Today, as A Charlie Brown Christmas turns 60, Sony Pictures Japan has finalized a deal for the rights to Charles Schulz’s comic strip, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts. The deal gives Sony a majority stake in the overall rights alongside Peanuts Holding LLC. While the exact number has not been disclosed, it is estimated at around $460 million. The Schulz family estate will still hold a minor stake in the company, at about 20%.
“Since 2018, SMEJ has been proud to be part of the partnership behind Peanuts, an iconic global entertainment brand with a 75-year legacy of delighting audiences worldwide. With this additional ownership stake, we are thrilled to be able to further elevate the value of the Peanuts brand by drawing on the Sony Group’s extensive global network and collective expertise.” – Shunsuke Muramatsu, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) President.
The last film was 2015’s The Peanuts Movie, produced alongside the now-defunct animation studio Blue Sky Studios. The film made over $246 million worldwide on a $99 million budget alongside 20th Century Fox. It also sits around 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s unknown if a new Peanuts animated film will now be commissioned under Sony Pictures.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
