| File:Spyglass Media Group 2019.jpg | |
Trade name |
Spyglass Media Group |
|---|---|
| Formerly | Spyglass Entertainment (1998–2012) |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Film |
| Predecessor | Caravan Pictures |
| Founded |
1998 2019 (relaunch) |
| Founder |
Gary Barber Roger Birnbaum |
| Defunct | 2012 (original) |
| Headquarters |
Century City, Los Angeles, California , United States[1] |
Key people |
|
| Products | Motion pictures |
| Owners | |
| Website | Template:Url |
Spyglass Media Group, LLC, formerly Spyglass Entertainment, is an American film production company founded by Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum in 1998.
History[]
Spyglass Entertainment[]
In August 1998, Gary Barber, former vice chairman and COO of Morgan Creek Productions, together with Roger Birnbaum, co-founder and former head of Caravan Pictures, founded Spyglass Entertainment. The startup company signed a five-year distribution agreement with Disney, which took an equity stake. Birnbaum previously left Caravan at the prompting of then Disney studio chief Joe Roth; with Disney cutting its yearly production output, Roth recommended forming a self-financing production firm similar to New Regency Productions. After Caravan's remaining three films were released, Caravan went inactive. Its slate of movie projects and an initial financial advance of $10 million to $20 million against future overages were also contributed by Disney.[5] Spyglass's operations were formed and based at the Walt Disney Studios. In October 1998, European media conglomerates Kirch Group and Mediaset invested in theatrical, video and television distribution rights to between 15 and 25 films in Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the former Soviet Union for over five years.[6] M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense (released 1999) was Spyglass's first film, collecting $661 million at the box office worldwide.[7]
By May 2000, Disney took a 10% equity stake in Spyglass, along with Svensk Filmindustri of Scandinavia and Lusomundo of Portugal.[8][9] In March 2003, Spyglass Entertainment agreed to a four-year distribution output deal with Village Roadshow for Australia, New Zealand and Greece.[10]
In 2002, Spyglass Entertainment launched a television division, and it was focused on small screen projects. Miracles is one of the planned projects supported by Spyglass for its television division.[11]
That same year, it attempted to merge with smaller independent distributor Intermedia, but it failed.[12]
In December 2003, Spyglass ended its deal with Disney and agreed to a four-year first-look non-exclusive co-financing and production deal with DreamWorks. This deal was never finalized and the relationship was not working well. Thus in September 2003, Spyglass instead made a similar deal with Sony Pictures. Spyglass did not move to the Sony lot, but to Murdoch Plaza in Westwood, Los Angeles.[7]
By 2010, Spyglass was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management.[13]
On December 20, 2010, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum became co-chairmen and CEOs of the holding company of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which had at that time recently emerged from bankruptcy. The original plan had the Spyglass library being added to MGM, but it was later removed from the plan.[14]
Spyglass Media Group[]
On March 13, 2019, Barber and Lantern Entertainment revived the company as Spyglass Media Group, bringing in Eagle Pictures and Cineworld as investors. Lantern made a majority investment and also transferred its film library and rights to Miramax film sequels to the Spyglass. Barber owns the Spyglass trademark and the sequel and remake rights to the old Spyglass library, which he has contributed. The company plans to produce content for all platforms.[1][15] Spyglass closed the former Lantern Entertainment/TWC office in New York City while laying off 15 staff members across divisions.[16]
On April 1, 2019, Lauren Whitney, the president of television for Miramax, took on the same position for Spyglass.[2] Damien Marin followed Barber from MGM to be appointed Spyglass president of worldwide distribution and acquisitions in September 2019.[3]
AT&T's Warner Bros. in April 2019 bought an equity stake in Spyglass, which signed a first-look deal with the studio.[17] Spyglass was involved in August 2019 in a potential purchase of part of Miramax but dropped out in two weeks.[18][19]
Spyglass's first greenlit film since its revival is a revival of Hellraiser franchise announced in May 2019.[20] With the company winning the rights to the Stephen King's The Institute book in November 2019, Jack Bender and David E. Kelley were paired to development and produce the book as a mini-series. Also, Bender was signed by Spyglass to a television first-look deal.[21]
MGM President of Physical Production Peter Oillataguerre was appointed President of Production for Spyglass Media Group reporting to Barber.[22]
In July 2021, Lionsgate acquired most of The Weinstein Company's film library, which until then had been owned by Spyglass, giving Lionsgate a 20% equity stake in Spyglass and a first look TV deal with the company.[4]
Foreign distributor[]
- Village Roadshow (2003–2007) Australia, New Zealand and Greece
- Canal+: France, Benelux, Sweden and Poland pay TV
- Sogecable: Spanish pay cable
- Pony Canyon: Japan
- Lusomundo: Portugal
- Forum: Israel
- Ster-Kinekor: South Africa[10]
Production filmography[]
1990s[]
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instinct | June 4, 1999 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Barbara Boyle/Michael Taylor Productions; first film | $80 million | $34.1 million |
| The Sixth Sense | August 6, 1999 | Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures; co-production with The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Barry Mendel Productions | $40 million | $672.8 million | |
