Business developments
In March 2015, the Russo Brothers announced they were launching a production company, then known as Getaway Productions, and tapped Mike Larocca as President. [6]
AGBO was officially founded in 2017 by film veterans and directors the Russo Brothers. Anthony and Joe Russo serve as founders and co-chairmen. [7]
In March 2018, it was announced that screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote the screenplays for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War , were named Co-Presidents of Story at AGBO, adding to the executive roster. [8] The name "AGBO" was a surname selected randomly by Anthony and Joe Russo from an Ohio phone book years prior. [9]
On January 5, 2022, it was announced that the Russo Brothers sold a minority stake in AGBO - or 38% - to Tokyo-based game maker Nexon, for $400 million. [10] AGBO was consequently valued at $1.1 billion. [10]
Production developments
2016–2017: The founding years
In July 2016, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would co-produce Deadly Class alongside creator Rick Remender [11] and got a Syfy pilot order in September 2017 [12] and the series starred Lana Condor and Benedict Wong and aired from December 20, 2018 through March 20, 2019. [13] [14]
In June 2016, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would produce action film 21 Bridges for STX Entertainment. [15] In July 2018 it was announced that Chadwick Boseman would star in the AGBO produced movie [16] and released on November 22, 2019. [17]
In August 2017, it was announced that AGBO acquired the rights to the book Exit West with Morten Tyldum set to direct. [18] On December 31, 2017, Barack Obama included Exit West on his list of the best books he read in 2017, [19] and then Obama's production company, Higher Ground Productions, announced they would team up with AGBO to produce a feature adaptation for Netflix, with Riz Ahmed attached to star, and Yann Demange directing. [20]
In December 2017, it was announced that AGBO won the rights to the graphic novel The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag, [21] then in March 2018 it was announced that screenwriting duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely would develop the screenplay for the film. [8]
2018–2022: Launching the studio
In January 2018, it was announced that AGBO and Neon acquired the worldwide rights to Assassination Nation , written and directed by Sam Levinson, at Sundance Film Festival in a $10M deal, [22] the film was released later that year on September 21, 2018 in association with Refinery29. [23] In June 2018, AGBO optioned the film adaptation of Alex North's novel The Whisper Man, with AGBO producing. [24]
In August 2018, AGBO optioned Nico Walker's novel Cherry in a bidding war and announced this would be the next film the Russo Brothers would direct after Avengers: Endgame . [25] Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo star in the film. [26]
On August 30, 2018, it was announced that Anthony and Joe Russo were set to produce the Daniels' (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) sci-fi action film Everything Everywhere All at Once with A24 as the distributor. [27] [28]
On August 30, 2018, it was announced that Sam Hargrave would direct Dhaka, later renamed Extraction, from a screenplay by Joe Russo with Chris Hemsworth set to star in the film. [29] The film was released on Netflix on April 24, 2020, and received the biggest premiere viewership in the site's history, leading to a sequel being put in development from the same team. [30]
In October 2018, it was announced that AGBO would come on as a producer for the Emily Mortimer-starring indie horror film Relic [31] which was the feature directorial debut for Natalie Erika James and debuted to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. [32] On March 10, 2020, the AGBO produced film Relic was acquired by IFC Midnight with a release date set for July 10, 2020. [33] [34]
In October 2018, it was announced that AGBO would partner with Conde Nast Entertainment to produce thriller Mosul with World War Z screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan set to direct. [35] The film played at the 76th Venice International Film Festival and 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. It was later acquired by Netflix and released in November 2020. [36]
On March 20, 2019, AGBO acquired JJ Braider's script All Fun And Games. [37]
In April 2020, it was announced that the Russo Brothers will team with Walt Disney Pictures to produce a live-action remake of the 1997 animated film Hercules .
