Lionsgate’s intellectual property catalog just got a little bigger.
This week, Lionsgate said it had fully closed on its $500 million deal to acquire TV and film studio Entertainment One (eOne) from Hasbro, which was first announced in August.
The deal includes paying $375 million in cash, and comes with an option for Lionsgate to develop a movie based around the hit Hasbro game “Monopoly.”
Some of the shows formerly owned by Hasbro as part of its eOne portfolio that are now property of Lionsgate include:
- 1917 (motion picture)
- Fear the Walking Dead (TV series, AMC)
- Halt and Catch Fire (TV series, AMC)
- Molly’s Game (motion picture)
- The Post (motion picture)
- The Recruit (TV series, Netflix)
- The Rookie (TV series, ABC)
- The Spencer Sisters (TV series, CTV)
- Spotlight (motion picture)
- Naked & Afraid (TV series, Discovery)
- The Woman King (motion picture)
- Yellowjackets (TV series, Showtime)
Hasbro acquired eOne for $3.8 billion just four years ago, with the intent of creating synergies between its toy and film divisions for powerhouse brands like Power Rangers and Transformers. The plan didn’t pan out, and Hasbro returned its focus toward its core businesses — namely, toys, games and puzzles — while seeking strategic partners and potential buyers for parts that did not fit with its new business strategy.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate is pressing forward with plans to separate itself from Starz, the premium multiplex cable network and streaming service. Once the spin-off is complete, Lionsgate will focus on developing and distributing television series and movies, while Starz will continue to operate its movie networks and streaming product.
The split will allow Lionsgate to offer more-competitive prices for its film and TV rights to distributors beyond Starz, executives said last week. It will also allow investors to evaluate Lionsgate’s business as a developer and distributor of content, without consideration to Starz, they said.
