WWE Studios

WWE Studios Inc.
FormerlyWWE Films (2002–2008)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFilm
FoundedJuly 31, 2002; 21 years ago (July 31, 2002)
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Ben Zierten
(VP, Unscripted Production and Development)
OwnerEndeavor
ParentWWE (TKO Group Holdings)
SubsidiariesWWE Studios Originals
WWE Studios Finance
WWE Films Development
WebsiteWWE Studios

WWE Studios Inc. (formerly known as WWE Films) is an American film studio owned by the professional wrestling promotion WWE, a division of TKO Group Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. WWE Studios movies frequently mix well-known actors and actresses in lead roles with WWE wrestlers, and teams with existing production and distribution companies resulting in lower cost for both parties.

History

Before the formation of WWE Studios, the WWF had produced the 1989 film No Holds Barred featuring Hulk Hogan under the Shane Distribution Company banner, a precursor to today's company. WWE Studios released the film on DVD in 2012.

WWE Studios was formed in 2002 as WWE Films, and was seen as "a natural extension of the entertainment business" that they already featured in the weekly Raw and SmackDown television programs. Joel Simon was named as President of the WWE Films and Jed Blaugrund as vice president.

WWE announced the first three film projects in January 2005; The Condemned, starring Steve Austin, The Marine, starring John Cena, and Goodnight, later retitled as See No Evil, starring Kane. Both of these independent film projects were genre films that cost $20 million to star his wrestlers.

In 2008, the name was changed to WWE Studios. On February 25, 2008, WWE had signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment that Fox received to WWE that they would get one theatrical film and four straight-to-DVD movies. The move was designed to expand into production of scripted television series and films for networks.

In February 2009, WWE Studios announced the first film which would not feature a WWE wrestler as the lead, with That's What I Am starring Ed Harris as a schoolteacher accused of fondling kids. In December 2009, it was announced that Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover would star in the WWE Studios and Samuel Goldwyn Films co-production of Legendary along with WWE wrestler John Cena. Around the same time, the film announced production had been completed on another co-production with Samuel Goldwyn Films, the comedy Knucklehead, which starred WWE wrestler Big Show. Further projects were announced in 2010 with WWE wrestlers in lead roles, with The Chaperone starring Triple H, which was released in February 2011, and Bending the Rules starring Edge, which was released in March 2012. These initial releases were largely unsuccessful financially.

In February 2012, WWE Studios agreed to a new three-film deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment to produce, finance and market three straight-to-DVD titles, including The Marine 3: Homefront starring The Miz, having previously worked with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on the previous films in the franchise, The Marine and The Marine 2. The deal also included the release of 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded starring Randy Orton, having together previously released 12 Rounds starring John Cena. Also that year, WWE Studios had signed a deal with Lionsgate in order to work on upcoming projects, most notably a Leprechaun project via a two-picture deal between the two studios.

In April 2012, WWE Studios partnered with Warner Bros. Entertainment France and producer Thomas Langmann to distribute French film Les Reines Du Ring in the United States and Canada, as well as the rights to remake the film, which was announced in 2014.

WWE Studios also produced No One Lives with Pathe Pictures, starring Luke Evans and WWE wrestler Brodus Clay, and acquired the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival cult hit The Day, starring Shawn Ashmore and Dominic Monaghan. WWE Studios has also acquired Interrogation, a suspense thriller by Adam Rodin. WWE Studios then secured the rights to Bermuda, a found footage horror spec script by Bobby Lee Darby and Nathan Brookes, set in the Bermuda Triangle. WWE Studios further announced a partnership with producer Edward R. Pressman and Jason Blum's Blum-Hanson-Allen films to develop Cruisin' for a Brusin', an action comedy to be written and directed by Adam Bhala Lough. WWE Studios and Warner Bros. co-produced a Scooby-Doo animated feature that found Scooby and the gang solving a mystery at WrestleMania, which also starred an ensemble of WWE Superstars. The movie released on March 25, 2014. On May 29, 2013, it was announced that WWE studios and Warner Bros would again team up to co-produce a Flintstones animated movie to be released in early 2015.

WWE Studios most successful film to date is the 2013 release The Call, starring Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin, which made close to $70 million at the box office, despite a comparatively small budget of just $13m. The film opened at the US box office at No. 2 with 17 million in its first weekend. It was further reported that WWE was looking at a potential sequel following the success of The Call.

In 2013, WWE Studios and Hyde Park Entertainment announced a deal to work together on the film adaptation of the 1980s television series The Fall Guy. The film will star Dwayne Johnson, who made his name as The Rock in WWE from 1996 to 2004 before becoming an actor, in his second WWE Studios production, with the first being The Scorpion King. In August 2014, a second collaboration between WWE Studios and Hyde Park was announced, with Ken Jeong, David Hasselhoff and WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan signed to star in a comedy Killing Hasselhoff.

