Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 and Sony Pictures reach distribution deal

Jeff Robinov’s new film company, Studio 8, has signed a distribution deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the companies said on Monday.

The companies said Sony will distribute up to six movies a year from the new firm. In addition, Sony will invest in Studio 8, though the companies did not disclose the financial terms of the long-in-the-works deal.

Studio 8 said it is looking to secure up to $1 billion in debt and equity financing. This is the latest major investment for Studio 8 since June, when the fledgling studio announced an investment from the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.

Robinov’s production house will be based on Sony’s lot in Culver City.

The pact with Sony does not include distribution in China, where the film market is booming.

Studio 8 has yet to secure a distribution deal for China. However, Fosun said in a regulatory filing this summer that it “will exercise significant influence over the distribution arrangements of movies produced by Studio 8 in the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions.”

Earlier this year, the Beijing film production company Huayi Bros. Media Corp. was in talks to invest as much as $150 million in Studio 8, though no such deal was struck.

“I’m very grateful to have Fosun Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment as integral parts of this venture,” Robinov said in a statement. “Their support, experience and accomplishments will help us build a great global media company together.”

Robinov left Warner Bros. in the summer of 2013 after leading Hollywood’s biggest movie studio since 2007. The executive exited after he lost a race to succeed Barry Meyer as chairman and chief executive of Warner Bros.

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