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LuckyChap Entertainment

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LuckyChap Entertainment Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryMotion pictures, Entertainment
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Founders
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
Key people
  • Margot Robbie
  • Tom Ackerley
  • Josey McNamara
Divisions
  • LuckyChap UK Ventures
  • LuckyChap Australia

LuckyChap Entertainment Limited[1][2] is an British-American production company based in Los Angeles and Bromsgrove, founded in 2014 by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr.[3] The company describes their focal point as female-focused film and television productions.[4]

LuckyChap Entertainment has produced films and television series including I, Tonya (2017), the Hulu TV series Dollface (2019), Birds of Prey, Promising Young Woman (both 2020), the Netflix miniseries Maid (2021), Barbie and Saltburn (both 2023).

As of 2024, works produced by the company have received 25 Academy Award and 18 BAFTA nominations. In 2018, its first release I, Tonya, won the Academy Award Best Supporting Actress.[5] Three years later, Promising Young Woman won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the BAFTAs for Best Original Screenplay and Outstanding British Film.[6] In 2024, Barbie won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Formation

Co founder of LuckyChap Entertainment, Australian actress Margot Robbie.
Logo used from 2014 to 2023.

The company was established by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Sophia Kerr and Josey McNamara.[4] Robbie, an Australian actress, was primarily known as a film star, playing major roles in Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad and The Legend of Tarzan.[7] In 2018, she discussed how she previously had an interest in obtaining creative control from behind the camera, and how forming LuckyChap Entertainment gave her the ability to pursue this.[8]

Robbie and Kerr grew up together on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The British pair McNamara and Ackerley worked together for years as assistant directors. Robbie and Ackerley met on the set of the 2015 film Suite Française in 2013, and began dating in 2014, and were married in 2016.[9] After getting drunk together at the London premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street, the four co-founders decided to move into a house together in Clapham, London. There, they conceived the idea of starting a production company.[10] The name "LuckyChap" relates to Charlie Chaplin, though Robbie said that none of them could remember its exact meaning.[11] Brett Hedblom serves as LuckyChap's Vice President of television.[12]

Productions

In 2017, LuckyChap Entertainment released their first major motion picture production I, Tonya, based on the life of American competitive ice skater Tonya Harding, played by Robbie. It had a budget of $11 million and was their first theatrical release.[13] I, Tonya earned an Academy Award for Allison Janney as Best Supporting Actress, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe Award, along with several nominations.[5] L. Rose of The Hollywood Reporter described the movie's success as a demonstration of LuckyChap Entertainment's "instant credibility".[4]

In 2018, LuckyChap released their next film Terminal, in partnership with Beagle Pug Films and Highland Film Group. The neo-noir thriller film, written and directed by Vaughn Stein and starring Margot Robbie, was filmed and produced prior to I, Tonya.[14] It was unsuccessful at the box offices, grossing $843,970[15] in comparison to I, Tonya's gross of $53,939,297.[16]

In 2019, the company, along with Automatik Entertainment and Paramount Pictures, premiered Dreamland, a 1930s-set action drama, which was filmed in 2017.[17] Robbie stars as an outlaw on the run, with a teenage boy as a sidekick.[18] Also in 2019, the company formed a partnership with Film Victoria, by taking part in Film Victoria's Placement Program. This program involved a young female producer from Film Victoria undertaking a six-month placement at LuckyChap.[19]

Subsequently, LuckyChap began involvement in television production. Brett Hedlom became Vice President of television.[12] They sold the comedy series Dollface to Hulu in 2018, and then began production and released the show in 2019. The show is also produced by ABC Signature Studios and Clubhouse Pictures, and stars Kat Dennings—a recently-single young woman who comes to terms with her imagination and old friendships.[20]

Throughout 2019, the company also worked in the production of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), which premiered in early 2020.[21] Also produced by Clubhouse Pictures and Warner Bros and directed by Cathy Yan, it is the eighth installment in the DC Extended Universe, as a spin-off of Suicide Squad (2016).[22] It focuses on the super villain DC Comics character Harley Quinn who, after being dumped by the Joker, forms an all-female superhero team.[23] It became LuckyChap's highest-grossing production to date, earning $200 million worldwide.[24]

