STX Entertainment
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Film, television |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Robert Simonds |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, CA |
Key people |
Robert Simonds (Chairman) Thomas B. McGrath (COO) Sophie Watts (President) Noah Fogelson (General Counsel & Executive VP, Corporate Strategy) Kathy Savitt (President of Digital Operations) |
| Website | stxentertainment.com |
STX Entertainment is an American film and television studio launched in 2014 by Robert Simonds.
History
In 2012, Simonds and Bill McGlashan, the head of TPG Growth, were discussing the profitability of producing films with a star attached and a medium budget (in the $20–60 million range), a method that had gone out of style with Hollywood studios. The conversation led to the launch of STX Entertainment in 2014, with a mission to finance, produce, market and self-distribute 8 to 10 medium budget star-driven films per year.[1] In March 2015, STX announced a deal with Chinese film production company Huayi Bros. to co-finance at least 18 films to be produced over a three-year period beginning in 2016, which would increase STX's slate to 12 to 15 films annually through 2018.[2][3][4]
Rather than pursuing the traditional distribution process, STX has direct distribution agreements with North American theater chains AMC, Regal, Cinemark and Carmike.[5] In January 2015, STX signed a multiyear television output agreement to release its films exclusively to Showtime Networks during the premium television window, beginning in 2015 and covering the studio’s theatrical releases through 2019.[6] In April 2015, STX entered into a multiyear partnership with Universal Studios Home Entertainment, with Universal handling marketing, sales and distribution services for Blu-ray, DVD and VOD platforms of STX’s theatrical titles in North America.[7]
STX is backed by venture capital firm TPG, Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital, and private equity including Gigi Pritzker and Beau Wrigley.[1][5][8] The studio has announced plans to invest over $1 billion per year through 2018 in making, marketing and distributing films.[2][4]
Film production
In January 2015, STX announced its first slate of four films: The Gift, a thriller starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Joel Edgerton, and written and directed by Edgerton; Secret in Their Eyes, a remake of the 2009 Argentine film, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts, and written and directed by Billy Ray; The Boy, a psychological horror thriller directed by William Brent Bell and starring Lauren Cohan; The Free State of Jones, a Civil War drama starring Matthew McConaughey and written and directed by Gary Ross; and Russ and Roger Go Beyond, starring Will Ferrell and based on the true story of the collaboration between Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert.[6][8][9][10] STX also acquired worldwide rights to the action film Hardcore for $10 million after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it the studio's first acquisition.[11] In April 2016, it was announced that Barbra Streisand and Barry Levinson will be producing a film version of the Broadway musical Gypsy for STX.[12] with a screenplay by Richard LaGravenese.[13]
Television production
STX's first television project was the 13-episode series State of Affairs, which was developed by STX and sold to NBC.[1] The drama/thriller stars Katherine Heigl and Alfre Woodard.[14] It premiered on NBC on November 17, 2014.[15] STX is also producing the NBC pilot Problem Child, based on the 1990 film of the same name.[16]
Management
Robert Simonds serves as chairman and CEO,[1] former Viacom Entertainment COO Tom McGrath serves as COO, Sophie Watts serves as President, and Noah Fogelson is General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy of the parent company.[5] In September 2014, former Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson was hired as STX’s Chairman of the Motion Picture Group division.[17][18] Also that month, Oren Aviv, former President of Marketing at 20th Century Fox and Disney was hired as the President and Chief Content Officer of the Motion Picture Group, working with Fogelson to develop, produce and market STX's films.[10][19] In September 2015, Kathy Savitt, formerly head of digital media for Yahoo, announced that she would join STX as president of digital operations.[20]
List of films/television
Film
| Release Date | Title | Budget | Box office (worldwide) | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 7, 2015 | The Gift | $5 million | $59 million | 93% |
| November 20, 2015 | Secret in Their Eyes | $19.5 million | $32.2 million | 40% |
| January 22, 2016 | The Boy | $10 million | $64 million | 29% |
| April 8, 2016 | Hardcore Henry | $2 million | $11.3 million | 51% |
Upcoming
| Release Date | Title |
|---|---|
| June 24, 2016 | Free State of Jones |
| July 29, 2016 | Bad Moms |
| August 19, 2016 | The Space Between Us |
| September 30, 2016 | The Edge of Seventeen |
| December 9, 2016 | The Bye Bye Man |
| 2016 | Desierto |
| 2016 | The Foreigner |
| TBA | Russ & Roger Go Beyond |
| TBA | Hunter Killer |
Television
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-2015 | State of Affairs | |
| 2015 | Problem Child | Pilot |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Anita Busch, "Is This Hollywood’s Next Major Studio? Bob Simonds & TPG Growth’s Venture Fully Financed, JP Morgan Says; Hiring, Deals To Start In Earnest," Deadline.com, March 13, 2014.
- 1 2 Anita Busch and Nancy Tartaglione, "STX Entertainment Pacts With China’s Huayi Bros For 12-15 Pics Per Year," Deadline.com, April 1, 2015.
- ↑ Brent Lang, "STX Entertainment Chief Says Huayi Deal ‘Supercharges Our Business Plan’," Variety, April 1, 2015.
- 1 2 Richard Verrier, "China's Huayi Bros. Media closes film slate deal with STX Entertainment," Los Angeles Times, April 2, 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Robert Simonds, Gigi Pritzker Pact with TPG, China’s Hony Capital on Production Venture," Variety, March 10, 2014.
- 1 2 Dave McNary, "STX Entertainment, Showtime Announce TV Output Deal and First 4 Films," Variety, January 20, 2015.
- ↑ Rebecca Ford, "STX Entertainment Signs Pact With Universal Studios Home Entertainment," The Hollywood Reporter, April 7, 2015.
- 1 2 Rebecca Ford, "Showtime, STX Entertainment Announce TV Deal and First Four Films," The Hollywood Reporter, January 20, 2015.
- ↑ Max Evry, "STX Entertainment and Showtime Partner for Slate of Films," ComingSoon.net, January 20, 2015.
- 1 2 Brent Lang, "STX Entertainment Dates Films With Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts, Jason Blum," Variety, February 25, 2015.
- ↑ "STX Entertainment Closing Deal For ‘Hardcore’: $10 Million And Wide Release Commitment –Toronto". Deadline. 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/barbra-streisand-barry-levinson-make-882849
- ↑ http://www.playbill.com/article/barbra-streisand-gypsy-film-may-happen-after-all-com-369115
- ↑ James Hibberd, "Katherine Heigl drama plus 2 more get NBC series orders," Entertainment Weekly, May 6, 2014.
- ↑ Saba Hamedy, "TV ratings: NBC wins key demo; 'State of Affairs' has decent premiere," Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2014.
- ↑ Nellie Andreeva, "‘Problem Child’ Comedy Based On Movie Gets NBC Pilot Order," Deadline.com, January 29, 2015.
- ↑ Anita Busch, "Former Uni Chairman Adam Fogelson Hired As Chairman Of STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group," Deadline.com, September 24, 2014.
- ↑ Tad Friend, "The Mogul of the Middle," The New Yorker, January 11, 2016.
- ↑ Anita Busch and Mike Fleming Jr, "Ex-Fox, Disney Marketer Oren Aviv Officially Joins Robert Simonds’ STX Venture," Deadline.com, September 3, 2014.
- ↑ Vindu Goel and Brooks Barnes, "Kathy Savitt, Yahoo’s Head of Media, Leaves for Movie Studio," New York Times, September 11, 2015.