Toymaker Hasbro has brought on a trio of former Entertainment One executives to head up Hasbro Entertainment’s newly launched content studio.
The new division, which brings together film, TV, animation and digital media production, will be led by Olivier Dumont as President of Hasbro Entertainment, with Zev Foreman and Gabriel Marano as Head of Film and Head of Television, respectively.
The unveiling of the new leadership team for the division follows Hasbro’s sale of eOne to Lionsgate for approximately $500 million to focus on brand assets such as Peppa Pig, Transformers And Dungeons and Dragons as it looks set to become a digital gaming giant.
Dumont most recently served as president of family brands for eOne, while Foreman served as president of film production and Marano served as co-head of script development for eOne. Foreman and Marano were focused on mining Hasbro’s toy box for original IP while at eOne, and will continue that work in their new roles.
Hasbro under the leadership of CEO Chris Cocks has shifted its focus to becoming a digital gaming powerhouse as it appears to be reinvesting in fewer, more profitable properties, doing so with outside partners to reduce production costs and risk.
“Entertainment is at the heart of Hasbro’s strategy and mission to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and the excitement of the game. The public can count on Hasbro to continue to create compelling and fun entertainment that brings to life our wide array of iconic brands, including Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, And transformers, reaching audiences across platforms in ways that resonate in today’s fast-paced world,” said Tim Kilpin, president, toys, licensing and entertainment at Hasbro, in a statement.
Hasbro was most recently in theaters with the Transformers deposit Rise of the Beastswith a worldwide gross of $436 million, while the previous title Dungeons and Dragons grossed $208 million worldwide. There is forthcoming Transformers Onevoice starring Scarlett Johansson and John Hamm, and a Dungeons and Dragons series for Paramount+.
Dumont said: “We are excited to embark on this new chapter, building on our rich storytelling heritage to continue to delight audiences from generation to generation. Gabe, Zev and I look forward to working with the industry’s top creative talents, studios and distribution platforms to push the boundaries with innovative stories that will connect fans with their favorite brands like never before, while also providing exciting building new worlds and the next wave of Hasbro franchises for a growing audience.”