Later on in 2020, the company released the female revenge film Promising Young Woman, which was Emerald Fennell's first directorial feature. Also produced by FilmNation Entertainment and Focus Features, this black comedy film stars Carey Mulligan in her attempt to get revenge for the rape and consequent suicide of a female friend.[25] This film earned an Academy Award, a BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay and another BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year.[6]

LuckyChap Entertainment had a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television to develop and produce films and television series.[26] In this deal they partnered with Mattel Films, the new theatrical film division of Mattel, and Warner Bros Pictures, to co-produce Barbie (2023), in which Robbie starred as Barbie.[27] The film's initial planned 2017 release was repeatedly delayed.[28] It was released on 21 July 2023, simultaneously with Oppenheimer, leading to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon.[29] The film grossed US$1.4 billion worldwide and became the highest-grossing film of 2023.[30]

Focus

LuckyChap has described itself as a company that aims to promote female stories from female storytellers, stating that they are filling a gap caused by gender inequality in the film industry, particularly in terms of writers and directors.[31][4]

In 2019, LuckyChap partnered with Christina Hodson, the writer of action films including Birds of Prey (2020) and Bumblebee (2018), to form the 'Lucky Exports Pitch Program' (LEPP).[32] The month-long program consisted of six female writers, including four women of color, in a writers' room.[10] The writers workshopped ideas for action film projects.[32]

As well as ensuring their crews are primarily female, LuckyChap have described that they aim to work on female-focused storylines.[33] LuckyChap executive Margot Robbie said that she always gravitated towards playing male character roles, as she felt their storylines were better.[4] A. Setianto and M. Win described Birds of Prey as intricately exploring the issues women face in trying to gain, independence.[34] while N. Curtis and V. Cardo described Quinn as a female character who has control over her own body and sexuality.[35]

Location

The initial headquarters consisted of a small office space located on the Warner Bros lot in Los Angeles. After outgrowing their initial office space, LuckyChap decided to move into a bigger office in Downtown Los Angeles, where they designed an "open, collaborative environment", according to Architectural Digest [36] LuckyChap Entertainment said of the construction that they made an effort to keep a feminine aesthetic in the office, with features like their custom-made neon LuckyChap Entertainment sign.[36]

Future

The company also sold their television project Shattered Glass to NBC under the Warner Bros Deal.[37] Robbie and Hedblom decided to work with the ABC, Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield from the Australian production company Hoodlum, ABC Studios International, and Robbie's agent Aran Michael from Aran Michael Management, on a 10-part series Shakespeare Now.[38] The series is to be a modern adaptation of Shakespeare, told from female perspectives and led by an all-female production team.[27] In December 2020, the company signed a first look deal with Amazon Studios for TV projects.[12] The company is co-producing the dramedy Netflix series Maid (2021), inspired by Stephanie Land's memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive. It is also produced by Molly Smith Metzler, John Wells Productions and Warner Bros Television.[39] LuckyChap Entertainment and Scott Free Productions are co-producing a film based on the Disney attraction Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The script is being written by Michele and Kieran Mulroney, and it will be directed by Bert and Bertie.[40] The company is also producing the Christmas comedy Naughty, which will be directed by Olivia Wilde.[41] In March 2024, it was announced that the company and Vertigo Entertainment will produce a film based on the life simulation game The Sims.[42]

Films

Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released
Films produced by LuckyChap Entertainment
Year Title Director Gross Awards Nominations
2017 I, Tonya Craig Gillespie $53.9 million
2018 Terminal Vaughn Stein $843,970
2019 Dreamland Miles Joris-Peyrafitte $320,814
2020 Birds of Prey Cathy Yan $205.4 million
Promising Young Woman Emerald Fennell $20.3 million
2021 The Humming of the Beast Francisca Alegría —
2023 Boston Strangler Matt Ruskin —
Barbie Greta Gerwig $1.446 billion
Saltburn Emerald Fennell $21 million
2024 My Old Ass Megan Park Unreleased
TBA My Year of Rest and Relaxation Yorgos Lanthimos
Tank Girl Miles Joris-Peyrafitte
Avengelyne[43] Olivia Wilde
Borderline Jimmy Warden
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Bert and Bertie
Alba [ca] † Francisca Alegría [ca]
Monopoly[44] TBA
Naughty[45] Olivia Wilde
The Sims[42] Kate Herron
Oceans Jay Roach
Whoever You Are, Honey[46] TBA

