Skydance Media

Skydance Media, formerly known as Skydance Productions, is an American production company established in Santa Monica, California by David Ellison in 2006.

On October 25, 2011, Skydance attempted to sign a production deal with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci of K/O Paper Products, but the deal did not come to fruition.

In August 2010, David Ellison raised $350 million to collaborate with Paramount Pictures in funding movies. This partnership aimed to support the production of various films.

On October 25, 2011, Skydance made an effort to secure a production deal with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci of K/O Paper Products, but the deal did not come to fruition.

In 2012, Skydance collaborated with Tom Cruise to bring Lee Child's Jack Reacher book series to the big screen. Cruise's portrayal of the hard-hitting vigilante, along with his stunt driving skills, contributed to the film's success.

On April 3, 2013, Skydance Productions announced the launch of its TV division and appointed Marcy Ross, a former Fox executive, as the President. This strategic move aimed to expand Skydance's presence in television content.

On May 1, 2013, Skydance launched Skydance Television and appointed Marcy Ross as division president.

In June 2013, Carolyn Harris was appointed as Vice President at Skydance TV.

In January 2014, Skydance appointed Jesse Sisgold as the President of Business Affairs & Strategic Planning. This decision was part of Skydance's efforts to strengthen its business operations and strategic direction.

On July 15, 2014, Jesse Sisgold was promoted to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) position at Skydance. This promotion reflected Sisgold's growing role and responsibilities within the company.

On March 3, 2015, Skydance appointed Anne Globe as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This hiring aimed to enhance Skydance's marketing strategies and brand positioning.

In March 2016, Skydance, led by David Ellison, secured $700 million in funding for its film and TV projects. This substantial investment marked a significant milestone for Skydance's future productions.

Skydance is developing a TV series based on the 'Faster Than Light' augmented reality comic series. The project was announced on April 8, 2016.

On May 3, 2016, Skydance launched the Skydance Interactive division after acquiring The Workshop Entertainment. This marked the beginning of their venture into interactive entertainment.

Skydance Interactive, formerly known as The Workshop Entertainment, was established on May 5, 2016. It focuses on developing ambitious titles, managing project licenses, and creating innovative game mechanics for VR and emerging platforms.

In July 2016, it was officially confirmed that 'Star Trek 4' was in development, with details about the synopsis and writers being revealed.

David Ellison's Skydance introduces the Uncharted label in collaboration with the movie 'Baywatch'.

In January 2017, Jesse Sisgold was promoted to the position of President at Skydance. This move was part of Skydance's strategic growth plans under the leadership of David Ellison.

Skydance Animation, LLC, a division of Skydance Media, was founded on March 16, 2017. It is an American animation studio based in Los Angeles.

On June 27, 2017, Skydance announced plans to adapt Isaac Asimov's iconic 'Foundation' series into a television show. David Goyer and Josh Friedman were set to lead the adaptation.

On July 18, 2017, Skydance Interactive released its first VR game, Archangel. The game later evolved into an online multiplayer version called Archangel: Hellfire.

Skydance and Paramount Pictures sign a new four-year agreement.

On October 10, 2017, Bill Damaschke was appointed as the president of animation at Skydance Animation. His leadership was crucial for the division.

On January 25, 2018, Tencent acquired a 5% to 10% minority stake in Skydance Media. This investment marked Tencent's interest in the entertainment industry.

Skydance Interactive unveiled their second original game, PWND, on April 6, 2018. It is a multiplayer free-to-play game where players use Pwns to achieve victory.

In April 2018, Apple secured the rights to the 'Foundation' TV series based on Isaac Asimov's work. The show was being developed by David Goyer and Josh Friedman.

A review of the VR game 'Archangel: Hellfire' praises it as one of the top VR mech combat games available.

Skydance is working on creating live-action adaptations of the popular animated series 'Miraculous – Tales Of Ladybug & Cat Noir' for both TV and film.

As Annapurna encounters difficulties, billionaire Larry Ellison takes control.

David Ellison's Skydance appoints Jun Oh to oversee theatrical and interactive business and legal affairs.

Skydance Media acquires game developer The Workshop and launches an interactive division, expanding their presence in the gaming industry.

Skydance New Media, a video game development studio under Skydance, was founded on November 18, 2019, with Amy Hennig leading the studio.

In March 2020, it was announced that Scott Derrickson would be directing 'Bermuda' for Skydance, with Chris Evans in talks for the lead role.

In June 2020, it was revealed that a movie titled 'Summer Frost' would be directed by a filmmaker known for 'Divergent', produced by Skydance and Temple Hill.

Skydance Media announces Gal Gadot as the star of 'Heart Of Stone', a new spy franchise similar to 'Mission: Impossible' and James Bond.

Skydance Television is developing a TV series based on P. Djéli Clark's 'Ring Shout', with Kasi Lemmons as the showrunner and Kiki Layne set to star. The project was announced on December 8, 2020.

On December 10, 2020, Skydance Television inked a first-look deal with Exile Content Studio.

