Adam Sandlerand Happy Madison Productions have signed an overall deal to write, produce and star in a newUntitled Adam Sandler Animated Moviefor STX Entertainment, it was announced today byAdam Fogelson, Chairman of the STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group. As part of the 12-15 motion pictures the studio will release each year, STX is focused on creating multi-platform family franchises across film, television and digital. The company is currently developing a major animated motion picture based on the belovedUglydolltoy brand.
The deal withAdam Sandlerand Happy Madison will add another major animated project toSTX’s growing portfolio of family targeted IP.Adam Sandler’s last two animated blockbusters,Hotel TransylvaniaandHotel Transylvania 2, have generated more than $825 million worldwide.Fogelson, who worked closely withChris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment on blockbusters includingDespicable Me,Despicable Me 2,Minions,The Loraxand more, had this to say in his statement.
“As we continue to grow our company, the family arena is of critical importance to STX Entertainment and we are tremendously excited to haveAdam SandlerandHappy Madisondeveloping projects with us for the global animation market. Happy Madison is one of the most consistently successful and talented producers of family entertainment working in the business today. They have steadily been building this brand in this arena for years with the incredible success of theHotel Transylvaniaanimated franchise.Adamalready has some wonderful ideas about what he wants to develop with us and we look forward to working with him,Allen Covertand the entire Happy Madison team.”
Adam Sandler, who made eight of his early films with STX Entertainment Chairman and CEORobert Simonds, has enjoyed phenomenal success as an actor, writer, producer and musician.Sandler’s films have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide and along with theHotel Transylvaniamovies include the box office smashesGrown Ups&Grown Ups 2,Just Go With It, Sony Pictures’You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, and Universal’s comedyI Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, andThe Longest Yard.Sandler’s first film for Netflix,The Ridiculous 6, (the first of his four-picture deal) was the most-watched movie in the history of Netflix and opened number one in every territory Netflix operates in.Sandler’s newest films include Netflix’sThe Do-Over, starring oppositeDavid SpadeandPaula PattonandNoah Baumbach’s untitled independent feature also starringBen StillerandDustin Hoffman.Oren Aviv, President and Chief Content Officer for the STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group, who previously led both production and marketing at Walt Disney Studios and oversaw marketing for campaigns on some of the most successful animated titles of all-time includingFinding NemoandThe Incredibles, had this to say in his statement.
“When we launched our new animation division, we said we would continue to seek out meaningful partnerships with long-term potential at our studio. Teaming withAdam Sandlerand Happy Madison is exactly the kind of quality relationship that further defines STX as a home for the world’s best storytellers.”
Happy Madison Productions has produced over 20 films includingThe Wedding Singer,The Waterboy,50 First Dates,Blended,That’s My Boy,Just Go With It,Click,The House Bunny,Paul Blart: Mall Cop,Grown UpsandGrown Ups 2,Ridiculous 6and most recentlyNetflix’sThe Do-Over. Happy Madison Productions also has a deal with Columbia Tri-Star Domestic Television to develop shows for the studio includingRules of Engagement, which had a successful six year run, the hit ABC seriesThe Goldbergsand the new ABC comedy,Imaginary Mary, starringJenna Elfman. Stay tuned for more on this untitled animated project fromAdam Sandlerand STX Entertainment.