| The Insider | November 5, 1999 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Forward Pass and Eric Roth Productions | $68 million | $60.2 million |
2000s[]
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission to Mars | March 10, 2000 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Jacobson Company | $100 million | $111 million |
| Keeping the Faith | April 14, 2000 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Koch Co., Blumberg/Norton Productions and Triple Threat Talent | $29 million | $59.9 million | |
| Shanghai Noon | May 26, 2000 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Jackie Chan Films Ltd. | $55 million | $100.5 million | |
| Out Cold | November 21, 2001 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Donners' Company | $24 million | $14.8 million | |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | January 25, 2002 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $35 million | $75.4 million | |
| Dragonfly | February 22, 2002 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Gran Via Productions and Shady Acres Entertainment; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $60 million | $52.3 million |
| Reign of Fire | July 12, 2002 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Zanuck Company | $60 million | $82.2 million |
| Abandon | October 18, 2002 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Lynda Obst Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $25 million | $12.3 million |
| The Recruit | January 31, 2003 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Epsilon Motion Pictures | $46 million | $101.2 million |
| Shanghai Knights | February 7, 2003 | Disney label released as Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Jackie Chan Films Ltd. | $50 million | $88.3 million | |
| Bruce Almighty | May 23, 2003 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Shady Acres Entertainment and Pit Bull Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $81 million | $484.6 million |
| Seabiscuit | July 7, 2003 | co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Larger Than Life Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $87 million | $148.3 million | |
| The Perfect Score | January 30, 2004 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions, MTV Films and Tollin/Robbins Productions | N/A | $10.8 million |
| Connie and Carla | April 16, 2004 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $27 million | $11.3 million |
| Mr. 3000 | September 17, 2004 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Dimension Films, Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Kennedy/Marshall Company | $30 million | $21.8 million |
| The Pacifier | March 4, 2005 | Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $56 million | $198.6 million | |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | April 29, 2005 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Hammer & Tongs and Everyman Pictures | $45–50 million | $104.5 million | |
| The Legend of Zorro | October 28, 2005 | Sony Pictures Releasing | Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with Amblin Entertainment and Parkes/MacDonald Productions | $65 million | $142.4 million |
| Memoirs of a Geisha | December 9, 2005 | Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and Red Wagon Entertainment; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $85 million | $162.2 million | |
| Eight Below | February 17, 2006 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Mandeville Films and The Kennedy/Marshall Company | $40 million | $120.5 million |
| Stay Alive | March 24, 2006 | Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Endgame Entertainment, Wonderland Sound and Vision and Birnbaum/Barber Productions; international distribution through Universal Pictures | $20 million | $27.1 million | |
| Stick It | April 28, 2006 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Gail Lyon Productions and Jessica Bendinger Productions | $20 million | $31.9 million | |
| The Lookout | March 30, 2007 | Released through Disney label Miramax Films; co-production with Laurence Mark Productions, Parkes-MacDonald Productions and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $16 million | $5.4 million | |
| The Invisible | April 27, 2007 | Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures, co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and MacariEdelstein Productions | N/A | $26.8 million | |
| Evan Almighty | June 22, 2007 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Relativity Media, Original Film, Shady Acres Entertainment and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $175 million | $173.4 million |
| Underdog | August 3, 2007 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Jay Polstein Productions and Classic Media | $25 million | $65.3 million |
| Balls of Fury | August 29, 2007 | Rogue Pictures | co-production with Intrepid Pictures and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | N/A | $41.1 million |
| 27 Dresses | January 18, 2008 | 20th Century Fox | Released through Fox label Fox 2000 Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Dune Entertainment III, LLC | $30 million | $160.3 million |
| Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins | February 8, 2008 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Stuber-Parent Productions | $35 million | $43.6 million |
| The Ruins | April 4, 2008 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Red Hour Films | $8 million | $22.3 million |
| The Happening | June 13, 2008 | 20th Century Fox | co-production with Dune Entertainment, UTV Motion Pictures and Blinding Edge Pictures | $48 million | $163.4 million |
| The Love Guru | June 20, 2008 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Nomoneyfun Films and Michael de Luca Productions | $62 million | $40.9 million |
