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Hello Sunshine (company)

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Hello Sunshine
Company typePrivate
IndustryMedia, Film & Television
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
FounderReese Witherspoon
Seth Rodsky
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California,
United States
Key people
Reese Witherspoon (Principal)
Sarah Harden (CEO)
Lauren Levy Neustadter (President, Film & TV)
Services
Owners
Subsidiaries
  • Pacific Standard
  • Hello Sunshine Channel
Websitehello-sunshine.com

Hello Sunshine is an American media company founded by actress Reese Witherspoon and Strand Equity founder and managing partner Seth Rodsky in 2016.

History

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In 2000, Witherspoon founded production company Type A Films, which she merged with Bruna Papandrea's Make Movies banner to create a new production company entitled Pacific Standard in 2012.[1] Together, they produced the Oscar-nominated films Gone Girl and Wild, and the HBO drama series Big Little Lies. In 2016, Witherspoon and Papandrea split up, with Witherspoon gaining full control over the company.[2]

In November 2016, Witherspoon and Seth Rodsky formed Hello Sunshine as a joint venture with Otter Media, the joint venture between media executive Peter Chernin's The Chernin Group and AT&T, with a focus on telling female-driven stories on film, TV and digital platforms.[3][4] Pacific Standard has since become a subsidiary of the company.[5] The company hired media and tech industry executive Kerry Tucker to lead as CEO.[6] Sarah Harden replaced Tucker as CEO the next year.[7] In March 2017, Lauren Levy Neustadter was appointed Head of Film and Television.[8] She has since been promoted to President of Film and TV.[9]

Pacific Standard, the production company Witherspoon co-founded with Bruna Papandrea in 2012, is now a subsidiary of Hello Sunshine.[5]

In addition to producing content, Hello Sunshine also curates a book club called Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine.[10] Witherspoon announces a new book pick every month on her Instagram and the book club is aimed to bring women's stories forward. The book club has over 500,000 followers on Instagram, and more than 70,000 followers on Facebook. Hello Sunshine also had a Filmmaker Lab to teach 20 girls aged 13–18 the art of film making.[11]

On July 10, 2018, its co-owner, AT&T, through its communications division, announced the launch of a Hello Sunshine-branded cable and satellite television channel, Hello Sunshine Channel, which will be focused on women, similar to Oprah Winfrey Network.[12][13][14][15]

On social media platforms Facebook Watch and IGTV, Hello Sunshine has released three short-form unscripted series focussing on female successes. In April 2018, Hello Sunshine launched the podcast How It Is, hosted by American actress Diane Guerrero.[16] A second season of the podcast launched in October 2018.[17] In November 2018, the third season of How It Is premiered with Kelly McCreary taking over as host.[18]

In July 2018, Hello Sunshine launched the talk show Shine On with Reese on DirecTV hosted by Witherspoon in her first unscripted series. The show presents one-on-one interviews between Witherspoon and various female guests focussing on how they achieved their dreams.

In October 2018, Hello Sunshine launched a new podcast titled My Best Break-Up which is hosted by Irish comedian Maeve Higgins.[19]

In November 2018, Hello Sunshine partnered with Together Live to create the tour Hello Sunshine x Together Live. The tour went to ten different cities across the United States and featured multiple guest speakers telling their story including Halima Aden, MILCK, Yara Shahidi, Uma Thurman, Nicole Byer, Cameron Esposito, Sonequa Martin-Green and Sophia Bush. Highlights from the tour will be featured in the third forthcoming podcast And Especially You which will be hosted by guest speaker Sophia Bush.[20]

In February 2019, Hello Sunshine received an investment from Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective. Otter Media has also increased its stake in the company.[21]

In early August 2021, Witherspoon (after considering selling the company and hearing the interest of Apple[22]) sold part of the company to a Blackstone backed media company, Candle Media, led by former Disney executives Kevin A. Mayer and Tom Staggs for $900 million.[23] The transaction resulted in Witherspoon and Harden retaining a stake in the new company and a seat on the board.[24] Hello Sunshine shut down its kids and animation unit in February 2023, with the company expected to work with fellow Candle Media subsidiary Moonbug Entertainment moving forward.[25] In July 2024, Candle Media consolidated it's live action properties under Candle Studios. Current Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden was named head of the new division.[26]

Upcoming projects

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Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea will continue to produce the projects they have in development together including Luckiest Girl Alive at Lionsgate/Summit, All Is Not Forgotten at Warner Bros, and Ashley's War at Fox 2000. They also will continue to work together under Pacific Standard's overall deal at ABC.[2]

