Japanese studio Toho, producer of present field workplace hit Godzilla Minus One, is paying $225M to accumulate a 25% stake in producer-distributor Fifth Season.
The funding is being made by means of Toho’s U.S. subsidiary, Toho International. Korea’s CJ ENM stays the bulk shareholder in Fifth Season, following an acquisition made final 12 months, whereas Endeavor Group Holdings continues as a strategic shareholder.
Fifth Season Co-CEOs Graham Taylor and Chris Rice stated the funding would empower the corporate to proceed increasing its slate of premium content material, in addition to create alternatives for collaboration between Fifth Season, Toho and CJ EMN.
“CJ ENM and Fifth Season will work with Toho to both produce global content and participate in content produced in Japan, while Toho’s development and production executives will team with Fifth Season,” stated Taylor and Rice in a joint assertion made with Toho President Hiro Matsuoka. “Production and creative efforts that result from these collaborations will benefit from Fifth Season’s robust global distribution network.”
Fifth Season’s TV productions contains Apple TV+ Severance, directed and produced by Ben Stiller, in addition to Max’s Tokyo Vice, Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, starring Nicole Kidman, and Hulu’s Life & Beth, starring Amy Schumer, with the latter three at the moment in manufacturing on their second season.
New collection in manufacturing embody Chief Of War starring Jason Momoa, Lady In The Lake, directed by Alma Har’el and starring Natalie Portman, and The Savant, starring Jessica Chastain. Fifth Season additionally handles distribution for a library of collection produced by others.
On the movie facet, Fifth Season at the moment has Eileen, directed by William Oldroyd and starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway, on launch. Upcoming options embody Nonnas from director Stephen Chobsky, and Anniversary from writer-director Jan Komasa.
In addition to manufacturing, Toho is a serious distributor in Japan of each native and international movies, in addition to an exhibitor with 740 screens and a 30% market share.
Taylor and Rice stated: “This investment is an excellent and unique opportunity to build on Fifth Season’s momentum and solidify our leadership in the global independent film and television space. Strategic partnerships are a core piece of our DNA, and we were deliberate in moving forward with a company as successful, storied, and aligned with our goals and values as Toho. With their collaboration, alongside that of the great partnerships with CJ ENM and Endeavor, Fifth Season is positioned better than ever to delight audiences around the world with an expansive slate of top-quality content.”
Matsuoka stated: “We believe that this collaboration will be a significant step towards challenging the global market, not only in the field of animation where Toho has excelled, but also in the realm of live-action content. We are extremely grateful and excited to take on this challenge hand in hand with CJ ENM, which has been advancing into the global entertainment market from Asia, and Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company. Crossing the ‘bridge’ between Japan and the world that will be built through this collaboration, we hope to see Japanese projects, intellectual properties, and content expand further into the global market.”
Koo Chang-gun, CEO of CJ ENM, stated: “We are thrilled to have Toho, the biggest entertainment company in Japan, as our partner at this time when Fifth Season is making significant strides as a global major studio. CJ ENM will continue to strengthen its competitive advantage as a content producer and bolster its status as a global IP powerhouse.”
Fifth Season was suggested on this transaction by The Raine Group, which acted as unique monetary advisor, and O’Melveny as authorized advisor.