Skybound Entertainment
Industry | Entertainment |
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Founded | 2010 |
Founder |
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Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California, United States |
Key people |
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Products |
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Owner | Robert Kirkman, LLC. |
Subsidiaries |
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Website | www |
Skybound Entertainment is an American multiplatform entertainment company founded by Robert Kirkman and David Alpert.[5][6] It operates in concert with Image Comics.[7]
History
Skybound Entertainment is the company behind the long-running comic series, The Walking Dead,[8] created by Robert Kirkman. Since the company’s founding in 2010, Skybound has developed properties in traditional and new media, including comics, gaming, television, film, and digital media series. The company has since launched into the virtual reality space, and in 2017, created an in-house digital studio for online content.[9]
Subsidiaries
In 2016, Skybound Entertainment expanded internationally with the opening of Skybound North in
.In April 2018, Skybound created Skybound Games to publish indie games and license video games based on its intellectual property.[11] In September 2018 it established Skybound Stories, a joint venture with Sky Group creating narrative videos games for mobiles.[12]
In 2021, Skybound became the largest shareholder in the listed game developer 5th Planet Games.[13] This strategic move was aimed at gaining better access to the European market. Two years later, in 2023, Skybound became the majority shareholder of the company.
Comics
In addition to the Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, Kirkman’s other titles include long-running superhero comic Invincible, Outcast, Super Dinosaur, Oblivion Song, and Fire Power.
With a creator-owned driven platform, Skybound has also created other popular comic book titles that include fantasy adventure comic Birthright, by Josh Williamson, and the historical fiction comic, Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess.
In 2017, Skybound released the revenge comic, Extremity, by creator Daniel Warren Johnson, and their first vampire horror comic, Redneck, by Donny Cates. Kill the Minotaur by writers Christian Cantamessa and Chris Pasetto, and artist Lukas Ketner is set to hit comic shops on June 14, 2017. Recently[when?], they have also started "Skyward" from the writer of the TV show Lucifer. In April 2021, it was announced a five issue miniseries called Skybound X would launch to celebrate 10 years of Skybound, with the book featuring different stories per issue, with one story being Rick Grimes: 2000 by Kirkman and Ryan Ottley.[14]
In February 2023, it was announced that Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici would launch Void Rivals, a new series that would kick-off a new shared comic universe.[15] In June 2023, it was later revealed that the book would launch the Energon Universe and that it would publish comics based on Transformers and G.I. Joe. This would include Void Rivals by Kirkman and De Felici, Transformers by Daniel Warren Johnson (which debuted in October 2023), Duke by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly (which debuted in December 2023), and Cobra Commander by Williamson and Andrea Milana (which debuted in January 2024).[16]
Skybound Comet
In 2021, it was announced that Skybound would start a new line entitled Skybound Comet, with graphic novels meant for
Television and film
After Alpert and Kirkman's success with AMC’s The Walking Dead, the duo announced plans for their second television adaptation for Kirkman's comic, Outcast in October 2013.[18] The series received a pickup order from Cinemax in February 2015.[19] Outcast centers on protagonist, Kyle Barnes, played by Patrick Fugit, fighting a demon that has plagued his small Virginia town for decades. The series lineup includes Philip Glenister, Brent Spiner, Reg E. Cathey, and Wrenn Schmidt. The first season premiered on June 3, 2016 and it was renewed for a second season.
Skybound partnered with
Skybound produced Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics. This six-part docuseries explores a wide range of topics from the history and world of comic books and premiered on AMC on November 12, 2017.
In 2017, it was announced that a film based on Kirkman's second longest running comic series Invincible was being developed by
In 2019, Universal Pictures announced the development of Renfield, a horror-comedy film about the character of the same name based on a pitch by Robert Kirkman, with Chris McKay set to direct. The film was produced by McKay, Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst in a joint-venture between Skybound and Universal. It released on April 14, 2023.
In November 2023, Skybound announced that it had acquired the Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation.[20][21]
Digital
In 2015, Skybound released the first-ever narrative virtual reality series, Gone, for Samsung's Milk VR platform. Gone surrounds the disappearance of a young girl from a playground, and the family's journey in learning what happened. The series was filmed in 360 degrees and includes shifting perspectives with "hotspots." "Hotspots" are used as clues, offering a fully immersive experience. Gone was directed by J.T. Petty
As of 2016, Skybound is set to produce a horror VR series, Lies Within, the first project out of Skybound’s partnership with interactive theatrical company Delusion.
