Multi-Year Deal Will See Top Agency Develop Licensed Product Portfolios for Studio’s Animated Releases, Including Upcoming Feature Films Luck and Spellbound
LOS ANGELES (April 21, 2021) – Skydance Animation has appointed IMG as its global licensing representative for all animated releases, including its first two features, Luck directed by Peggy Holmes (Secret of the Wings, The Pirate Fairy) and Spellbound directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek).
The multi-year deal will see the leading licensing agency develop extensive product licensing portfolios for Skydance Animation’s premium animated films and first-ever theatrical-quality animated television series created by the studio’s award-winning filmmakers.
“As we prepare for the debut of our first animation projects in the coming year, we are thrilled to be partnering with the world’s premier licensing agency to develop consumer products franchises that extend our stories and characters across retail platforms,” said Luis Fernández, Head of Consumer Products, Skydance.
“Skydance Animation has assembled a team of legendary talent that is reimagining animation with some of the most exciting new feature-length film and series animation anywhere today,” added Bruno Maglione, President of Licensing at IMG. “We’re proud to be on the ground floor of what promises to be an incredible journey of bold new stories, worlds and characters, and we look forward to building out engaging licensed product programs and experiences that bring them to life beyond the viewing experience.”
Academy Award-winner Jane Fonda will voice a lead role in Luck, written by Keil Murray, which centers around the unluckiest girl in the world, who after stumbling upon the never-before-seen world of good and bad luck, must join together with magical creatures to uncover a force more powerful than even luck itself.
Spellbound, is set in a world of magic where a young girl must break the spell that has split her kingdom in two. Written by Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin and Linda Woolverton, the original score for the film hails from Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan serves as executive music producer.
Launched in 2017, Skydance Animation is using the power of animation to create original stories for global audiences of all ages, set in fantastic new worlds with unforgettable characters.
About Skydance
Skydance is the diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high-quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company first launched with Feature Films and has since strategically expanded to include Television, Interactive, Animation and New Media, with studios in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Spain and Canada. Skydance’s film slate includes the critically acclaimed The Old Guard and 6 Underground, both ranking in the top 10 of Netflix’s most popular original movies, as well as the highly anticipated Top Gun: Maverick, The Tomorrow War, Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, GI Joe: Snake Eyes, The Adam Project, Heart Of Stone, and the seventh and eighth installments of the Mission: Impossible global franchise. In total, Skydance’s films have earned more than $6 billion at the worldwide box office. Skydance Television’s expansive slate includes a number of Emmy-nominated series including Grace and Frankie, Altered Carbon and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan as well as Condor, Foundation and Reacher across a range of platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+. Skydance Interactive creates and publishes original and IP-based virtual reality and other immersive video games including the top-selling The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners which received several award nominations, including “Best VR/AR Game” at the 2020 Game Awards. Skydance New Media creates interactive narrative experiences crafted as original series, putting the audience in control of the narrative. Skydance Animation develops and produces high-end feature films and television series with full production capability across two studios in Los Angeles and Madrid. The first two slated movies are Luck and Spellbound, and the first series is The Search for WondLa, all premiering on Apple TV+. The Company’s investment partners include Tencent Holdings, Redbird Capital, CJ ENM, and the Ellison Family.