Cirque goes Hollywood
Famed acrobatic troupe signs deal for film versions of its stage shows
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment, expanding beyond its signature stage shows, has struck a deal to make feature-length films, a partnership with the company that co-produced the hit The Lego Movie and this weekend’s new Walt Disney release Aladdin.
The Montreal-based entertainment company is teaming up with Dan Lin’s Rideback company to mine its portfolio of characters and create a series of films, the companies said Tuesday. More specific plans, such as titles and possible release dates, are still being worked out.
Cirque has taken steps in recent years to develop new sources of revenue, often via acquisitions. Chief executive officer Daniel Lamarre said he was struck by Rideback’s success in developing a movie franchise based on the Lego toy blocks.
“Who would have thought that a filmmaker can do a big movie with Lego,” Lamarre said. “When I saw that, I was just saying to myself, ‘Just imagine what they can do with the characters of Cirque.’”
As streaming services proliferate, there’s a scramble for more intellectual property. Hollywood producers have mined everything from board games to emojis for inspiration.
Lin, founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based Rideback, said Cirque is one of the few brands in the entertainment world with a global fan base able to support a theatrically released movie. Cirque has branched out from its original acrobatic shows into new areas of live entertainment.
It acquired Blue Man Productions in 2017 and the children’s entertainment company VStar Entertainment last year.
In February, the company bought Works Entertainment and its troupe of magicians called the Illusionists, using part of a US$120-million credit line.
Cirque du Soleil has been predicting that sales will hit a record this year of more than US$1 billion.
The partnership will help Cirque du Soleil “be present on multiplatforms,” Lamarre said.
Rideback operates from a campus in L.A.’s historic Filipinotown district, which is also home to Warner Bros. Animation Group.