Television

Television shows produced by LuckyChap Entertainment
Year Title Network Awards Nominations
2019–2022 Dollface Hulu
2021 Maid Netflix
2022 Mike Hulu
TBA The Wildest Animals in Griffith Park[47] TBA
Sirens[48] Netflix

References

  1. ^ "LUCKYCHAP ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED". Opencorporates. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  2. ^ "LUCKYCHAP ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED overview". Companies House. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  3. ^ Romeyn, Kathryn (August 9, 2019). "Inside Margot Robbie's Homey New L.A. LuckyChap Entertainment Office". Architectural Digest. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Rose, Lacey (2020-12-18). "Margot Robbie and LuckyChap Partners Talk Their Producing Strategy: "If It's Not a 'F***, Yes,' It's a 'No'"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  5. ^ a b "I, Tonya: Nominations and awards - The Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ a b Del Rosario, Alexandra (2021). "Emerald Fennell Scores First Career Oscar, Pays Tribute To "Most Incredible" Cast & Crew For Completing 'Promising Young Woman' In 23 Days". Deadline.
  7. ^ Cook, Meghan (2020). "All of Margot Robbie's movies, ranked by critics". Insider.
  8. ^ Tedmanson, S. (2018). Margot Robbie opens up about marriage, feminism and sexual harassment in Hollywood. https://www.vogue.com.au/culture/features/margot-robbie-opens-up-about-marriage-feminism-and-sexual-harassment-in-hollywood/news-story/5bf7dd2f3b1d94ea98b5709e532da14d
  9. ^ Entenman, Elizabeth (9 September 2018). "Margot Robbie's Husband Shares Her Dream Of A More Equal Hollywood". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  10. ^ a b Aurthur, Kate (2020). "Margot Robbie on 'Bombshell,' 'Birds of Prey' and How She Fell in Love With Harley Quinn". Variety.
  11. ^ "Margot Robbie: 'I asked my girlfriends what they'd been through. And they were angry'". the Guardian. 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  12. ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (2020-12-07). "Margot Robbie, LuckyChap Entertainment Sign First-Look TV Deal at Amazon (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  13. ^ Davis, Arianna (2017). "Margot Robbie Talks To R29 About I, Tonya, Women In Sports, #MeToo, & More". Refinery29.
  14. ^ Clarke, Cath (2018). "Terminal review – Margot Robbie hit-woman thriller misfires". The Guardian.
  15. ^ "Terminal". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  16. ^ "I, Tonya". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2020). "Paramount Takes Home Entertainment & TV Rights To Three Romulus Movies, Including Margot Robbie's 'Dreamland'". Deadline.
  18. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (2020). "Dreamland review – Margot Robbie hits the bank in twist on Bonnie and Clyde". theguardian.
  19. ^ Film Victoria Australia. (2019). Annual Report 2018/19 (p. 11). Melbourne. https://parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/Film_Victoria_2019_Annual_Report_Digital_GsXMbN1H.PDF
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2018). "'Dollface' Comedy Starring Kat Dennings Ordered to Series By Hulu From Margot Robbie, Bryan Unkeless & ABC Signature". Deadline.
  21. ^ "BIRDS OF PREY PREMIERE, LONDON". Average Socialite. 2020.
  22. ^ "How to watch DC Comics movies in order - full timeline and chronological order". Radio Times.
  23. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (2020). "Cathy Yan on the Rerelease of 'Birds of Prey,' the Harley Quinn Movie". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  24. ^ Mendelson, Scott (2020). "Box Office: 'Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey' Finally Passes $200 Million". Forbes.
  25. ^ Harvey, Dennis (2020). "'Promising Young Woman': Film Review". Variety.
