Brian Robbins, former co-CEO of Paramount Global, has launched Big Shot Pictures, an entertainment company that develops animated franchises.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has signed a first-look theatrical distribution deal with Big Shot, which will see Big Shot produce both animated and hybrid live-action films for the studio. The company announced that it has acquired the rights to Eloise at the Plaza, a children’s book series created by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight about a six-year-old living in a legendary New York City hotel.
Robbins has extensive experience in the family entertainment field. He previously directed Nickelodeon and co-founded AwesomenessTV, a digital media company targeting audiences as young as two. The company was acquired by DreamWorks Animation. He also founded Thorin/Robbins Productions, producing hit series such as “All That,” “Keenan & Kel,” and “Young Bill.”
At Paramount, Robbins helped revitalize the studio’s film division, producing such hits as “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “The Naked Gun.” But his tenure coincided with Shari Redstone’s efforts to sell the company, complicating recovery plans. Last year, Paramount struggled at the box office with flops like “The Running Man” and “Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning.”
In a press release announcing the new venture, Robbins announced that he has secured strategic investment from Greycroft, Sony Pictures, MercyPen Capital Partners, ValueAct Capital and CAA. According to Big Shot, the deal is being represented by Matthew Johnson of Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Cole and David Hernando of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett.
So what makes Big Shot different from the many companies it competes with in one of Hollywood’s most durable genres: family entertainment?Part of that is the way it develops proofs of concept. We plan to use digital platforms such as YouTube to test and build an audience for the intellectual property we develop. If they are connected, those series could be reconfigured as full-length theatrical releases or streaming series. The company said it will also develop games, consumer products and experiences.
“We’re building ways for kids to really discover and connect with today,” Robbins said in a statement. “For us, the opportunity couldn’t be clearer, and the time is now. From reimagining timeless IP to discovering bold, original ideas from emerging creators, we work with the most talented artists to bring these stories to life.”