In 2017, Skybound opened an in-house studio to create and expand original digital content. Since the opening of the space, Skybound developed a Live.me series focusing on diversity in TV and media hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown. Other original content filmed in the studio include the weekly series Skybound’s Happy Hour. Happy Hour features special guests every week to create The Walking Dead inspired cocktails. Former guests have included Ross Marquand and Michael Traynor.
Skybound Games
Parent Skybound Entertainment | | |
Divisions | Howyaknow, LLC | |
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Website | www |
In April 2018, Skybound announced the formation of Skybound Games, a publishing division focused on
In October 2018, due to the collapse of Telltale Games, Skybound Games announced they would be working on finishing up the final two episodes of The Walking Dead: The Final Season, "Broken Toys" and "Take Us Back", to end the game adaptation of their series.[23] In addition to continued digital release, Skybound Games also released physical editions of the game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.[24]
In February 2019, Skybound Games announced plans to release the remastered versions of six classic Dungeon & Dragons games:
License and merchandise
Skybound's party game,
In 2017, Skybound signed a deal with Druid City Games for release of its game The Grimm Forest, which raised over $400,000 on Kickstarter.
Titles
- The Astounding Wolf-Man
- Battle Pope
- Before Your Eyes
- Birthright
- Brit
- Clone
- Cobra Commander
- Dark Ride
- Dead Body Road
- Demonic (from Pilot Season)[27]
- Die!Die!Die!
- Duke
- Extremity
- Fire Power
- Ghosted
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
- Gone
- Guarding the Globe
- Green Valley
- Hardcore (from Pilot Season)[28]
- Heroes and Villains: The History of Comics
- Horizon
- Homestead Arcana
- The Infinite
- Invincible
- Invincible Universe
- Kill the Minotaur
- Kim-Joy's Magic Bakery[29]
- Kroma
- Lies Within
- Manifest Destiny
- Murder Falcon
- Oblivion Song
- Outcast
- Oxenfree
- The Outer Darkness'
- Redneck
- Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan
- Science Dog
- Skybound X
- Skyward
- Stellar (from Pilot Season)[30]
- Stillwater
- Super Dinosaur
- Tech Jacket
- Thief of Thieves
- Transformers
- Ultramega
- Void Rivals
- The Walking Dead
- Witch Doctor
Feature films
Release date | Film | Details | ||||
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Director(s) | Production companie(s) | Distributor(s) | Budget | Gross | ||
2015 | Air | Christian Cantamessa | Automatik Entertainment | Vertical Entertainment
|
— | — |
2023 | Renfield | Chris McKay | Giant Wildcat | Universal Pictures | $65 million | $26.7 million |
Television shows
Year | Show | Details | ||||
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Creator(s) | Production companie(s) | Network(s) | Season(s) | Episodes | ||
2010–2022 | The Walking Dead | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: Frank Darabont |
Idiot Box Productions Circle of Confusion Valhalla Entertainment AMC Studios |
AMC | 11 | 169 |
2015–2023 | Fear the Walking Dead | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson |
Square Head Pictures Circle of Confusion Valhalla Entertainment AMC Studios |
7 | 101 | |
2016 | Scare PewDiePie | Felix Kjellberg | Maker Studios | YouTube Red | 1 | 10 |
2016–2019 | Outcast | Based on Outcast by: Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta Developed by: Robert Kirkman |
Circle of Confusion Fox International Studios
|
Cinemax | 2 | 20 |
2018–2019 | Super Dinosaur | Based on Super Dinosaur by: Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard Developed by: Kevin Burke Chris "Doc" Wyatt |
Teletoon (Canada)
|
1 | 26 | |
2020–2021 | The Walking Dead: World Beyond | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: Scott M. Gimple Matthew Negrete |
Idiot Box Productions Circle of Confusion Valhalla Entertainment AMC Studios |
AMC | 2 | 20 |
2021–present | Invincible | Based on Invincible by: Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley Developed by: Simon Racioppa |
Skybound North Wind Sun Sky Entertainment Point Grey Pictures Skybound Animation Amazon Studios |
Amazon Prime Video | 2 | 12 |
2022 | Tales of the Walking Dead | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: Scott M. Gimple Channing Powell |
Illiterate Manifesto Idiot Box Productions Valhalla Entertainment Circle of Confusion AMC Studios |
AMC AMC+ |
1 | 6 |
2023–present | The Walking Dead: Dead City | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: Eli Jorné |
