So with today's release trailer for Silent Hill: Ascension, I couldn't help but notice a familiar logo that was present. Bad Robot Games. A subdivision of JJ Abram's Bad Robot, established 4 years ago in 2018, which secured funding from Tencent, a reasonably huge deal! They had announced a collaboration with Epic Games on a mobile game called Spyjinx in 2020, which has since been silently cancelled. So to date, this subdivision has failed to produce anything. It got me thinking, how many times have I seen these ventures and deals being made with Bad Robot and is there a familiar pattern?
In 2018, Loud Robot was established, a record label to produce musical talent. So far, I've not been able to find much on this outside of one artist, that largely remains unknown and hasn't had much if anything released. The label also established a deal with RCA Records in 2021. The official Twitter account also seems dead, with no posts since 2019.
In 2021 Bad Robot established Bad Robot Audio, and signed a first look deal with Spotify 2021. Another huge deal, they even headhunted Amazon's Audible director of content partnerships, content acquisition and development. Nothing has yet to materialize from this partnership.
In 2019 Bad Robot inked a $250millon deal with WarnerMedia. I think this one is quite widely known. A five-year agreement that runs through 2024, to develop and produce theatrical movies as well as content for all of its platforms, including but not limited to HBO Max. Reports started surfacing last year that David Zaslav, head of WarnerBros. Discovery, was “frustrated by the lack of output”. My favourite of all the Bad Robot deals is the one with Valve for Portal & Half-Life films, agreed sometime in 2013, we know nothing of the financing that has gone into this deal, but a failure it has been nevertheless.
Bad Robot, Loud Robot, Bad Robot Games, Bad Robot Audio. A collection of entertainment studios that manage to secure lucrative huge deals and fail to produce anything substantial. I love JJ Abrams' films, Super 8, Star Trek, The Force Awakens. But is he the biggest fucking hack of all time? You decide.
Sources:
In 2018, Loud Robot was established, a record label to produce musical talent. So far, I've not been able to find much on this outside of one artist, that largely remains unknown and hasn't had much if anything released. The label also established a deal with RCA Records in 2021. The official Twitter account also seems dead, with no posts since 2019.
In 2021 Bad Robot established Bad Robot Audio, and signed a first look deal with Spotify 2021. Another huge deal, they even headhunted Amazon's Audible director of content partnerships, content acquisition and development. Nothing has yet to materialize from this partnership.
In 2019 Bad Robot inked a $250millon deal with WarnerMedia. I think this one is quite widely known. A five-year agreement that runs through 2024, to develop and produce theatrical movies as well as content for all of its platforms, including but not limited to HBO Max. Reports started surfacing last year that David Zaslav, head of WarnerBros. Discovery, was “frustrated by the lack of output”. My favourite of all the Bad Robot deals is the one with Valve for Portal & Half-Life films, agreed sometime in 2013, we know nothing of the financing that has gone into this deal, but a failure it has been nevertheless.
Bad Robot, Loud Robot, Bad Robot Games, Bad Robot Audio. A collection of entertainment studios that manage to secure lucrative huge deals and fail to produce anything substantial. I love JJ Abrams' films, Super 8, Star Trek, The Force Awakens. But is he the biggest fucking hack of all time? You decide.
Sources:
J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, Tencent Launch Video Game Division
J.J. Abrams' production company, Warner Bros. Interactive, and Tencent launched a video game development division at Bad Robot.
variety.com
Bad Robot Launches Podcast Unit, Hires Audible’s Christina Choi, Strikes First-Look With Spotify
JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot is moving into the audio space.
deadline.com
Bad Robot Launches Indie Music Label Loud Robot (Exclusive)
J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot is getting into the music business.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
J.J. Abrams’ Loud Robot Label Strikes Deal With RCA, Premiering With Nnena (EXCLUSIVE)
RCA Records has announced a partnership Loud Robot, the record label from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, premiering with rapper-singer Nnena.
variety.com
Warner Bros. owner unhappy over deal with ‘Star Wars’ director J.J. Abrams: report
Warner Bros.’ new corporate parent is reportedly unhappy with the returns from the Hollywood studio’s mega-deal with production company Bad Robot, which is helmed by blockbuster directo…
nypost.com
DICE: JJ Abrams, Gabe Newell Partnering for Game, Movies - IGN
Gabe Newell and J.J. Abrams have announced plans to collaborate on a game and films moving forward.
www.ign.com