Dec 17, 2020

Report Apple in negotiations to acquire Skydance Animation's films "Luck" and "Spellbound".

Apple's animation portfolio may be about to get even better. According to reports, Apple is in talks with Skydance Animation to acquire their feature films "Luck" and "Spellbound" for its streaming service Apple TV+.

The news was first reported by Variety, which cited several sources. According to those sources, the negotiations are part of talks toward a "larger agreement" between the two parties. Talent agency WME is also involved in the negotiations, and a theatrical release is also in the works.

The film is currently at Paramount, where Skydance has a long-term production and distribution deal, but the company reportedly has the rights to take it elsewhere. Skydance, Paramount, and Apple declined to comment to Variety.

Skydance Animation launched in 2017 as a division of Skydance Media, a film production company founded by David Ellison. It is led by John Lasseter, former creative head of Pixar and Disney, and Holly Edwards, a veteran producer and production executive who previously worked at DreamWorks Animation After Lasseter's hiring in January 2019, the studio and Paramount Animation there were reportedly tensions between the studio and Paramount Animation.

Skydance Animation has yet to announce anything, but several film and television projects are in the works; "Luck" and "Spellbound" will be the company's first feature films. The former is scheduled for February 18 and the latter for November 11.

"Luck," a comedy about a very unlucky girl who discovers a world of luck and bad luck, will be directed by Peggy Holmes ("The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning," "Pirate Fairy"), who replaced Alessandro Carloni earlier this year. Vicky Jenson ("Shrek," "Shark Tale") directs "Spellbound," a musical fantasy feature "set in a magical world where a young girl must break the spell that has divided her kingdom in two.

According to Variety, "A handful of executives who screened footage of the rack called it 'vintage Lasseter,' citing the dazzling production values and commercial appeal for which he is known as a producer," the official said.

Apple has released one original animated feature to date. No others have been announced, but a number of original animated series on or in preparation for Apple's service, including "Central Park," "Snoopy in Space," "Doug Unplugged," "Stillwater," and a reboot of "Harriet the Spy" There are.