Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), a prominent Japanese broadcasting and media company, has acquired a $150 million stake in Legendary Entertainment. This strategic partnership aims to adapt Japanese intellectual property (IP) for global audiences, reflecting a growing trend of cross-cultural collaboration in the entertainment industry.
TBS plans to leverage Legendary’s extensive experience in adapting various IPs, which include successful projects such as the Dune franchise, the upcoming Minecraft movie, and adaptations of popular titles like Street Fighter and Godzilla. This collaboration will allow TBS to enhance its content offerings and reach international markets more effectively.
The partnership also highlights TBS’s existing capabilities. In addition to its television networks, TBS operates THE SEVEN, a studio responsible for producing hit series such as Alice in Borderland and Yu Yu Hakusho for platforms like Netflix. The investment will provide TBS with a minority stake in Legendary while keeping control equally divided between management and Apollo Global Management.
Strategic Vision for Global Collaboration
Josh Grode, CEO of Legendary Entertainment, emphasized the potential of this partnership, stating, “For decades, TBS has played a central role working with all members of the creative ecosystem in Japan, from multiple publishers to animators to writers and artists.” He expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with TBS to expand the reach of its rich IP globally while respecting the creative talents involved.
Yayoi Nakatani, board director and chief growth officer of TBS Holdings, Inc., echoed Grode’s sentiments, describing the partnership as a significant step in enhancing TBS’s global strategy. “We are thrilled to partner with Legendary, a world-class studio with a remarkable track record of history-making global hits,” she noted. Nakatani highlighted that Legendary’s creativity and proven ability to develop IPs into worldwide franchises would be crucial to TBS’s ambitions.
TBS’s recent investment of $150 million is part of a broader strategy that includes a substantial capital increase of $180 million for its global strategy studios, THE SEVEN and THE SEVEN US. This move is expected to accelerate content investment, enabling TBS Group to deliver world-class content to audiences around the globe.
As the global entertainment landscape continues to evolve, the partnership between TBS and Legendary Entertainment signifies a commitment to innovation and collaboration, aimed at bringing diverse storytelling to a wider audience.