| Wanted | July 3, 2008 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Relativity Media, Marc Platt Productions, Kickstart Productions and Top Cow Productions | $75 million | $341.4 million |
| Ghost Town | September 19, 2008 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Pariah | $20 million | $27.1 million |
| Flash of Genius | October 3, 2008 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Strike Entertainment | $20 million | $4.8 million |
| Four Christmases | December 3, 2008 | Warner Bros. Pictures | Released through Warner label New Line Cinema; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Wild West Picture Show Productions and Type A Films | $80 million | $163.7 million |
| Star Trek | July 4, 2009 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Bad Robot Productions | $150 million | $385.7 million |
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | August 7, 2009 | co-production with Hasbro and di Bonaventura Pictures | $175 million | $302.5 million | |
| Invictus | December 30, 2009 | Warner Bros. Pictures | co-production with Revelations Entertainment, Mace Neufeld Productions and Malpaso Productions | $50–60 million | $122.2 million |
2010s[]
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leap Year[23] | January 8, 2010 | Universal Pictures | co-production with BenderSpink and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $19 million | $32.6 million |
| Get Him to the Greek[24] | June 4, 2010 | co-production with Relativity Media and Apatow Productions | $40 million | $91.3 million | |
| Dinner for Schmucks[25] | July 30, 2010 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Parkes/MacDonald Productions, Reliance Big Pictures and Everyman Pictures | $69 million | $86.9 million |
| The Tourist[26] | December 10, 2010 | Sony Pictures Releasing | Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with GK Films, Birnbaum/Barber Productions and StudioCanal | $100 million | $278.3 million |
| The Dilemma[27] | January 14, 2011 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Imagine Entertainment and Wild West Picture Show Productions | $70 million | $69.7 million |
| No Strings Attached[28] | January 21, 2011 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DW Studios, co-production with Cold Spring Pictures and The Montecito Picture Company | $25 million | $149.2 million |
| Footloose[29] | October 14, 2011 | co-production with MTV Films, Dylan Sellers Productions, Zadan/Meron Productions and Weston Pictures | $24 million | $63.5 million | |
| The Vow[30] | February 10, 2012 | Sony Pictures Releasing | Released through Sony label Screen Gems; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $30 million | $196.1 million |
2020s[]
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scream[31] | January 14, 2022 | Paramount Pictures, Spyglass Media Group (some markets) | co-production with Paramount, Radio Silence, Project X[32] |
In development[]
| Title | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hellraiser[20][33] | Hulu | co-production with Phantom Four Films |
| Perfect Strangers[34] | TBA | co-production with Eagle Pictures, 3 Marys Entertainment and Hoorae |
| Short Circuit[35] | TBA | co-production with Project X Entertainment and Rehab Entertainment |
| Untitled Spy Kids film[36] | TBA | co-production with Skydance Media and Troublemaker Studios |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Template:Cite news
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Maddaus, Gene (15 July 2021). Lionsgate Acquires Bulk of Weinstein Film Library in Spyglass Deal.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Adalian, Josef (2002-08-06). Spyglass spiesTV prospects (en).
- ↑ Intermedia/Spyglass: A split decision (en) (2002-03-13).
- ↑ http://archive.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/03/25/cerberuss_success_hurt_by_a_pair_of_gambles
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Sakoui, Anoshua (August 19, 2019). Viacom and Lionsgate Go Head-to-Head in Fight for Miramax Stake. Bloomberg.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Leap Year (2010). AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
- ↑ Rechtshaffen, Michael (October 14, 2010). Get Him to the Greek – Film Review. The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Dinner for Schmucks (2010). AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
- ↑ McCarthy, Todd (December 8, 2010). Todd McCarthy's Review of 'The Tourist' With Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ The Dilemma. ComingSoon.net. CraveOnline.
- ↑ McCarthy, Todd (January 16, 2011). Film Review: 'No Strings Attached' Is Cutesy, Nowhere Near Hot Enough. The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Footloose (2011). AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
- ↑ The Vow (2012). AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 28, 2020). 'Scream' Relaunch Eyes 2022 Release, 'Snake Eyes' Rolls To 2021 & More – Paramount Release Date Changes. Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (June 24, 2020). New 'Scream' Movie From Spyglass Media Will Be Released by Paramount (EXCLUSIVE) (en). Variety.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (April 10, 2020). Spyglass' 'Hellraiser' Reboot Finds Its Writing/Directing Team (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (December 4, 2019). Issa Rae to Star in and Produce 'Perfect Strangers' Remake (en). Variety.
- ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 13, 2020). 'Short Circuit' Remake To Get Latinx Jolt From Spyglass Media Group. Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (January 26, 2021). Skydance Media To Reimagine The 'Spy Kids' Franchise With Spyglass Media And Series Creator Robert Rodriguez. Deadline Hollywood.
External links[]
- Template:Official website
- Template:IMDb company
Template:Film Studio Template:Lionsgate Template:Warner Bros. Template:Authority control