In May 2017, it was reported Hello Sunshine has set up to produce two novels, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman and Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman.[27] Furthermore, it was announced that Hello Sunshine was filming a documentary about Martina Navratilova.[28]

Hello Sunshine has acquired film rights to the novel The Gilded Years. Zendaya has signed to star in the adaptation which will be called A White Lie and Witherspoon will star and produce Legally Blonde 3 which was scheduled to premiere on Valentine's Day 2020,[29][30] but has since been delayed indefinitely.[31] In November 2018, it was announced that Hello Sunshine will produce the novel League of Wives as a feature film with Fox 2000 but due to the dissolution of Fox 2000 following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, the fate of the project is unknown as of February 2020.[32]

As of February 2020, Hello Sunshine has six television series in development at six different networks including Apple TV+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, ABC, Starz and Netflix.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39] Witherspoon will star in one show and will serve as an executive producer on all six shows.

In March 2022, it was announced that Hello Sunshine would produce Run, Rose, Run, a film adaptation of a novel written by Dolly Parton and James Patterson. Parton will also star in the film.[40][41]

In August 2022, the company opened an unscripted division in the United Kingdom.[42]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Director Gross (worldwide) Notes
2014 Wild Jean-Marc Vallée $52.5 million Produced as Pacific Standard
Nominated for two Academy Awards
Gone Girl David Fincher $369.3 million Produced as Pacific Standard
Nominated for one Academy Award
2015 Hot Pursuit Anne Fletcher $51.7 million Produced as Pacific Standard
2019 Lucy in the Sky Noah Hawley $325,950 Produced as Pacific Standard
2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Olivia Newman $140.2 million
Something from Tiffany's Daryl Wein — Debut film for Hello Sunshine[43]
Co-produced with Amazon Studios
2023 Your Place or Mine Aline Brosh McKenna —
2025 You're Cordially Invited Nicholas Stoller —
TBA Ashley's War — Distributed by Universal Pictures; co-production with Made Up Stories[44][45]

Television

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Year Title Network Notes
2017–present Big Little Lies HBO Produced as Pacific Standard
Season 1: Nominated for sixteen Emmy Awards, won eight
2018 Shine On with Reese DirecTV
Master the Mess
2019–present The Morning Show Apple TV+
2019–2023 Truth Be Told
2020 Little Fires Everywhere Hulu
2022–present Surface Apple TV+
2022 From Scratch Netflix
2023 Daisy Jones & the Six Amazon Prime Video
My Kind of Country Apple TV+ Reality competition series
Tiny Beautiful Things Hulu
The Last Thing He Told Me Apple TV+
2024 Side Hustlers The Roku Channel
Influenced Amazon Prime Video
The Pasta Queen Amazon Prime Video
2025 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC
TBA Untitled Sara Saedi comedy series ABC In development
TBA Kin Starz
TBA Tiny Trailblazers Disney Jr.
TBA All Stars Amazon Prime Video
TBA Elle Amazon Prime Video
TBA Untitled F1 Academy series Netflix

Web series

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Year Title Platform
2018 Handmade*mostly Facebook Watch
2018 Turning Point
2018 Meet My Mom Facebook Watch and IGTV

Podcasts

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Year Title Notes
2018–present How It Is
2018 My Best Break-Up
2019–present And Especially You

