Misplaced Pages

WWE Studios Inc.

Formerly	WWE Films (2002–2008)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Film
Founded	July 31, 2002; 22 years ago (July 31, 2002)
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Ben Zierten (VP, Unscripted Production and Development)
Owner	TKO Group Holdings
Parent	WWE
Subsidiaries	WWE Studios Originals WWE Studios Finance WWE Films Development
Website	WWE Studios

WWE Studios Inc. (formerly known as WWE Films) is an American film studio owned by the professional wrestling promotion WWE, a division of TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. WWE Studios movies frequently mix well-known actors and actresses in lead roles with WWE wrestlers, and teams with existing production and distribution companies resulting in lower cost for both parties.

History

Before the formation of WWE Studios, the WWF had produced the 1989 film No Holds Barred featuring Hulk Hogan under the Shane Distribution Company banner, a precursor to today's company. WWE Studios released the film on DVD in 2012. WWE Studios was formed in 2002 as WWE Films, and was seen as "a natural extension of the entertainment business" that they already featured in the weekly Raw and SmackDown television programs. Joel Simon was named as President of the WWE Films and Jed Blaugrund as vice president. WWE announced the first three film projects in January 2005; The Condemned, starring Steve Austin, The Marine, starring John Cena, and Goodnight, later retitled as See No Evil, starring Kane. Both of these independent film projects were genre films that cost $20 million to star his wrestlers. In 2008, the name was changed to WWE Studios.

On February 25, 2008, WWE had signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment that Fox received to WWE that they would get one theatrical film and four straight-to-DVD movies. The move was designed to expand into production of scripted television series and films for networks. In February 2009, WWE Studios announced the first film which would not feature a WWE wrestler as the lead, with That's What I Am starring Ed Harris as a schoolteacher accused of fondling kids. In December 2009, it was announced that Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover would star in the WWE Studios and Samuel Goldwyn Films co-production of Legendary along with WWE wrestler John Cena. Around the same time, the film announced production had been completed on another co-production with Samuel Goldwyn Films, the comedy Knucklehead, which starred WWE wrestler Big Show. Further projects were announced in 2010 with WWE wrestlers in lead roles, with The Chaperone starring Triple H, which was released in February 2011, and Bending the Rules starring Edge, which was released in March 2012. These initial releases were largely unsuccessful financially.

In February 2012, WWE Studios agreed to a new three-film deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment to produce, finance and market three straight-to-DVD titles, including The Marine 3: Homefront starring The Miz, having previously worked with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on the previous films in the franchise, The Marine and The Marine 2. The deal also included the release of 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded starring Randy Orton, having together previously released 12 Rounds starring John Cena. Also that year, WWE Studios had signed a deal with Lionsgate in order to work on upcoming projects, most notably a Leprechaun project via a two-picture deal between the two studios. In April 2012, WWE Studios partnered with Warner Bros. Entertainment France and producer Thomas Langmann to distribute French film Les Reines Du Ring in the United States and Canada, as well as the rights to remake the film, which was announced in 2014. WWE Studios also produced No One Lives with Pathe Pictures, starring Luke Evans and WWE wrestler Brodus Clay, and acquired the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival cult hit The Day, starring Shawn Ashmore and Dominic Monaghan. WWE Studios has also acquired Interrogation, a suspense thriller by Adam Rodin. WWE Studios then secured the rights to Bermuda, a found footage horror spec script by Bobby Lee Darby and Nathan Brookes, set in the Bermuda Triangle. WWE Studios further announced a partnership with producer Edward R. Pressman and Jason Blum's Blum-Hanson-Allen films to develop Cruisin' for a Brusin', an action comedy to be written and directed by Adam Bhala Lough.

