Japanese company Toho acquires a 25% stake in the fifth season; The Korean CJ ENM remains the majority shareholder

Japanese studio Toho, producer of the current blockbuster Godzilla minus onepaid $225 million to acquire a 25 percent stake in producer and distributor Fifth Season.

The investment will be made by Toho’s US subsidiary Toho International. Korean company CJ ENM remains the majority shareholder for a fifth season following a takeover last year, while Endeavor Group Holdings remains a strategic shareholder.

Season 5 co-CEOs Graham Taylor and Chris Rice said the investment will enable the company to further expand its premium content offering and create collaboration opportunities between Season 5, Toho and CJ EMN.

In a statement, Fifth Season said it will work with Toho and CJ ENM to both produce global content and participate in Japanese-produced content, while Toho’s development and production executives will work with Fifth Season. The content produced through this collaboration will benefit from Fifth Season’s robust global distribution network.

TV productions for the fifth season include Apple TV+ series separationDirected and produced by Ben Stiller and Max’s Tokyo Vicefrom Hulu Nine complete strangerswith Nicole Kidman and Hulu’s Leven & Betstarring Amy Schumer, and the final three are currently in production on their second seasons.

New range in production includes war chief with Jason Momoa, Lady in the lakedirected by Alma Har’el and starring Natalie Portman The Savant, with Jessica Chastain. The fifth season also offers distribution of a library of series produced by third-party companies.

As for the film, it is currently in its fifth season Eileen, directed by William Oldroyd and starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway, upon release. Upcoming features include: Nonnaby director Stephen Chobsky and Birthday by writer and director Jan Komasa.

In addition to production, Toho is a major distributor of domestic and foreign films in Japan, as well as an exhibitor with 740 screens and a 30% market share.

Taylor and Rice said, “This investment is an outstanding and unique opportunity to build on the momentum of Season 5 and strengthen our leadership position in the global independent film and television industry.” Strategic partnerships are a core part of our DNA, and we have purposefully evolved with a company as successful, legendary and aligned with our goals and values ​​as Toho. Through their collaboration and great partnerships with CJ ENM and Endeavor, Fifth Season is better positioned than ever to surprise audiences around the world with a comprehensive range of premium content.

Matsuoka said: “We believe that this partnership will be an important step to challenge the global market, not only in the field of animation, where Toho has excelled, but also in the field of live action content.” We are extremely grateful and excited to take on this challenge hand in hand with CJ ENM, entering the global entertainment market from Asia, and Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company. We hope that Japanese projects, intellectual property and content will continue to expand in the global market by crossing the “bridge” that this cooperation will build between Japan and the world.

CJ ENM CEO Koo Chang-gun said, “We are pleased to have Toho, Japan’s largest entertainment company, as our partner at a time when Fifth Season is making significant progress as a major global studio.” CJ ENM will continue to expand its competitive advantage as a content producer and strengthen its status as a global IP powerhouse.

Fifth Season was advised on the transaction by The Raine Group, which acted as exclusive financial advisor, and O’Melveny as legal advisor.