Thunderbird Films

Thunderbird Films
Private
Industry Film
Television
Founded 2003
Headquarters Vancouver, British Columbia
Toronto, Ontario
Los Angeles, California
Subsidiaries Reunion Pictures
Website http://www.thunderbird.tv/

Thunderbird Films is an expanded multiplatform media production, distribution and rights management company based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Thunderbird has a catalogue of more than 400 hours of Canadian and US television content, including such children's series as Some Assembly Required, Zigby, Zixx, Mr. Young and dramas such as Endgame, Da Vinci's Inquest, and Intelligence. Together with Soda Pictures, Thunderbird has acquired the rights to films such as High-Rise, Disorder and The Second Mother. It was recently announced that Lionsgate Founder and Thunderbird Director Frank Giustra will act as executive producer alongside Thunderbird CEO Tim Gamble for the Blade Runner Sequel. The TV series Guilt also received a series order from ABC Family, the show is produced by Sea to Sky Entertainment - a joint venture between Lionsgate and Thunderbird Films. On February 10, 2016, it was announced that Thunderbird would be co-producing Netflix Original series Beat Bugs, a series that features music from The Beatles, covered by artists such as Eddie Vedder, Sia and P!nk. Thunderbird's programming airs on major networks around the globe.

Reunion Pictures

On April 4, 2013 it was announced that Thunderbird Films purchased Reunion Pictures. Matthew O’Connor, Lisa Richardson and Tom Rowe, who formed Reunion Pictures in 2004, will remain with the company and produce under their own brand, as will Thunderbird.[1]

Package Deal

On May 29, 2012 CityTV's original content team announced that it had commissioned Package Deal, a new comedy series produced by Thunderbird Films and created by Andrew Orenstein (Malcolm in the Middle, 3rd Rock from the Sun). Package Deal is a 13-episode, half-hour, multi-camera original comedy about three overly close brothers and the woman who comes between them.[2] On April 1, 2013 it was announced that Package Deal would begin airing on the CityTV network starting Monday, May 6, 2013 at 8:30pm PST.[3] The second season premiered on CityTV on September 12, 2014, and on April 20, 2015, it was announced by Thunderbird that the sitcom would be made available to stream in the US on Hulu. Package Deal stars Randal Edwards, Harland Williams, Jay Malone, Julia Voth and Jill Morrison.

Mr. Young

Thunderbird Films and Corus Entertainment commenced production on a 26 episode first season of the comedy series Mr. Young in October 2010. The series was created by Dan Signer (The Suite Life on Deck, A.N.T. Farm), and stars Brendan Meyer, Matreya Fedor and Gig Morton. Mr. Young centers on child prodigy Adam Young (Brendan Meyer), who graduated from university at the age of 14. He decides to come back to high school to live the high school experience, only he becomes the science teacher at the school. With one-foot in the lunch room and the other foot in the staff room, it’s Mr. Young’s social life that’s being put to the test.[4] On April 29, 2011 Mr. Young was renewed for a 26 episode second season.[5] The series was renewed for a third season in April, 2012. Thunderbird began production of a 28 episode third season on May 10, 2012.[6] Mr. Young is broadcast on YTV in Canada and Disney XD in the United States.[4]

Some Assembly Required

Thunderbird Films and Corus Entertainment commenced production on a 26 episode first season of the comedy series Some Assembly Required, which premiered on YTV on January 6, 2014. The series was created by Dan Signer (The Suite Life on Deck, A.N.T. Farm), and Howard Nemetz (Mr. Young, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) and stars Kolton Stewart, Charlie Storwick and Harrison Houde. Some Assembly Required tells the story of Jarvis Raines (Kolton Stewart), an average teenager who becomes boss overnight after he sues a toy company over a defective chemistry set that blows up his house. Jarvis' first act as CEO of Knickknack Toys is to recruit a group of kids from his high school to help him run the company. On January 5, 2015, Some Assembly Required returned to YTV for a 18 episode second season. The series was renewed for a third season in August, 2015, and began production of 13 new episodes that same month. Some Assembly Required is broadcast on YTV in Canada, and on February 25, 2015 it was announced that Netflix acquired season one, which began streaming worldwide outside of Canada on June 19, 2015. On October 16, 2015 Netflix began streaming season two of the series. The 3rd season of "Some Assembly Required" is set to begin airing a 13 episode season on March 14.

Beat Bugs

Beat Bugs is a Netflix Original Series that incorporates songs from the Lennon/McCartney ‘Northern Songs’ catalogue, to tell uplifting and life-affirming stories filled with hope and melody. World-leading artists, animators and writers have come together to work on this extraordinary show. The Beat Bugs are charming, funny, adventurous, and have a knack for getting themselves into mischief and mayhem. Each of the five friends (Jay, Kumi, Crick, Buzz, and Walter) has a distinctive personality, and they display the charm and energy of five knockabout, lovable kids. They are best friends who band together to explore and learn in an overgrown suburban backyard, which to them is their entire universe.

The show will feature some of the most well-known Beatles songs woven into the narrative of each episode, with Eddie Vedder, P!nk, James Bay, Sia, The Shins, Of Monsters and Men, Chris Cornell, Regina Spektor, James Corden, and Birdy each recording their rendition of an iconic song. Further artists joining the project are expected to be announced in the coming months. Among the songs featured include Help!, All You Need Is Love, Come Together, Penny Lane, Yellow Submarine, Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Magical Mystery Tour.