Apple bought the rights to Cherry , starring Tom Holland in September 2020 - the movie hit Apple TV+ in early 2021. [38]
In December 2020, The Electric State casting news broke that Millie Bobby Brown would star in the upcoming Sci-Fi Film. [39]
In April 2021, it was announced that Epix gave a 10-episode straight-to-series order to From , a contemporary sci-fi horror series, created by John Griffin and produced by AGBO and the Russo Brothers. [40] It was renewed for a second season in April 2022. [41] In July 2021, AGBO announced it was teaming up with Netflix again for a heist thriller forthcoming movie starring Regé-Jean Page and written by Noah Hawley. [42]
In August 2021, Hulu announced the expansion of its true-crime collection, including the docuseries Captive Audience [43] which is executive produced by AGBO's Anthony Russo, Joe Russo and Mike Larocca. [44]
2022–present: AGBOverse
On January 13, 2022, casting announcements were made for the forthcoming horror-thriller film All Fun and Games, which AGBO is producing, with Asa Butterfield and Natalia Dyer to star and Ari Costa and Eren Celeboglu to co-direct. [45]
In February 2022, it was announced that AGBO and Disney Television Animation would produce an animated film adaptation of Superfudge , one of Judy Blume's best selling books. [46]
On June 17, 2022, it was announced that Guy Ritchie will direct the forthcoming Hercules live-action remake. [47]
In July 2022, it was announced that the hit Hulu show, Captive Audience, which was executive produced by the Russo Brothers, became Hulu's most-viewed nonfiction TV program in its first month of release. [48]
The Gray Man sequel and spinoff with Netflix was announced in July 2022; which will see Ryan Gosling reprise his role as 'The Gray Man,' with AGBO producing and the Russo Brothers directing. [49] Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese of Deadpool) fame will write the spinoff series. [50]
On September 15, 2022, it was announced that AGBO would executive produce a Butch and Sundance series at Amazon Studios, starring Regé-Jean Page and Glen Powell. [51]
The Citadel global multi-series announced the casting of Matilda De Angelis as the lead for the Italian installment of the spy thriller franchise, which AGBO is producing in conjunction with Amazon Studios. [52]
In November 2022, it was announced that Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, Anthony Mackie, and Billy Bob Thornton were joining the cast of The Electric State . [53]
In November 2022, it was announced the Russo Brothers would executive produce and direct an eight-episode limited series about the FTX scandal in conjunction with Amazon Studios [54]
In November 2022, Variety named the Russo Brothers "Showmen of the Year" and the cover featured the Russos with Chris Pratt, Priyanka Chopra, and Zoe Saldana all as part of upcoming AGBO projects [55]
Established in 2017 through AGBO, the National Italian American Film Forum Grant program annually awards multiple $8,000 grants to ambitious filmmakers around the country to create documentary, fiction or nonfiction narrative films that explore the Italian American experience for the benefit of future generations. [56]
In October 2017, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would offer an annual fellowship with Slamdance Film Festival which would consist of a $25,000 prize, filmmaking support and an office at AGBO. [57]
In June 2019, it was announced that AGBO partnered with the American Film Institute (AFI) for an inaugural development grant which would award the recipient $25,000 to develop a project as well as year-long mentorship from AGBO. [58]
In May 2020, the Russo Brothers announced their new video podcast, Pizza Film School. [59] The podcast aims to educate and spread some love to favorite classic films, as well as local pizzerias while movie lovers are stuck at home during the pandemic. Guests included Josh Brolin, Taika Waititi, Mark Hamill, Bob Gale and more. [60] The second season premiered in April 2023 with the Russos talking to other directors including a viral episode with Zack Snyder, which was a crossover between the Marvel and DC universes. Other guests included Emerald Fennell, Nia DaCosta, Justin Lin, Justin Chon, R.J. Cutler, and more. [61]
In April 2021, AGBO began running its annual "No Sleep 'til Film Fest" competition, an opportunity for emerging creators to submit a short film for consideration from AGBO's Executive teams. [62] The virtual short film festival invites filmmakers from all countries to make a short movie in only 48 hours. [63] The first year of the festival received over 700 submissions from filmmakers in over 60 countries. [63]
In 2022, Joe Russo helped to found and fund, through AGBO, the inaugural annual International Film Festival of St Andrews in partnership with the University of St Andrews in Scotland. The festival showcases international cinema and hosts workshops for filmmakers. AGBO remains the lead sponsor of the festival. [64]