WWE Studios and Warner Bros. co-produced a Scooby-Doo animated feature that found Scooby and the gang solving a mystery at WrestleMania, which also starred an ensemble of WWE Superstars. The movie released on March 25, 2014. On May 29, 2013, it was announced that WWE studios and Warner Bros would again team up to co-produce a Flintstones animated movie to be released in early 2015. WWE Studios most successful film to date is the 2013 release The Call, starring Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin, which made close to $70 million at the box office, despite a comparatively small budget of just $13m. The film opened at the US box office at No. 2 with 17 million in its first weekend. It was further reported that WWE was looking at a potential sequel following the success of The Call. In 2013, WWE Studios and Hyde Park Entertainment announced a deal to work together on the film adaptation of the 1980s television series The Fall Guy. The film will star Dwayne Johnson, who made his name as The Rock in WWE from 1996 to 2004 before becoming an actor, in his second WWE Studios production, with the first being The Scorpion King. In August 2014, a second collaboration between WWE Studios and Hyde Park was announced, with Ken Jeong, David Hasselhoff and WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan signed to star in a comedy Killing Hasselhoff.

In February 2014, WWE announced the sequel to the 1996 film Jingle All the Way, to star Larry the Cable Guy and WWE wrestler Santino Marella. In May 2014, it was announced that WWE had extended their partnership with Lionsgate Entertainment to release a further six films together, with the first two announced as Vendetta, starring The Big Show and 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown starring Dean Ambrose. These group of six films have been referred as the Action Six-Pack Series. In November 2014, WWE announced a new partnership deal with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. In March 2015, they announced a partnership with newly founded Gene Simmons production company Erebus Pictures and in April 2015, WWE Studios teamed with British company Richwater Films to co-produce and co-finance action-thrillers Eliminators and Rampage. In November 2017, WWE announced that WWE Studios will expand its mandate to include scripted, non-scripted, family, and animated television and digital content. In February 2019, it was reported that WWE Studios and Netflix came to an agreement that would see WWE Studios produce new family-friendly movies for Netflix's platform. In July 2019, it was announced that WWE Studios will be producing its first television show, Fight Like A Girl, for Quibi. It would later be moved to The Roku Channel following the closure of Quibi.

In March 2021, the Game Show Network revealed at their upfront; they signed a deal with WWE Studios to develop shows hosted by WWE talent. In March 2022, A&E Network and WWE expanded their agreement for more episodes of Biography: WWE Legends and WWE's Most Wanted Treasures. It was also announced a new series called WWE Rivals. The deal between the company calls for additional content to be announced at a later date.

Filmography

Film

Television

Notes

1. Cameos include: The Miz, CM Punk, Eve Torres.
2. Voices include: Brodus Clay, Michael Cole, Kane, AJ Lee, Santino Marella, The Miz, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, John Cena, and Vince McMahon.
3. Voices include: Brie Bella, The Undertaker, Nikki Bella, CM Punk, Vince McMahon, Rey Mysterio, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, and John Cena.
4. Cameos include: Lana, Rusev, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Roman Reigns, Santino Marella, Dean Ambrose, Curtis Axel, Mark Henry, Big Show, Daniel Bryan, Heath Slater, Randy Orton, Charles Robinson, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Viktor, Konnor, Sin Cara, Kalisto, Brock Lesnar, and Paul Heyman.
5. Voices include: The Undertaker, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon, Michael Cole, Paige, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Dusty Rhodes, The Miz, Rusev, Lana, Goldust, Stardust, Diego, Fernando, and El Torito.
6. Voices include: The Undertaker, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Paige, John Cena, Michael Cole and Vince McMahon.
7. Voices include: Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, Stardust, Michael Cole, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Alicia Fox, Big Show, Vince McMahon, and The Usos.