Idiot Box Productions Valhalla Entertainment Circle of Confusion Schneibot AMC Studios |
AMC | 1 | 6 |
PSI Cops | Bart Batchelor Chris Nielsen |
Corus Entertainment Oddfellows Labs Skybound Galactic Wind Sun Sky Entertainment Sony Pictures Television |
Adult Swim (Canada) | 1 | 24 | |
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: David Zabel |
Idiot Box Productions Valhalla Entertainment Circle of Confusion Remainder Men AMC Studios |
AMC | 1 | 6 | |
2024 | The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live | Based on The Walking Dead by: Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard Developed by: Scott M. Gimple Danai Gurira Andrew Lincoln |
Valhalla Entertainment Circle of Confusion Hush Hush Films Gurazoo Productions Idiot Box Productions AMC Studios |
AMC | 1 | 6 |
See also
References
- ^ Ntim, Zac (June 7, 2023). "Skybound Entertainment & 5th Planet Games To Acquire 'The Minister' Producer Sagafilm". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (January 11, 2022). "Skybound Animation Sets Marge Dean as Studio Head". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "Announcing Skybound Galactic!". Skybound Entertainment. October 18, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (November 30, 2023). "'Invincible' Studio Skybound Expands to Japan with Focus on Anime & Local IP". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Gardner, Eriq (April 4, 2016). "Robert Kirkman Seeks to Stop a "Hijack" of 'The Walking Dead'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ "THE WALKING DEAD Trademark of TWD Productions LLC - Registration Number 4429084 - Serial Number 85030452 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions – imagecomics.com
- Penske Business Media, LLC.Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ Gaudiosi, John (November 26, 2012). "Skybound Entertainment Founder Robert Kirkman Talks Comics, Video Games And The Walking Dead". Forbes. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ Skybound North
- ^ Sirani, Jordan (April 4, 2018). "Skybound Announces New Games Publishing Division". IGN. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- Penske Business Media, LLC.
- ^ "Skybound Entertainment made a US$10.5 million investment in Danish developer 5th Planet Games-". breakinglatest.news. September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Announcing Weekly Comic Skybound X – Featuring Rick Grimes and Clementine!". Skybound Entertainment. April 13, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ "ROBERT KIRKMAN & LORENZO DE FELICI LAUNCH A NEW SHARED COMICS UNIVERSE IN VOID RIVALS #1". Skybound Entertainment. February 24, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ "SURPRISE! TRANSFORMERS & G.I. JOE LAUNCH A NEW SHARED COMIC BOOK UNIVERSE TODAY". Image Comics. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ "We're Launching a New Star-Studded YA & Middle Grade Graphic Novel Imprint: Skybound Comet!". Skybound Entertainment. June 24, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ Graeme McMillan (November 4, 2013). "Report: Valiant Pushes Robert Kirkman's 'Outcast' Toward New Name". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ Ben Lee (February 13, 2015). "Cinemax orders Robert Kirkman's Outcast to series". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ Wu, Valerie (November 4, 2023). "Skybound Entertainment Acquires Historic Animation Festival Spike & Mike's With Plans for Revival". Variety.
- ^ Sarto, Dan (November 4, 2023). "Skybound Entertainment Relaunches Iconic 'Spike & Mike's Festival of Animation'". Animation World Network.
- ^ Vox Media, Inc.Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- Vox Media, Inc.Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Wales, Matt (February 4, 2019). "The Walking Dead: The Final Season's last episode gets a confirmed March release date". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- Venture Beat. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ "Com2Us invests in Skybound Entertainment for new The Walking Dead mobile game". Venturebeat.com. January 29, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ Pepose, David (August 22, 2016). "Best Shots Reviews: SUPERGIRL: REBIRTH #1, POWER MAN & IRON FIST #7, DEMONIC #1". Newsarama. Purch Group.
- ^ Bloomfield, Chelsy (December 19, 2018). "Hardcore #1 Had Potential but Failed to Live Up To Its Namesake". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press.
- ^ "Great British Bake-Off Finalist Gets a Tabletop Game". GAMING. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ Pitts, Lan (May 29, 2018). "BRET BLEVINS Returns To Co-Pilot IMAGE's STELLAR With JOE KEATINGE". Newsarama. Purch Group.