Japan’s Toho Acquires 25% Stake In Fifth Season; Korea’s CJ ENM Remains Majority Shareholder
11.12.2023 - 08:51
/ deadline.com
Japanese studio Toho, producer of current box office hit Godzilla Minus One, is paying $225M to acquire a 25% stake in producer-distributor Fifth Season.
The investment is being made through Toho’s U.S. subsidiary, Toho International. Korea’s CJ ENM remains the majority shareholder in Fifth Season, following an acquisition made last year, while Endeavor Group Holdings continues as a strategic shareholder. Following completion of the deal, Fifth Season will have a valuation of $900M.
Fifth Season Co-CEOs Graham Taylor and Chris Rice said the investment would empower the company to continue expanding its slate of premium content, as well as create opportunities for collaboration between Fifth Season, Toho and CJ ENM.
More specifically, Fifth Season said it would work with Toho and CJ ENM to both produce global content and participate in content produced in Japan, while Toho’s development and production executives will team with Fifth Season. Content produced through these collaborations would benefit from Fifth Season’s robust global distribution network.
Fifth Season’s TV productions includes Apple TV+ series Severance, directed and produced by Ben Stiller, as well as Max’s Tokyo Vice, Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, starring Nicole Kidman, and Hulu’s Life & Beth, starring Amy Schumer, with the latter three currently in production on their second season.
New series in production include Chief Of War starring Jason Momoa, Lady In The Lake, directed by Alma Har’el and starring Natalie Portman, and The Savant, starring Jessica Chastain. Fifth Season also handles distribution for a library of series produced by third party companies.
On the film side, Fifth Season currently has Eileen, directed by William Oldroyd and