References

1. "WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENTINC - FORM 10-K - EX-21.1 - LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES - February 17, 2015". Getfillings.com. January 17, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
2. "World Wrestling Entertainment announces WWE Films". WWE Official Website (Corporate). July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
3. ^ "WWE creates new Los Angeles-based film division". WWE Official Website (Corporate). July 31, 2002. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
4. Ronay, Barney (September 2, 2010). "How wrestling is taking over the movies". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
5. "WWE Films names Jed Blaugrund as Vice President". WWE Official Website (Corporate). September 9, 2002. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
6. "Stone Cold goes Hollywood". WWE Official Website (Corporate). January 18, 2005. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
7. Oliver, Greg (December 7, 2005). "WWE moving slow on film projects". Slam Sports. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
8. Fleming, Michael (January 18, 2005). "Spandex unspooling". Variety. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
9. Hernandez, Sergio (March 28, 2012). "WWE Studios to release Hulk Hogan's No Holds Barred on DVD this summer". CageSide Seats. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
10. Ocal, Arda (July 3, 2012). "Unintentional comedy of 'No Holds Barred' makes newest WWE DVD release worth your time". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
11. Graser, Marc (February 26, 2008). "WWE pins down distrib deal at Fox". Variety. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
12. Graser, Marc (July 21, 2008). "WWE pins film arm". Variety. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
13. "Ed Harris to star in WWE Studios Big Red". WWE Official Website (Corporate). February 19, 2009. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
14. "Clarkson leads cast for WWE Studios "Brother's Keeper"". WWE Official Website (Corporate). December 8, 2009. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
15. Fernandez, Jay A; Andreeva, Nellie (December 8, 2009). "Clarkson, Glover, Cena join "Brother's Keeper"". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
16. "WWE Studios completes production on "Knucklehead"". WWE Official Website (Corporate). November 2, 2009. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
17. Rossen, Jake (November 3, 2009). "WWE wraps MMA-themed "Knucklehead"". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
18. "WWE Studios announced The Chaperone". WWE Official Website (Corporate). June 7, 2010. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
19. "WWE Studios Announces The Chaperone". ComingSoon. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
20. Gish, Annabeth (February 17, 2011). "Triple H is The Chaperone". IGN. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
21. "Bending The Rules cast announcement". WWE Official Website (Corporate). August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
22. Fleming, Mike (August 24, 2010). "WWE Studios Starts 'Bending The Rules'". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
23. Harris, Keith (March 10, 2012). "Edge's new WWE movie Bending The Rules now out in nine theatres". CageSide Seats. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
24. "Bending the Rules". Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
25. "10 WWE Studios That Lost Millions". Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
26. "WWE Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment strike three picture deal". WWE Official Website (Corporate). February 15, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
27. "WWE Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment strike three picture deal". Icon vs Icon. February 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
28. Levine, Stuart (March 15, 2012). "Lionsgate pacts with WWE on film deal". Variety. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
29. "WWE Studios joins "Queens of the Ring"". WWE Official Website. April 30, 2012. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
30. Graser, Marc (May 1, 2012). "WWE in ring for French film". Variety. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
31. "WWE Studios sets plans to remake French comedy 'Queens of the Ring' ('Les Reines du Ring')". WWE Official Website. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
32. Graser, Marc (February 26, 2014). "WWE Studios to Remake French Comedy 'Queens of the Ring'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
33. Fleming, Mike (June 8, 2012). "WWE Studios Acquires Spec Thriller 'Interrogation'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
34. Gallagher, Brian (January 20, 2012). "Bermuda Lands at WWE Studios". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
35. Patten, Dominic (February 14, 2013). "WWE Studios, Edward R. Pressman & Jason Blum Team For 'Cruisin' For A Bruisin'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
36. "WWE Studios (Pile)Drives a New Scooby-Doo Animated Feature". ComingSoon.net. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
37. Fleming, Mike (May 29, 2013). "Animated 'Flintsones' Pic Adds Pro Wrestlers To Its Bedrock". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
38. ^ "The Call". Box Office Mojo. March 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
39. Pomerantz, Dorothy (March 26, 2013). "'The Call' Is A Sleeper Hit For Halle Berry". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
