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Thunder Road Films founder Basil Iwanyk and partner Erica Lee have partnered with Lit Entertainment Group founder Adam Kolbrenner to launch a new media company, TR/AK.
The company will focus on creators and telling original
stories, as well as commercially ambitious film and television projects targeted for global audiences.
Thunder Road Films is behind the “John Wick” franchise and has supported Taylor Sheridan in his filmmaking endeavors, including “Wind River.” Lit Entertainment boasts a clientele that represents leading writers and creators including Justin Marks (“Shogun,” “Top Gun: Maverick”), Dave Andron (“Snowfall,” “Justified”), Zach Dean (“The Gorge,” “The Tomorrow War”), David Guggenheim (“Safe House,” “Designated Survivor”), Roshan Sethi (“The Surgeon”), Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners), Matt Lieberman (Free Guy, Christmas Chronicles), Sascha Penn (“By Any Means,” “Raising Kanan”), Matt Lopez (“Father of the Bride,” “Sheriff Country”), Liz Garcia (“Purple Hearts”), Ben Jacoby (“Whisper Man”), and Justin Rhodes (“Liminal”).
Thunder Road’s films have collectively grossed more than $4.4 billion worldwide. Projects written by Lit clients have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office, in addition to thousands of hours of television.
In addition to the top-tier roster of clients, Lit also represents a dynamic library of more than 10,000 stories and characters through partnerships with NeoText, Weird Tales, Heavy Metal, Meridia Books, Weekly World News, Zenescope Comics and others.
Thunder Road and Lit brands will remain independent, though additional executive appointments are expected as the company builds out its finance, operations and corporate infrastructure.
“Erica and I have been thinking of how to grow Thunder Road for years and Adam is a longtime friend and collaborator with us,” said Iwanyk. “The more we talked, the more we realized we had a shared vision and ambition in creating the most expansive and dynamic independent company in town.”
The launch formalizes a long-standing collaboration among Iwanyk, Lee and Kolbrenner that most recently spans three high-profile films all from spec screenplays from Lit clients: Roshan Sethi’s “The Surgeon,” starring Michelle Yeoh and Martin Freeman, which will have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival; Marc Webb’s upcoming “Day Drinker” for Lionsgate written by Zach Dean starring Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz and Madelyn Cline, set for release March 26, 2027; and “By Any Means,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
“Basil, Erica and the Thunder Road team have built their company by trusting their instincts and doing the work required to get ambitious movies made,” said Kolbrenner. “That’s very much how we operate at Lit. TR/AK is about bringing those teams together, backing great writers and filmmakers for projects that can connect with audiences around the world.”
Thunder Road is currently in production on “Hivemind” starring Samara Weaving and Nicholas Braun. Its upcoming slate includes A24’s “The Peasant,” directed and starring Dev Patel; “The Kellys,” written and directed by Brad Peyton for Amazon and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liam Hemsworth and Geena Davis; the Walton Goggins action vehicle “Mister”; and “Caine,” the latest in the John Wick franchise starring and directed by Donnie Yen.
CAA Media Finance-Evolution was a strategic advisor on the transaction.