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kit, Borys (March 18, 2012). "Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Panadrea Merge Production Companies to Create Pacific Standard". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 2016). "'Gone Girl' Producers Reese Witherspoon & Bruna Papandrea Parting". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Robehmed, Natalie. "Reese Witherspoon Launches New Multimedia Venture With Peter Chernin And AT&T". Forbes. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Rubin, Brent Lang,Rebecca; Lang, Brent; Rubin, Rebecca (August 2, 2021). "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Sold for $900 Million to Media Company Backed by Blackstone". Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b Busch, Anita (November 21, 2016). "Reese Witherspoon, Otter Media Pact For New Company Hello Sunshine". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Robehmed, Natalie. "Reese Witherspoon Launches New Multimedia Venture With Peter Chernin And AT&T". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "Sarah Harden". Forbes. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "Lauren Levy Neustadter To Head Film, TV For Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Label". March 2017.
  9. ^ Flam, Charna (June 11, 2023). "Hello Sunshine's Lauren Neustadter Is Hopeful 'Americanized' Adaptation Will Air One Day: 'Never Say Never'". Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hello Sunshine". Hello Sunshine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "Fresh Films | Programs". fresh-films.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  12. ^ "AT&T and Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Announce Launch of VOD Channel Spotlighting Female Creators and Their Stories". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Spangler, Todd (July 10, 2018). "Reese Witherspoon Interview Series to Kick Off Her Hello Sunshine Channel Debut on AT&T, DirecTV". Variety. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  14. ^ Patten, Dominic (July 10, 2018). "Reese Witherspoon To Host 'Shine On' Female Profile Series For Hello Sunshine VOD Channel On DirecTV With AT&T". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "Shine on with Reese Witherspoon - Watch Online | AT&T". Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "Reese Witherspoon to produce new podcast 'How It Is', hosted by Diane Guerrero". EW.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  17. ^ "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine to Launch Female-Centric Podcast Network". The Hollywood Reporter. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "How It Is". ART19. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  19. ^ "My Best Break-Up". ART19. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  20. ^ "And Especially You | Hello Sunshine". Hello Sunshine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  21. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 20, 2019). "Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective Buys Stake In Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine; Otter Media Ups Its Stake". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  22. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (July 6, 2021). "Reese Witherspoon's Media Company Hello Sunshine Exploring A Sale". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  23. ^ El-Bawab, Nadine (August 2, 2021). "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine to be sold to Blackstone-backed media company for $900 million". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  24. ^ "Reese Witherspoon's media firm to be sold to Blackstone-backed company". Reuters. August 2, 2021. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 4, 2023). "Hello Sunshine Shuts Down Kids & Animation Division". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Hayes, Dade (July 2, 2024). "Candle Media Restructures, Folding Animation Into Moonbug As Hello Sunshine Chief Sarah Harden Takes Over Rebranded Studio – Update". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  27. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 11, 2017). "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Sets Two Novels For Screen". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  28. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (May 15, 2018). "Reese Witherspoon Producing Documentary On Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 14, 2017). "Zendaya To Star In 'A White Lie,' Pitch Package From Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  30. ^ McNary, Dave (June 7, 2018). "Reese Witherspoon's 'Legally Blonde 3' to Open Valentine's Day 2020". Variety. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  31. ^ Chloe Melas (October 22, 2020). "'Legally Blonde 3' pushed to 2022". CNN. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  32. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 7, 2018). "Fox 2000 & Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Team On 'League Of Wives' Adaptation". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  33. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 8, 2017). "Apple Gives Reese Witherspoon-Jennifer Aniston Morning Show Series 2-Season Order, Confirms 'Amazing Stories' Reboot". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 2, 2018). "'Are You Sleeping' Drama Starring Octavia Spencer Gets Apple Series Order; Reese Witherspoon & Peter Chernin Producing". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 20, 2018). "Kristen Wiig Exits Apple Comedy Series Because Of 'Wonder Woman' Conflict, Project Eyes Recasting". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  36. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2018). "Hulu Nabs 'Little Fires Everywhere' Limited Series Starring Reese Witherspoon & Kerry Washington". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  37. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 25, 2018). "Amazon Orders 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Limited Series From Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine & 'Disaster Artist' Writers". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  38. ^ Otterson, Joe (October 12, 2018). "Sara Saedi Memoir 'Americanized' in Development as ABC Comedy With Reese Witherspoon Producing". Variety. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  39. ^ Petski, Denise (February 21, 2019). "Starz Developing 'Kin' Drama With Davita Scarlett & Reese Witherspoon". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  40. ^ "Sony Acquires Dolly Parton and James Patterson's 'Run, Rose, Run' Film Adaptation". June 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  41. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 7, 2022). "Dolly Parton Film 'Run, Rose, Run' Acquired By Sony In Competitive Situation". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  42. ^ Lindsay, Benjamin (August 19, 2022). "Hello Sunshine Opens Unscripted Division in UK". Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  43. ^ Heald, Melody (November 24, 2021). "Glitter Magazine | Zoey Deutch Starring in New Film 'Something From Tiffany's'". glittermagazine.co. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  44. ^ Kroll, Justin (November 12, 2020). "'Homeland' Director Lesli Linka Glatter To Direct Adaptation Of 'Ashley's War' For Universal; Molly Smith Metzler Penning Script". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  45. ^ Patten, Dominic (March 1, 2021). "Coen Brothers, Eva Longoria & Steven Soderbergh Films Among 22 Features Allocated CA Tax Credits". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
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