Legendary Entertainment and Sony Pictures Ending Distribution Deal

Legendary Entertainment and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group are parting ways, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

In late 2022, the two companies announced that Sony would become Legendary’s go-to studio in terms of releasing and marketing its movies around the globe (excluding China). But there was a major caveat. Legendary’s marquee franchises, Dune and Godzilla (the latter is part of the MonsterVerse), would continue to be handled by Warner Bros.

At the time, Legendary wanted to cut all other ties with Warners after Jason Kilar, part of the previous regime, sent the studio’s entire 2021 slate simultaneously to theaters and to streaming in an effort to boost Max subscribers. That controversial policy was dubbed “Project Popcorn.”

When Warners was merged with Discovery, newly installed Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav made it clear that the studio’s movies would once again be given a proper theatrical release before heading for the home.

The news that Sony and Legendary are terminating their deal isn’t a surprise to Hollywood insiders. Nor would insiders be surprised if Legendary returned to Warners permanently. There are two other options: Legendary could strike a new distribution deal with another studio, or farm out its films on a title-by-title basis.

The pact with Sony is up at the end of the year, although it remains on board to handle Legendary’s R-rated summer 2025 pic Animal Friends, a live-action/animated CGI hybrid voiced by Ryan Reynolds, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Momoa and Vince Vaughn. Legendary is producing the movie alongside Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios.

The Legendary films handled by Sony included the biblical comedy The Book of Clarence, which stumbled upon its release last year. Nor did The Machine, starring Bert Kreischer, make much noise.