]
  • The Tower Chronicles (story by Matt Wagner, pencils by Simon Bisley)
    • The Tower Chronicles: GeistHawk, Volume One (September 2012, inks by Rodney Ramos, colors by Ryan Brown, letters by Sean Konot, cover pencils by Jim Lee, cover inks by Scott Williams, cover colors by Alex Sinclair, ISBN 978-1937278021)[44]
    • The Tower Chronicles: GeistHawk, Volumes Two to Four[44]
    • The Tower Chronicles: GrimStalker, Volumes One to Four[44]
    • The Tower Chronicles: WraithQuest, Volumes One to Four[44]

References[]

  1. Brophy-Warren, Jamin (2009-02-27). "A Producer of Superheroes". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123569749220089025.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Abrams, Rachel and Marc Graser (2011-04-15). "Legendary Pictures eyes new credit line". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118035532. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  3. "Business Search for 'Legendary Pictures'". Secretary of State of California. Retrieved 2012-06-18. {{cite web}}:
  4. Fritz, Ben (2010-10-05). "Legendary Pictures chairman engineers takeover". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/05/business/la-fi-1005-ct-legendary-20101005. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  5. Weinstein, Joshua L. (2011-09-20). "Jon Jashni Promoted to President of Legendary Pictures". The Wrap. http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/jon-jashni-promoted-president-legendary-pictures-31138. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  6. Pham, Alex (2009-03-18). "It's official: Legendary Pictures hired Kathy Vrabeck to head up digital division". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/05/legendarygamestullvrabeck.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  7. "TOLDJA! Legendary Acquiring Nerdist On Eve Of Comic-Con". Deadline.com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-04. {{cite web}}:
  8. "Legendary Entertainment Acquires Nerdist Industries". Legendary Entertainment. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-04. {{cite web}}:
  9. Eller, Claudia (2010-11-03). "Legendary Pictures forges into comic books". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/11/legendary-films-launches-comic-book-unit.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  10. Boucher, Geoff (2011-06-30). "Frank Miller brings ‘Holy Terror’ to 9/11 anniversary: ‘I hope it shakes people up’". Los Angeles Times. http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/06/30/frank-miller-brings-holy-terror-to-911-anniversary-i-hope-it-shakes-people-up/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (2011-01-18). "Legendary Pictures Forms TV Division To Be Based At WBTV & Taps AMC’s Jeremy Elice". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/legendary-pictures-forms-tv-division-to-be-based-at-wbtv-taps-amcs-jeremy-elice/. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 Fritz, Ben (2011-08-22). "Legendary East to go public with initial value of $441 million". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/08/legendary-east-to-trade-publicly-in-deal-valuing-company-at-441-million.html. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 Fritz, Ben (2011-12-30). "Legendary's China venture faces funding delay". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/12/legendarys-china-venture-faces-funding-delay.html. Retrieved 2012-01-06. 
  14. Weinstein, Joshua L. (2011-08-23). "Edward Zwick to Direct Legendary East's First Project". The Wrap. http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/edward-zwick-direct-legendary-easts-first-project-30382. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
  15. "Batman Begins (2005)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  16. "Superman Returns (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  17. "Lady in the Water (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  18. "The Ant Bully (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  19. "Beerfest (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  20. "We Are Marshall (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  21. "300 (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  22. "10,000 B.C. (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  23. "The Dark Knight (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  24. "Watchmen (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  25. "Observe and Report (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  26. "The Hangover (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  27. "Trick 'r Treat (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  28. "Where the Wild Things Are (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  29. "Ninja Assassin (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  30. "Clash of the Titans (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  31. "Jonah Hex (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  32. "Inception (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  33. "The Town (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  34. "Due Date (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  35. "Sucker Punch (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  36. "The Hangover Part II (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-02-15. {{cite web}}:
  37. "Wrath of the Titans (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-05-25. {{cite web}}:
  38. "The Dark Knight Rises (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-08-15. {{cite web}}:
  39. "Frank Miller's Holy Terror". Legendary Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-03-27. {{cite web}}:
  40. "The Majestic Files - Announcement and Art First Look". Legendary Entertainment. 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2012-08-07. {{cite web}}:
  41. "One-Trick Rip-Off". Legendary Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-08-07. {{cite web}}:
  42. "Pulp Hope". Legendary Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-08-07. {{cite web}}:
  43. "Shadow Walk - Art First Look". Legendary Entertainment. 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2012-08-07. {{cite web}}:
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 "The Tower Chronicles". Legendary Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-08-07. {{cite web}}:

External links[]

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