Paramount Pictures expands film partnership with Hasbro

A new five-year exclusive deal will see the companies collaborate on live-action and animated films based on Hasbro brands, as well as original content.
November 3, 2017

Paramount Pictures has expanded its existing relationship with Hasbro in a new five-year exclusive deal that will see the companies collaborate on live-action and animated films based on Hasbro brands, as well as original content.

While terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, Paramount and Hasbro will co-finance projects, including TV programming, at various levels of investment. Paramount will handle worldwide distribution over the course of the deal.

Hasbro’s film label Allspark Pictures, led by newly hired president Greg Mooradian, and Allspark Animation, under the leadership of Hasbro’s Meghan McCarthy, will work alongside the companies on development and production. Irish animation studio Boulder Media (Danger Mouse, Wander Over Yonder), which Hasbro acquired in July 2016 to strengthen its TV and feature film capabilities, will also help produce the companies’ new projects. The Dublin-based subsidiary, as well as Hasbro’s entertainment division Hasbro Studios, currently report to Hasbro CCO Stephen Davis, who leads the Rhode Island-based toyco’s entertainment and consumer products licensing division.

Paramount’s relationship with Hasbro began more than a decade ago, and to date, the companies have delivered five Transformers movies, as well as two G.I. Joe features.

In late 2015, the companies formed a new partnership to create a cross-property film universe featuring characters based on five Hasbro brands: G.I. Joe, Micronauts, Visionaries, M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) and ROM. It is not yet known if any of the five brands will factor into the companies’ renewed collaboration.

The previously announced film universe has Allspark producing the films, with Hasbro chairman, president and CEO Brian Goldner, Davis, and head of film development Josh Feldman collaborating with Paramount to shape the five interconnected stories. In April 2016, Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) was also hired to oversee the writer’s room and executive produce for the film universe.

The new five-year film deal comes following a 7% increase in Hasbro’s Q3 revenue and net earnings and the announcement of the second-ever HASCON fan convention.

About The Author
Jeremy is the Features Editor of Kidscreen specializing in the content production, broadcasting and distribution aspects of the global children's entertainment industry. Contact Jeremy at jdickson@brunico.com.

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