Hasbro Entertainment Explained

Hasbro Entertainment
Type:Division
Industry:Entertainment
Hq Location City:Burbank, California
Hq Location Country:United States
Parent:Hasbro

Hasbro Entertainment is a production and distribution company owned and operated by American toy and multimedia company Hasbro and launched on August 16, 2023.[1] It succeeds Allspark, previously known as Hasbro Studios, as Hasbro's primary media production and distribution company and Entertainment One (or eOne for short). Hasbro acquired the latter in 2019, had its family brands division absorbed into this division[2] and sold it to Lionsgate on December 27, 2023. Lionsgate then rebranded Entertainment One as Lionsgate Canada on June 7, 2024 according to the Canadian publication, Playback.[3]

History

Background

Under the leadership of Brian Goldner as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), American toy company Hasbro was expanding into the audiovisual media industry, especially theatrical feature film productions.[4] [5] On August 22, 2019, Hasbro announced its purchase of the Canadian company Entertainment One (eOne) for about US$4 billion;[6] Goldner led the acquisition. The deal was completed on December 30, 2019.[7] Following the acquisition of eOne, Hasbro's own media production and distribution company Allspark (formerly known as Hasbro Studios) was folded into the acquired Canadian subsidiary,[8] which was under the leadership of Darren Throop, president of family brands Olivier Dumont, and former HBO head of programming Michael Lombardo.[9]

However, following the death of Goldner on October 12, 2021, the subsequent promotion of Chris Cocks (who was previously with another Hasbro division, Wizards of the Coast) as the CEO in early-2022,[10] and after defeating a board challenge from a hedge fund company in June 2022 over the management of WotC,[11] [12] Hasbro announced in late-2022 their intent to sell most eOne assets with companies such as Fremantle (who dropped out of the bid), Lionsgate, Legendary, CVC Capital Partners and GoDigital Media Group bidding for the acquisition, a transaction that would place the distribution rights to the Hasbro Studios/Allspark library and newer Hasbro-related content back to Hasbro. It was ultimately decided that on August 3, 2023, Lionsgate would acquire the eOne assets for $500 million. The deal closed on December 27, 2023.[13]

Development

During its 2023 Q2 Earnings Conference Call in August 2023, Hasbro announced a new banner titled Hasbro Entertainment. The studio is being overseen by former Entertainment One executives Olivier Dumont as president, Zev Foreman as head of film, and Gabriel Marano as head of television. Dumont was quoted as saying, "We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter, building upon our rich heritage of storytelling to continue delighting audiences across generations. Gabe, Zev, and I look forward to working with the industry's best creative talent, studios, and distribution platforms to push the envelope with innovative storytelling that will let fans engage with their favorite brands like never before, while also building exciting new worlds and the next wave of Hasbro franchises for a growing audience."[14]

Additionally, Tim Kilpin, President of Toy Licensing and Entertainment for Hasbro, was quoted as saying, "Entertainment is core to Hasbro's strategy and its mission to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Audiences can count on Hasbro to keep creating compelling and fun entertainment that brings to life our wide array of iconic brands, including Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, and Transformers, reaching audiences through varied platforms in ways that resonate in today's fast-paced world."

Staff

Subsidiaries

Television

Current

!Title!Original run!Network!Co-production with
Inherited from Entertainment One, now Lionsgate Canada
Peppa Pig2004–presentChannel 5
Nick Jr.
Astley Baker Davies Ltd (Series 1–8)
Karrot Animation (Series 7–present)
PJ Masks2015–presentDisney Junior
France 5
Frog Box
TeamTO
Ricky Zoom2019–presentGulli
RAI
Youku Kids
Frog Box
TeamTO
Maga Animation Studio
Ninja Express2021–presentKetnet
Gulli
CBBC
Frog Box
Creative Conspiracy
2022–presentYouTubeLil Critter Workshop
2022–2023NetflixEntertainment One
Atomic Cartoons
2022–presentParamount+
Nickelodeon
Entertainment One
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes2023–presentDisney Junior
France 4
Triggerfish Animation Studios
Frog Box
TeamTO
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury2023NetflixEntertainment One
Power Rangers Productions, Ltd.
Toei Company
Odd-Paw Vet2023–presentYouTubeAmuse Studios

Upcoming

TitleOriginal runNetworkCo-production withNote
ScrabbleOctober 7, 2024The CWLionsgate Alternative Television
Mattel Television
[15]
Trivial PursuitLionsgate Alternative Television