  26. ^ Kit, Borys (2016). "Margot Robbie Signs First-Look Deal With Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
  27. ^ a b "Mattel And Warner Bros. Pictures To Bring Barbie To The Big Screen Starring Margot Robbie". Mattel. 2019.
  28. ^ Blair, Olivia (2019). "Barbie Film: Live-Action Remake Cast, Release Date And Spoilers". Elle UK.
  29. ^ Treisman, Rachel (July 22, 2023). "Fans flock to theaters for the 'Barbenheimer' double feature". NPR. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  30. ^ "2023 Worldwide Box Office".
  31. ^ Harding, Laura (2020). "Margot Robbie: I feel obligation to attack statistics on female-driven content". Belfast Telegraph.
  32. ^ a b "SMASHING DOORS OPEN: A SPOTLIGHT ON THE LUCKY EXPORTS PITCH PROGRAM SCREENWRITERS". freethework.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  33. ^ Molloy, Tim (2020). "Beyond Birds of Prey: LuckyChap's Fantabulous Future". MovieMaker Magazine.
  34. ^ Setianto, Angelica L.; Win, Maria V. (2020-12-03). "The Application of Girl Power Through Third-Wave Feminism in Birds of Prey". Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Arts and Humanities (IJCAH 2020). Atlantis Press. pp. 574–580. doi:10.2991/assehr.k.201201.100. ISBN 978-94-6239-285-4. S2CID 231748028.
  35. ^ Curtis, Neal; Cardo, Valentina (2018-05-04). "Superheroes and third-wave feminism". Feminist Media Studies. 18 (3): 381–396. doi:10.1080/14680777.2017.1351387. ISSN 1468-0777. S2CID 149430966.
  36. ^ a b "Inside Margot Robbie's Homey New L.A. LuckyChap Entertainment Office". Architectural Digest. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  37. ^ Ausfilm (2018). LuckyChap Entertainment. https://www.ausfilm.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/b5ed06d519b9dd24ab201f0b840491cd.pdf
  38. ^ Inside Film :IF. (2018). Outward focus - The QLD Report. The Intermedia Group. https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=cdi_rmit_apaft_872798397246406&context=PC&vid=61USYD_INST:sydney&lan
  39. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2020). "Anika Noni Rose Joins Netflix Series 'Maid' Produced By John Wells & Margot Robbie". Deadline.
  40. ^ Welk, Brian (16 August 2022). "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Movie in the Works at Disney From 'Hawkeye' Directors Bert & Bertie". TheWrap. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  41. ^ Kroll, Justin (2023). "Olivia Wilde To Direct Christmas Comedy 'Naughty' With LuckyChap Producing". Deadline.
  42. ^ a b Kit, Borys; Galuppo, Mia (March 20, 2024). "'The Sims' Movie in the Works With Margot Robbie's LuckyChap, Vertigo and Loki Director Kate Herron". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  43. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (April 4, 2024). "LuckyChap Teaming With Olivia Wilde On Deadpool Rob Liefeld's Avengelyne? Get Your Checkbooks Ready: The Dish". Deadline Hollywood.
  44. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy; D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 10, 2024). "'Barbie' Producer LuckyChap Rolls Dice On 'Monopoly' With Lionsgate & Hasbro – CinemaCon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  45. ^ "Olivia Wilde to Direct Christmas Comedy 'Naughty' with LuckyChap Producing – the Dish". 8 December 2023.
  46. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 5, 2024). "LuckyChap & Indian Paintbrush Take Olivia Gatwood Novel 'Whoever You Are, Honey' Off The Table; Author To Pen Script". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  47. ^ Masters, Kim (May 26, 2020). "The Ultimate Social-Distance Pitch? Margot Robbie, Kaitlyn Dever, Joey King and 'Peanut Butter Falcon' Duo Shopping Hot TV Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  48. ^ Jackson, Angelique (February 21, 2024). "Maid Showrunner Molly Smith Metzler and LuckyChap Reteam for Sirens at Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
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