In February 2014, WWE announced the sequel to the 1996 film Jingle All the Way, to star Larry the Cable Guy and WWE wrestler Santino Marella.

In May 2014, it was announced that WWE had extended their partnership with Lionsgate Entertainment to release a further six films together, with the first two announced as Vendetta, starring The Big Show and 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown starring Dean Ambrose. These group of six films have been referred as the Action Six-Pack Series.

In November 2014, WWE announced a new partnership deal with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. In March 2015, they announced a partnership with newly founded Gene Simmons production company Erebus Pictures and in April 2015, WWE Studios teamed with British company Richwater Films to co-produce and co-finance action-thrillers Eliminators and Rampage.

In November 2017, WWE announced that WWE Studios will expand its mandate to include scripted, non-scripted, family, and animated television and digital content.

In February 2019, it was reported that WWE Studios and Netflix came to an agreement that would see WWE Studios produce new family-friendly movies for Netflix's platform.

In July 2019, it was announced that WWE Studios will be producing its first television show, Fight Like A Girl, for Quibi. It would later be moved to The Roku Channel following the closure of Quibi.

In March 2021, the Game Show Network revealed at their upfront; they signed a deal with WWE Studios to develop shows hosted by WWE talent.

In March 2022, A&E Network and WWE expanded their agreement for more episodes of Biography: WWE Legends and WWE's Most Wanted Treasures. It was also announced a new series called WWE Rivals. The deal between the company calls for additional content to be announced at a later date.

Filmography

Film

Year Title US release date WWE Superstar(s) featured Distributor Notes
2002 The Scorpion King April 19, 2002 The Rock Universal Pictures Released as WWF Entertainment
2003 The Rundown September 26, 2003 First theatrical film released as WWE Films
2004 Walking Tall April 2, 2004 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
2006 See No Evil May 19, 2006 Kane Lionsgate
The Marine October 13, 2006 John Cena 20th Century Fox
2007 The Condemned April 27, 2007 Steve Austin Lionsgate Last theatrical film released as WWE Films
2008 Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia September 19, 2008 Mr. Kennedy 20th Century Fox Straight-to-video
2009 12 Rounds March 27, 2009 John Cena First theatrical film released as WWE Studios
The Marine 2 June 19, 2009 Ted DiBiase Jr. Straight-to-video
2010 Legendary September 10, 2010 John Cena Samuel Goldwyn Films
Knucklehead October 22, 2010 Big Show
2011 The Chaperone February 18, 2011 Triple H
That's What I Am April 29, 2011 Randy Orton
Inside Out September 9, 2011 Triple H
The Reunion October 21, 2011 John Cena
2012 Bending the Rules March 9, 2012 Edge WWE Studios
The Day August 29, 2012 Anchor Bay Films
WWE Studios
Distribution only
Barricade September 25, 2012 WWE Studios
The Marine 3: Homefront November 14, 2012 The Miz 20th Century Fox Straight-to-video
2013 Dead Man Down March 8, 2013 Wade Barrett FilmDistrict
The Call March 15, 2013 David Otunga TriStar Pictures
No One Lives May 10, 2013 Brodus Clay Anchor Bay Films
Queens of the Ring (Les reines du ring) July 3, 2013 (France)
July 25, 2014 (US)
Various cameos Image Entertainment Theatrical Film (US)
12 Rounds 2: Reloaded March 1, 2013 Randy Orton 20th Century Fox Straight-to-video
Christmas Bounty November 26, 2013 The Miz Warner Bros. TV movie
2014 Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery March 25, 2014 Various voices Straight-to-video, animated
Oculus April 11, 2014 Relativity Media
Road to Paloma July 11, 2014 Anchor Bay Entertainment
WWE Studios
Distribution only
Leprechaun: Origins August 22, 2014 Hornswoggle Lionsgate
See No Evil 2 May 23, 2014 Kane Straight-to-video
Jingle All the Way 2 June 27, 2014 Santino Marella 20th Century Fox Straight-to-video
2015 Vendetta June 12, 2015 Big Show Lionsgate Straight-to-video, 1st installment in the Action Six-Pack series
The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown! March 10, 2015 Various voices Warner Bros. Straight-to-video, animated
The Marine 4: Moving Target April 21, 2015 The Miz
Summer Rae
20th Century Fox Straight-to-video
12 Rounds 3: Lockdown September 11, 2015 Dean Ambrose Straight-to-video, 2nd installment in the Action Six-Pack series
The Condemned 2 November 6, 2015 Randy Orton Straight-to-video
Santa's Little Helper November 17, 2015 The Miz
Paige
Maryse Ouellet
20th Century Fox Straight-to-video
2016 Countdown November 30, 2016 Dolph Ziggler
Kane
Various cameos
Lionsgate Straight-to-video
Term Life April 29, 2016 Focus World Limited release
Interrogation July 1, 2016 Edge
Lana
Lionsgate 3rd installment in the Action Six-Pack series
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon July 26, 2016 (Digital HD)
August 6, 2016 (Home video)
Various voices Warner Bros. Straight-to-video, animated
Incarnate December 2, 2016 Mark Henry BH Tilt
Eliminators June 24, 2016 Wade Barrett Universal Pictures
2017 Surf's Up 2: WaveMania January 16, 2017 Various voices Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation Straight-to-video, animated
The Resurrection of Gavin Stone January 20, 2017 Shawn Michaels BH Tilt
The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! February 28, 2017 (Digital HD)
March 14, 2017 (Home video)
Various voices Warner Bros. Straight-to-video, animated
Sleight April 28, 2017 Universal Pictures Distribution only
Pure Country: Pure Heart August 1, 2017 Shawn Michaels Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Straight-to-video
Armed Response August 4, 2017 Seth Rollins Erebus Pictures Straight-to-video
Birth of the Dragon August 25, 2017 BH Tilt
Killing Hasselhoff August 29, 2017 The Iron Sheik
Hulk Hogan
Image Nation Straight-to-video
The Marine 5: Battleground December 14, 2017 (Digital HD)
March 28, 2017 (Home Video)
The Miz
Maryse Ouellet
Heath Slater
Curtis Axel
Bo Dallas
Naomi
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Straight-to-video
2018 The Marine 6: Close Quarters November 13, 2018 The Miz
Becky Lynch
Shawn Michaels
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Straight-to-video
Blood Brother November 30, 2018 R-Truth CodeBlack Films
2019 Fighting with My Family February 14, 2019 The Rock
Big Show
Sheamus
The Miz
Zelina Vega
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (via Mirror Releasing) (United States)
Lionsgate (United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland)
Universal Pictures (elsewhere)
2020 Buddy Games November 24, 2020 Sheamus Saban Films
2021 Rumble December 15, 2021 Becky Lynch
Roman Reigns
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Animation
Walden Media
Reel FX Animation Studios

