Former Paramount co-CEO Brian Robbins is embarking on a new venture by launching a family production company focused on animated and live-action content. The initiative, which has secured approximately $100 million in funding, is backed by CAA and various financial partners, with Sony Pictures participating as a minority investor.
This new company aims to create engaging content for platforms such as YouTube and other short-form media, with the intention of developing these projects into feature film intellectual property that Sony will distribute theatrically. Robbins believes that utilizing streaming analytics will provide a clearer indication of a project’s potential for big-screen success.
While discussions are ongoing, no final agreements have been reached between Sony and the production company at this time. Robbins is well-known for his previous successes in the industry, having founded the YouTube channel and multi-channel network Awesomeness TV in 2012, which catered to a Gen-Z audience. He sold this venture to DreamWorks Animation in 2013, and after subsequent mergers, it returned to the Viacom family, where Robbins was employed.
Robbins’ career at Paramount began as President of Paramount Players in 2017, a role that led to his promotion as President of Nickelodeon in 2018. In September 2021, following the departure of Paramount Chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos, Robbins ascended to lead the motion picture side of the studio. His tenure was marked by the successful revival of franchises such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Paw Patrol films, which generated over $2.5 billion in consumer products revenue in 2023.
In April 2024, Robbins was appointed co-CEO of Paramount alongside George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, as the studio was considered for acquisition by David Ellison’s Skydance. Following the completion of this merger in August, Cheeks remained to oversee the linear networks, while both Robbins and McCarthy departed from their roles.
Prior to his exit from Paramount, Robbins was reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring Lionsgate with the financial partners he had gathered, although they ultimately chose to forgo that opportunity. His new production company reflects Robbins’ ongoing commitment to innovating within the entertainment landscape, particularly in the family-oriented sector.
