Lionsgate Exec On Hollywood M&A: “We’ve Got a Scarce Asset”

COO Jimmy Barge told an investors conference the 'John Wick' studio is a better look to potential suitors after its break up with Starz and as industry consolidation pushes up library content valuations. Ana de Armas as Eve and Keanu Reeves as John Wick in Lionsgate's 'Ballerina.' Courtesy of Lionsgate Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Lionsgate Studios COO Jimmy Barge says his company has become an attractive pure-play studio asset after its breakup with Starz. “We see what’s happening in the world of consolidation. Everybody wants studios, we’ve got a scarce asset here already completely separated,” Barge told the Morgan Stanley Investors Conference after Paramount Skydance prevailed over Netflix in a winning bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. “I think we’re just extremely well positioned, with our business hitting on all cylinders at the same time – we’re a pure play studio which has got great scarcity value, great on that industry consolidation point,” he reiterated about the John Wick studio having separated from the Outlander premium network to create two standalone companies. Related Stories Movies 'Michael' Director Antoine Fuqua: Making Michael Jackson Biopic Was "Spiritual Journey" Movies James Van Der Beek Stars as a Twisted Pastor in Trailer for 'The Gates,' One of His Final Projects Barge said the formal separation of Lionsgate and Starz “took a while,” before being completed nearly a year ago with an eye to unlocking value for investors by allowing them to evaluate each business separately. Job done, he added on Wednesday, as Lionsgate gets credit for its 20,000-plus-title library just as industry consolidation pushes up price tags for original content. “We’re very cognizant of those values and the ability to create outsized valuations for our shareholders in the world of consolidation,” Barge said. Specifically on content, the Lionsgate financial chief on the movie side talked up Mel Gibson’s Resurrection of the Christ to now be two films, as may happen to Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic. “You have a Resurrection Part 2, likely Michael 2 and you have a Housemaid’s Secret. So right there you’ve got three tentpoles moving into ’28 and so fiscal 2028, so you got great carryover coming out of ’26 into ’27,” Barge said. On recent analyst calls, Lionsgate executives have talked about a second Michael movie now in development, but no official announcement on a second film has been made as the studio looks to see whether the original movie will do as well at the box office as projected. Read More About: lionsgate THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up More from The Hollywood Reporter THR, Esq Charter CEO Says California Last Stop Before Cox Merger Approval