On December 16, 2020, Apple TV+ initiated discussions to acquire the distribution rights for the films Luck and Spellbound. Apple Original Films was set to replace Paramount in the distribution of these movies.

Skydance Media partners with Spyglass Media and Robert Rodriguez to reimagine the 'Spy Kids' franchise.

In February 2021, Skydance was reported to be developing a movie based on the pulp hero 'Buck Rogers'.

On February 4, 2021, Skydance Television entered into a first-look deal with Brian Grazer & Ron Howard's Impact to discover emerging voices.

On February 17, 2021, Apple and Skydance Animation established a multi-year deal for feature films and TV projects.

Netflix orders an anime series based on 'Terminator'. The series is part of the expanding content lineup on the streaming platform.

Netflix orders a spy adventure series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which will also feature Monica Barbaro. The series is produced by Skydance TV.

On May 28, 2021, Apple ordered the comedy series 'The Big Door Prize' from David West Read, a producer of 'Schitt's Creek', and Skydance.

On July 2, 2021, 'The Tomorrow War,' a science-fiction spectacle starring Chris Pratt, was released on Amazon as part of Skydance's streaming strategy. The film marked a significant milestone in Skydance's content distribution approach.

Amazon and Skydance are in discussions for 'The Tomorrow War 2', aiming to reunite Chris Pratt, director Chris McKay, and more for the sequel.

Apple and Skydance collaborate to bring back Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans in the Dexter Fletcher-directed film 'Ghosted'.

On October 7, 2021, the TV series 'Foundation' was renewed for a second season. The show, based on Isaac Asimov's novels, continued to captivate audiences.

On October 20, 2021, Skydance appointed Jon Weinbach as the head of a new sports division called Skydance Sports, which will focus on creating sports-related content.

Scheduled for release on November 19, 2021, 'Top Gun: Maverick,' a highly anticipated sequel, is a collaborative project between Paramount and Skydance. The film, starring Tom Cruise, reflects Skydance's involvement in major franchise productions.

David Ellison's Skydance shifts its first-look deal from Paramount Pictures to Apple.

Skydance appoints Dan Prigg, a former Discovery executive, as the head of their interactive division.

Skydance Sports is collaborating with Religion of Sports for content development, with the scripted series 'The Owl' being the first project. The partnership was announced on March 2, 2022.

In March 2022, it was revealed that Scott Derrickson would be directing the action love story 'The Gorge' for Skydance.

Netflix collaborates with Robert Rodriguez to reimagine the 'Spy Kids' franchise for Skydance and Spyglass.

Ben Affleck is set to direct a Nike drama for Amazon and Skydance Sports, where he will also star alongside Matt Damon.

The Arnold Schwarzenegger series on Netflix adds Travis Van Winkle, Gabriel Luna, Fortune Feimster, Jay Baruchel, Milan Carter, and more to its cast.

Uma Thurman and Henry Golding are added to the cast of 'The Old Guard 2', directed by Victoria Mahoney.

In July 2022, it was announced that Skydance and Mattel were working on a movie based on Matchbox Cars.

Skydance Animation's first film, Luck, was released on August 5, 2022, on Apple TV+. It marked a significant milestone for the studio.

In August 2022, it was announced that Mark Wahlberg would be starring in the movie 'The Family Plan' produced by Apple Original Films.

During the Disney & Marvel Games Showcase on September 9, 2022, details about the upcoming Marvel game set in World War II were confirmed, featuring Captain America, Black Panther, and other characters.

Arnold Schwarzenegger completes production of his much-awaited Netflix show. The series is expected to be a significant project for the streaming platform.

In October 2022, Anya Taylor-Joy was announced to be co-starring in 'The Gorge' alongside Miles Teller, with Apple Original Films boarding the project.

On October 13, 2022, Skydance concluded a $400 million strategic investment round with KKR as the lead investor, along with the Ellison family who are the majority shareholders.

Colin Trevorrow and 'House of the Dragon' writer Charmaine DeGraté are collaborating on a project titled 'Atlantis' at Skydance. The movie is set to be exclusive to Skydance.

Peter Farrelly, Paul Wernick, and Rhett Reese are teaming up to work on a comedy project titled 'Balls Up' for Skydance. The movie is in development under Skydance.

An upcoming film under Skydance Sports, Artists Equity, and Mandalay Pictures, set to be released on April 5, 2023, and distributed by Amazon Studios.

By April 13, 2023, Skydance Media supported a new venture by Tim McGraw called 'Down Home' based in Nashville.

Rebecca Ferguson is in discussions to star in a Skydance revenge film titled 'Best Served Cold', with Tim Miller from 'Deadpool' set to direct. The project is currently in the negotiation phase.

On July 7, 2023, Skydance acquired a new $1 billion credit facility to enhance its business investments.

Skydance has secured the rights to create a feature film based on the iconic private eye character from Mickey Spillane's book series, Mike Hammer. The company plans to develop a movie around this character.

In January 2024, David Ellison expressed interest in acquiring National Amusements from Shari Redstone, the parent company of Paramount Global.

An upcoming film under Skydance Animation and Apple Original Films, scheduled for release on May 13, 2025.