It was announced in February 2016 that Thunderbird would be a co-producer on the series.

Endgame

Endgame is a Drama Series that was developed and produced by Thunderbird Films.[7] The series premiered on Showcase Television network on Monday, March 14, 2011.[8] In the US, Endgame was broadcast exclusively on Hulu.[9] The series follows former World Chess Champion Arkady Balagan, a genius who uses his analytical skills to solve crimes. Endgame stars Shawn Doyle (Big Love, 24) as Arkady Balagan and features Patrick Gallagher (Glee), Torrance Coombs (Heartland), Katharine Isabelle (Da Vinci's Inquest, Supernatural) and Carmen Aguirre (The L Word).

Blade Runner

Thunderbird Films owns a 50 percent stake in the Blade Runner franchise and will be an active partner in the new Blade Runner feature film, with CEO Tim Gamble and Frank Giustra will serve as Executive Producers.[10] It was announced on August 18, 2011 that Ridley Scott has signed on to direct and produce the new installment of Blade Runner[11] and that the original screenwriter, Hampton Fancher is in talks to pen the untitled sequel.[10]

On February 27, 2015 it was announced that Canadian Director Denis Villeneuve will be directing the sequel, and on February 28, 2015 it was confirmed that Harrison Ford will reprise his role as Rick Deckard, with Ryan Gosling in talks to star in the remake.[12] On May 21, 2015, award winning Cinematographer Roger Deakins joined the Blade Runner sequel, which is rumored to be named 'Android Dream'.

Sea to Sky Entertainment

In March 2012, Thunderbird Films announced a new partnership between Lionsgate Entertainment to form Sea to Sky Entertainment. The announcement came weeks after Frank Giustra became a major shareholder in Thunderbird Films.[13] Lionsgate and Thunderbird will jointly manage the venture, which is designed to share production and distribution costs for all scripted projects picked up to series.[14] Thunderbird and Lionsgate intend to do eight to ten productions a year through the Sea to Sky pact.[13] In February 2013, Sea to Sky Entertainment announced Brett Burlock as its vice president of creative affairs. The ex-head of development at CTV, whose credits include Flashpoint and The Borgias has been charged by Lionsgate and Thunderbird Films with creating a one-stop studio alternative for Canadian Networks.[15]

On August 17, 2015, ABC Family announced the cast of Guilt, a one-hour drama about a young American woman in London who becomes a prime suspect in the savage murder of her roommate. The series stars Katrina Law and Billy Zane, and is a co-production of Sea to Sky Entertainment (the joint venture between Lionsgate Television and Thunderbird Films) and BV Family Productions in association with ABC Family. Gary Fleder (Kingdom, Scorpion) will direct. On November 5, 2015, Guilt received a series order from ABC Family.

Atomic Cartoons

On July 8, 2015, Thunderbird Films acquired Canadian animation company Atomic Cartoons.[16]

In February 2016, it was announced that Atomic Cartoons would be creating the animation for Netflix Original Series Beat Bugs, which is a show inspired by over 50 famous Beatles tunes, covered by numerous international artists.

Thunderbird catalogue

TV series

Films

References

  1. ↑ Reporter, The Hollywood (2013-04-04). "MIPTV: Thunderbird Films Acquires 'Continuum' Producer Reunion Pictures (Exclusive)". Thehollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  2. ↑ "CITYTV | Citytv Greenlights Two New Original Comedy Series, Package Deal and Seed". Newswire.ca. 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  3. ↑ "CITYTV | City to debut Package Deal comedy on May 6". playbackonline.ca. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  4. 1 2 "Press Release - Whiz-Kids-Turned-Teen Genius Mr. Young Acquired By Disney XD Around the World". Corusent.com. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  5. ↑ Wendy Goldman Getzler (2011-04-29). "YTV’s Mr. Young gets second season". Kidscreen. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  6. ↑ Wild, Diane (2012-04-24). "Mr. Young season 3 going into production | TV, eh?". Tv-eh.com. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  7. ↑ "Thunderbird Films Inc. - News - SHAWN DOYLE STARS IN CANWEST'S NEW ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES ENDGAME - Thu Jul 12, 2012". Thunderbirdfilms.net. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  8. ↑ "ENDGAME | Vancouver TV Listings, Real Estate Listings, and Movie Listings - What's On". Whatsoninvancouver.ca. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "Hulu Picks Up Canadian Drama 'Endgame'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  10. 1 2 "'Blade Runner' Writer to Re-Team with Director Ridley Scott on Sequel". Hollywood Reporter. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  11. ↑ "Ridley Scott to Direct New 'Blade Runner' Movie". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  12. ↑ "'Ryan Gosling to star in 'Blade Runner' Sequel". Deadline. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  13. 1 2 Sun, Vancouver (2012-03-15). "Sea to sky 'wins on all kinds of fronts'". Canada.com. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  14. ↑ "Lionsgate Reunites with Founder for TV Venture (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  15. ↑ Online, Playback (2013-02-06). "Brett Burlock to head up Toronto base for Sea to Sky Entertainment". playbackonline.ca. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  16. ↑ http://kidscreen.com/2015/07/08/thunderbird-acquires-atomic-cartoons/
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