40. Dargis, Manohla (March 14, 2013). "Life-Altering Plea for Help". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
41. Graser, Marc (April 7, 2013). "'The Call' Dials Up WWE's Film Biz". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
42. "The Rock in talks to star in WWE Studios and Hyde Park Entertainment's 'The Fall Guy'". WWE Official Website. September 6, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
43. Graser, Marc; Kroll, Justin (September 5, 2013). "Dwayne Johnson Eyes 'Fall Guy' Film Produced by WWE Studios, Hyde Park". Variety. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
44. O'Brien, Lucy (September 5, 2013). "Dwayne Johnson & McG on board for The Fall Guy". IGN. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
45. White, James (September 6, 2013). "Dwayne Johnson Will Be The Fall Guy". Empire. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
46. Graser, Marc (August 20, 2014). "Ken Jeong to Star in WWE Studios Comedy with Hulk Hogan, David Hasselhoff". Variety. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
47. Yamato, Jen (August 20, 2014). "Ken Jeong Dives Into Celebrity Death Pool Pic For Hyde Park, WWE Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
48. Forté, Malik (February 11, 2014). "WWE Studios starting production on Jingle All The Way 2". Nerdist. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
49. Burns, Ashley (February 11, 2014). "The WWE And Fox Are Producing 'Jingle All The Way 2′ Starring... Larry The Cable Guy". Uproxx. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
50. "WWE Studios and Lionsgate to repartner on 'Action Six-Pack'". WWE Official Website. May 22, 2014. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
51. Graser, Marc (May 21, 2014). "WWE Signs Six Picture Deal with Lionsgate". Variety. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
52. Yamato, Jen (May 21, 2014). "WWE Studios & Lionsgate Pact On Action Six-Pack, Tap Soska Twins To Direct WWE's Big Show In 'Vendetta'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
53. Graser, Marc (August 14, 2014). "WWE Studios, Lionsgate Greenlight Actioner 'Lockdown'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
54. Hooton, Christopher (August 15, 2014). "WWE's Dean Ambrose to star in his own action movie Lockdown". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
55. "WWE Studios". Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
56. "Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and WWE announce new partnership". WWE Official Website. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
57. "Gene Simmons, WWE Studios partner for new horror label Erebus Pictures". WWE Official Website. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
58. "WWE Studios to Partner with Richwater on Two Films". Variety. April 3, 2015. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
59. "WWE Studios goes multiplatform". WWE. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
60. "WWE Signs Deal With Netflix For Upcoming Feature Films". WWE. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
61. ^ "WWE Female Superstars To Headline Quibi Unscripted Series 'Fight Like A Girl'". Deadline Hollywood. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
62. "411MANIA". WWE's Series 'Fight Like A Girl' To Premiere On Roku Channel Next Week. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
63. "Game Show Network Upfront". WWE. March 25, 2021. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
64. "A&E AND WWE® EXPAND ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN 130 NEW HOURS". WWE. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
65. "WWE The Undertaker and New Day to Star in Netflix Interactive Movie 'Escape The Undertaker'". Comic Book. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
66. "'Andre The Giant': WWE, Bill Simmons & HBO Tag Team On Documentary". Deadline Hollywood. February 13, 2017. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
67. "WWE Star Big Show To Headline Netflix Live-Action Family Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
68. "A&E, WWE Partner for Documentaries on Five Iconic Wrestlers". Variety. April 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
69. "A&E Orders 160 More Eps Of 'Live PD', Jeff Foxworthy Live Treasure Format & WWE Memorabilia Series". Deadline Hollywood. May 7, 2020. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
70. ""Corey & Carmella" reality series premieres Monday, February 28". WWE. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
71. "Peacock Sets March 24 Premiere For WWE Evil, Its First WWE Original Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
72. "A&E AND WWE® EXPAND ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN 130 NEW HOURS". WWE Corporate. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
73. "WWE And A&E Set Details Of Weekly Programming Block, Kicking Off With New 'Biography' Season". Deadline. June 2022. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
74. "'Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez' starring Bianca Belair and Montez Ford is coming to Hulu". WWE. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
75. White, Peter (April 6, 2023). "John Cena Bodyslams 'WWE: Recruits' Docuseries For Roku". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
76. "411MANIA". Bray Wyatt Documentary Now Available On Peacock.

External links

• WWE Studios at WWE.com

• Film production companies of the United States
• Film distributors of the United States
• WWE
• Endeavor (company)
• Mass media companies established in 2002
• 2002 establishments in California
• Companies based in Los Angeles