Films

In development

TitleProduction byDistributed byNote
MonopolyLionsgate Films
LuckyChap Entertainment
eOne Films
Lionsgate[19]
TriStar Pictures
Blink Wink Productions
Maximum Effort
Aggregate Films
Sony Pictures Releasing[20] [21] [22]
G.I. Joe: Ever VigilantSkydance Media
Di Bonaventura Pictures
Paramount Pictures[23] [24]
Play-DohElectric Somewhere[25]
Untitled G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover filmDi Bonaventura Pictures
Bayhem Films
[26] [27]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Otterson. Joe. August 16, 2023. Hasbro Launches Entertainment Division Led by eOne Executives Olivier Dumont, Zev Foreman, Gabriel Marano. Variety. August 18, 2023.
  2. News: Low. Elaine. August 22, 2019. Hasbro Acquires Entertainment One in $4 Billion All-Cash Deal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126141031/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/hasbro-acquires-entertainment-one-in-4-billion-all-cash-deal-1203311068/. January 26, 2021. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. August 22, 2019.
  3. Web site: Townsend. Kelly. June 7, 2024. Entertainment One rebrands to Lionsgate Canada. Playback. June 8, 2024.
  4. Web site: Saperstein. Pat. October 12, 2021. Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, Producer on 'Transformers' Movies, Dies at 58. October 13, 2021. Variety. en-US.
  5. News: McLean. Rob. October 13, 2021. Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner has died. October 13, 2021. CNN.
  6. News: Hasbro to buy Entertainment One for $4B US . . . August 22, 2019 . August 22, 2019 .
  7. News: Vlessing . Etan . Hasbro Closes $3.8B Entertainment One Takeover . December 30, 2019 . . December 30, 2019 . en.
  8. News: Foster . Elizabeth . October 9, 2020 . eOne takes the reins on Hasbro's content efforts . en . KidScreen . October 22, 2020.
  9. News: Kanter . Jake . February 17, 2020 . Entertainment One Begins Delving Into Hasbro's "Treasure Chest" Of Brands . en . Deadline . October 3, 2020.
  10. News: Eckhouse . Brian . Hasbro Names Chris Cocks CEO Following Death of Longtime Head Goldner . January 6, 2022 . Bloomberg.com . January 5, 2022.
  11. News: 2022-06-07 . Hasbro Fends Off Activist Alta Fox's Push for Board Shake-Up . en . Bloomberg.com . 2022-06-08.
  12. Web site: Whitten . Sarah . 2022-06-08 . Dungeons & Dragons maker Hasbro wins board battle against activist investor Alta Fox . 2022-06-08 . CNBC . en.
  13. Web site: Goldbart . Max . 2023-08-03 . Hasbro Confirms Sale Of eOne To Lionsgate For $500M . 2023-08-03 . Deadline . en-US.
  14. Web site: Otterson . Joe . 2023-08-16 . Hasbro Launches Entertainment Division Led by eOne Executives Olivier Dumont, Zev Foreman, Gabriel Marano . 2023-08-17 . Variety . en-US.
  15. Web site: Zee. Michaela. Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit Game Shows Picked Up by The CW. Variety. February 14, 2024.
  16. Web site: Hersko . Tyler . 2020-04-30 . Josh Cooley to Follow 'Toy Story 4' Oscar Win With Animated 'Transformers' Prequel . 2023-08-18 . IndieWire . en-US.
  17. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . 2020-04-30 . Animated 'Transformers' Prequel Activated; 'Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  18. Web site: Grobar . Matt . 2023-05-24 . 'Transformers One': Paramount Pushes Date For Animated Feature . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  19. Web site: 'Barbie' Producer LuckyChap Rolls Dice On 'Monopoly' With Lionsgate & Hasbro – CinemaCon. Nancy. Tartaglione. Anthony. D'Alessandro. Deadline Hollywood. April 10, 2024. April 11, 2024.
  20. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . 2018-01-22 . Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Makes 3-Year Fox Deal; First Up Is 'Clue' With 'Deadpool' Scribes Reese & Wernick . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  21. Web site: Welk . Brian . 2019-09-25 . Jason Bateman in Talks to Direct and Star in 'Clue' Reboot With Ryan Reynolds . 2023-08-18 . TheWrap . en-US.
  22. Web site: Hipes . Patrick . 2020-02-11 . James Bobin In Talks To Direct 'Clue' Movie At 20th Century . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  23. Web site: Ng . David . 2017-03-21 . Looking beyond 'Transformers,' Hasbro wants to create its own Marvel-sized movie universe . 2023-08-18 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  24. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 2017-12-18 . Paramount Dates Future Franchises For 2020 & 2021: 'G.I. Joe', 'Micronauts' & More . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  25. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 2022-03-17 . 'Play-Doh': Emily V. Gordon To Write, Jon M. Chu Circling To Direct Animated Pic For eOne & Hasbro About Colorful Clay . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  26. Web site: 11 April 2024 . D'Alessandro . Anthony . Transformers-G.I. Joe Crossover Movie Made Official By Paramount – CinemaCon . .
  27. Web site: 11 April 2024 . Bankhurst . Adam . Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover Movie Is Officially Happening . . crossover movie will be released in theaters in 2025 or 2026..