The production and distribution firm known as A24 is reportedly shifting gears and moving out of its arthouse niche toward a more commercial modus operandi. A recent article in The Wrap quoted a knowledgeable source as saying that the company is in the process of “deemphasizing the traditional character/auteur-driven dramas” in its search for more “action and IP projects.”
However, another unnamed A24 insider challenged this assessment, saying that the studio wasn’t going to jettison its traditional emphasis on “auteur-driven” films, though it would be “widening the aperture” by focusing on more commercial projects.
The Wrap article also quoted a distribution executive as saying that “Everyone in the independent film space is aware that A24 needs to pivot to more commercial films alongside its arthouse slate. With a $2.5 billion valuation, it’s pretty obvious that they need to expand into more commercial films.”
The article also reported that A24 took a financial beating over the past four years on projects such as Waves, The Green Knight, and Beau Is Afraid. Another source was quoted as saying that “the auteur business is a lousy, high-risk business that does not attract potential buyers. That’s a big problem if you’re looking to sell or seek additional investment.”
Since its inception in 2012, A4 has established a reputation for focusing on critically acclaimed films like Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All At Once, both of which won Academy Awards for Best Picture. The studio’s offerings have also won Oscars for actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Brie Larson, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, and Youn Yuh-jung. A24 has also produced television series like Netflix’s Beef and HBO’s Euphoria.
The studio has also made a mark in the horror genre with such projects as The Witch, Hereditary, Midsommar, and Saint Maud. It is also developing Crystal Lake, a prequel series to Friday the 13th, with a Halloween project reportedly in the offing.
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