Ben Affleck and Matt Damon‘s Artists Equity has solely been round for 3 years, however in that span the corporate has created various starry tasks designed to create extra fairness for the artists that truly create them (therefore the identify). However after bouncing round between distributors and taking time to discover a dwelling for a few of their extra formidable tasks, they’ve now settled down and tied the knot with a studio.
Artists Equity has entered into an general theatrical function movie deal with Sony Photos, a three-year deal that may see Sony finance and theatrically distribute globally something that Affleck and Damon’s firm develops and produces. Artists Equity may even have the choice to co-finance particular person tasks.
The corporate was based in response to giving artists a bigger share of streaming earnings, however they’ve now landed with a studio in Sony that may decide to theatrical releases for all of their titles and doesn’t have a streamer of its personal. No tasks below the present deal have been introduced simply but.
“Artists Equity, within the brief span of its existence, has confirmed remarkably adept at growing and producing top quality industrial movies,” mentioned Tom Rothman, Chairman & CEO of Sony Photos’ Movement Image Group. “This isn’t a shock to me as I’ve recognized the 2 artistic ‘Execs from Dover’ for a few years and all the time admired their smarts, expertise, and moxie. Now that Ben and Matt and their workforce have set their sights firmly on the excessive bar of the theatrical market, Sony is fortunate as hell to be partnering with them. We sit up for making a bunch of hit movies collectively.”
Affleck added in a press release: “It’s an enormously significant landmark for Artists Equity to be making movies for theatrical launch with Sony Photos and particularly with Tom Rothman, with whom Matt and I am going again greater than 20 years. Tom has each a deep and abiding love for films and an understanding of and appreciation for a way they’re made. I can’t consider a greater associate than Sony, which is absolutely in on the theatrical expertise, as Artists Equity seeks to make movies expressly meant to be seen within the cinema, with an viewers. It’s an honor to make movies for the magical darkish room the place we come collectively with strangers to mission our innermost secrets and techniques onto a display, surrendering to a narrative collectively, agreeing to share the identical flickering dream. I’m grateful for the chance to deliver films to a world viewers, with all the knowledgeable Sony workforce.”
So far, nearly all of Artists Equity’s releases have been streaming exclusives, and that might be true for a few of their upcoming options. Up subsequent for the studio is “RIP,” which is a Netflix motion movie starring Damon, Affleck, Teyana Taylor, and Scott Adkins and is directed by Joe Carnahan. Netflix can be releasing the subsequent movie to be directed by Affleck, “Animals,” wherein he additionally stars alongside Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, and Kerry Washington. The studio’s “Kiss of the Spider Lady,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical directed by Invoice Condon and starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh, is being launched by Lionsgate.
Of their prior releases, Amazon MGM used the corporate’s first movie “Air” as its take a look at balloon of types to see how theatrical might bolster the eventual launch of one thing on streaming down the street. Although the film carried a $90 million manufacturing funds, it additionally introduced in that a lot in its theatrical run and proved a streaming hit as nicely. Solely “Small Issues Like These” with Cillian Murphy and “The Accountant 2” have additionally gotten theatrical runs, whereas “The Instigators” and “Unstoppable” have been streaming exclusives.
On Sony’s finish although, it constantly places the corporate in enterprise with main stars like Affleck and Damon at a time when theatrical depends upon starry, occasion movies.
