Overbrook Entertainment

Overbrook Entertainment is an American production company and record label based in Culver City, California.[1] It was founded by partners Will Smith and James Lassiter in 1998,[2] around the same time production for Wild Wild West (1999) was started.

Overbrook Entertainment
TypePrivate
IndustryEntertainment/Film Industry
FoundedFebruary 2, 1998 (1998-02-02)
FounderWill Smith
James Lassiter
HeadquartersCulver City, California
Key people
Will Smith (partner)
James Lassiter (partner)
Jada Pinkett Smith (partner)
ProductsMotion pictures, music, home entertainment, talent management, television production
Websitewww.overbrookent.com

The name "Overbrook" is derived from Will Smith's neighborhood in West Philadelphia. The company produces music, films and television shows. Smith claimed to have started the company in order to serve as producer and find roles. He uses his role in the company to help unknown artists record music and also records music for some of his films in Overbrook.

History

On November 11, 1997, actor Will Smith and manager James Lassiter signed an overall first-look term deal at Universal Pictures.[3] Thus, Overbrook Entertainment was born. It was formally incorporated on February 2, 1998.

On September 16, 1998, David Tochterman, formerly employee of The Carsey-Werner Company, joined the company and decided to launch the television division. Tochterman will supervise its division, who will produce shows for the broadcast and cable TV networks.[4]

On February 11, 1999, the music division is restructured with John Dukakis, formerly employee of Southpaw Entertainment, signed on as executive vice president of its music division.[5]

On May 10, 2000, it was announced that a merger with The Firm was proposed, but it was scrapped.[6]

On December 10, 2000, Overbrook Entertainment is renewing its interest in the television division. Its plans was to include a 13-episode animated series commitment for Nickelodeon, as well as a slew of comedy, drama, and telemovies on the broadcast networks. The studio is landing deals for three sitcoms, three dramas and one telefilm for the webnetworks.[7]

On January 30, 2002, the studio's contract with Universal Pictures ended. It formally signed a contract with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop feature films.[8]

On January 3, 2018, it will be announced that the studio will not renew its deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment.[9]

On July 10, 2019, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith announced the formation of Westbrook, Inc., with Overbrook Entertainment being as one of the subsidiaries of the company.[10]

Filmography

2000s

Year Title Director Distributor Notes
2001 Ali Michael Mann Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, Initial Entertainment Group, Peters Entertainment and Forward Pass
2004 I, Robot Alex Proyas 20th Century Fox co-production with Laurence Mark Productions, Davis Entertainment and Mediastream IV
Saving Face Alice Wu Sony Pictures Classics co-production with Destination Films
2005 Hitch Andy Tennant Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures
2006 ATL Chris Robinson Warner Bros. Pictures
The Pursuit of Happyness Gabriele Muccino Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media and Escape Artists
2007 I Am Legend Francis Lawrence Warner Bros. Pictures co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures, Weed Road Pictures, Heyday Films and Original Film
2008 Hancock Peter Berg Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Weed Road Pictures, Forward Pass and Blue Light
The Human Contract Jada Pinkett Smith Self-distributed co-production with Tycoon Entertainment and 100% Womon Productions
Lakeview Terrace Neil LaBute Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Screen Gems
The Secret Life of Bees Gina Prince-Bythewood Fox Searchlight Pictures co-production with The Donners' Company
Seven Pounds Gabriele Muccino Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media and Escape Artists

2010s

Year Title Director Distributor Notes
2010 The Karate Kid Harald Zwart Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, China Film Group Corporation and JW Productions
2012 This Means War McG 20th Century Fox co-production with Robert Simonds Productions and Genre Films
2013 After Earth M. Night Shyamalan Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media and Blinding Edge Pictures
2014 Annie Will Gluck co-production with Columbia Pictures, LStar Capital, Village Roadshow Pictures and Olive Bridge Entertainment
2015 Focus Glenn Ficarra
John Requa
Warner Bros. Pictures co-production with RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Di Novi Pictures, Kramer & Sigman Films and Zaftig Films
2016 Collateral Beauty David Frankel co-production with New Line Cinema, Village Roadshow Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Anonymous Content, PalmStar Media and Likely Story
2017 Bright David Ayer Netflix co-production with Trigger Warning Entertainment and Grand Electric
2018 To All the Boys I've Loved Before Susan Johnson co-production with Awesomeness Films
2019 Hala Minhal Baig Apple TV+ co-production with Endeavor Content

2020s

Year Title Director Distributor Notes
2020 Bad Boys for Life Adil & Bilall Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, 2.0 Entertainment and Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Charm City Kings Angel Manuel Soto HBO Max co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Max
Life in a Year Mitja Okorn Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures
2021 King Richard Reinaldo Marcus Green Warner Bros. Pictures co-production with Star Thrower Entertainment

2000s

Years Title Creator Network Notes
2003-2007 All of Us Will Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith
Betsy Borns
UPN (seasons 1–3)
The CW (season 4)
co-production with Warner Bros. Television

2010s

Years Title Creator Network Notes
2010-2013 Hawthorne John Masius TNT continued from 100% Womon Productions; co-production with FanFare Productions, John Masius Productions and Sony Pictures Television
2013-2015 The Queen Latifah Show Queen Latifah Syndication revival of the 1999 series; co-production with Flavor Unit Entertainment, Curly One Productions and Sony Pictures Television
2018–present Cobra Kai Josh Heald
Jon Hurwitz
Hayden Schlossberg
based on the Karate Kid film series by:
Robert Mark Kamen
YouTube Premium (season 1–2)
Netflix (season 3 – present)
co-production with Heald Productions, Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Soundtrack

Year Title Artist Label Notes
1999 Wild Wild West Various artists Interscope Records
2000 Love & Basketball
2002 Men in Black II Danny Elfman Columbia Records
2014 Annie Various artists RCA Records

Distribution

Year Title Director Notes
2005 The 7th Commandment Theron Alford DVD distribution; co-production with 25Eight Productions and A Free World Productions

References

  1. "Overbrook Entertainment". Kftv.com.
  2. "Overbrook Entertainment company information, funding & investors". uktest1.dealroom.co. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  3. Cox, Dan (1997-11-12). "Smith talks shingle at U". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  4. Hontz, Jenny (1998-09-16). "Tochterman over to Overbrook". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  5. Petrikin, Chris; Cox, Dan (1999-02-12). "Overbrook is ready". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  6. Fleming, Michael (2000-05-10). "Overbrook, the Firm join forces". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  7. Adalian, Josef; Schneider, Michael (2000-12-11). "Overbrook turns on TV". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  8. Harris, Dana (2002-01-31). "Sony, Overbrook ink". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  9. Lang, Brent; Kroll, Justin (2018-01-03). "Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment Not Re-Upping Sony First Look Deal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  10. Fleming, Mike Jr. (2019-07-10). "Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith Launch Multimedia Cross-Platform Venture Westbrook Inc". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
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