Television

Year Title US release date WWE Superstar(s) featured Distributor Notes
2018 André the Giant April 10, 2018 Various Hall of Famers and Legends HBO Co-produced with HBO Sports, JMH Films, and Ringer Films
2018 Miz & Mrs. July 24, 2018 – July 25, 2022 USA Network
2021 Biography: WWE Legends April 18, 2021 – present Steve Austin
Roddy Piper
Randy Savage
Booker T
Shawn Michaels
Bret Hart
Mick Foley
The Ultimate Warrior
A&E Network
WWE's Most Wanted Treasures April 18, 2021 – present Stephanie McMahon
Triple H
AJ Francis
Numerous Legends and Hall of Famers
A&E Network
2022 WWE Rivals July 10, 2022 – present A&E Network
WWE Smack Talk July 10, 2022 – September 4, 2022 A&E Network
2024 Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez February 2, 2024 – present Montez Ford
Bianca Belair
Hulu Co-produced with Hulu

Digital

Series

Year Title US release date WWE Superstar(s) featured Distributor Ref.
2022 Corey & Carmella February 28, 2022 Corey Graves
Carmella
YouTube

Streaming

Film

Year Title US release date WWE Superstar(s) featured Distributor Ref.
2020 The Main Event April 10, 2020 Sheamus
The Miz
Kofi Kingston
Beth Phoenix
Mauro Ranallo
Babatunde Aiyegbusi
Keith Lee
Mia Yim
Otis
Renee Young
Corey Graves
Netflix
2021 Escape the Undertaker October 5, 2021 The Undertaker
Kofi Kingston
Big E
Xavier Woods

Series

Year Title US release date WWE Superstar(s) featured Distributor Notes
2020 The Big Show Show April 6, 2020 Big Show Netflix Co-produced with Z+M Industrial Films and Northrock 6
2020 Fight Like a Girl April 13, 2020 Alexa Bliss
Becky Lynch
Brie Bella
Charlotte Flair
Natalya
Nia Jax
Nikki Bella
Sasha Banks
Sonya Deville
Stephanie McMahon
Quibi (original)The Roku Channel (acquisition following the closure Quibi)
2022 WWE Evil March 24, 2022 Various WWE Superstars Peacock

This page was last updated at 2024-03-02 03:26 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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