Chernin Entertainment

Chernin Entertainment is a Los Angeles-based American film and television production company founded on February 24, 2009, by Peter Chernin, the former president and chief operating executive of News Corporation. The company develops, finances, and produces feature films and television programs, generally working with major studios, broadcasters, streaming services, and other entertainment partners. Its activities span scripted film, scripted television, franchise-based entertainment, adaptations, and content developed from external intellectual property such as podcasts. The company’s first major feature was Rise of the Planet of the Apes, released in 2011. The film established Chernin Entertainment as a significant producer of commercial studio features and began a continuing relationship with 20th Century Fox, later known as 20th Century Studios after Disney acquired much of 21st Century Fox. Other early film credits included the family comedy Parental Guidance, the science-fiction action film Oblivion, and the comedy The Heat. The company has been associated with approximately two dozen feature films, with many produced through its long-running relationship with 20th Century Fox and its successor studio. Chernin initially entered a five-year first-look agreement covering film and television with 20th Century Fox and 20th Century Fox Television in 2009. The film arrangement was later extended, although on less favorable commercial terms. The company’s television output included New Girl and other scripted projects. As the television business became more competitive and platform distribution broadened, Chernin Entertainment developed relationships with NBCUniversal and Universal Television, Endeavor Content, Netflix, Spotify, and Apple TV+. The company’s leadership structure evolved during the 2010s. Jenno Topping joined in 2011 after working at Maguire Entertainment, became president of film in 2013, and later assumed responsibility for both film and television. David Ready became an executive in the film and television operation, while Kristen Campo took a senior role in television after the departure of other television executives. Peter Chernin remained chairman and chief executive officer of the production company. A major strategic change occurred in 2020, when Disney-owned 20th Century Studios ended its broader production arrangement with Chernin Entertainment. The companies continued to collaborate on the Planet of the Apes franchise and selected other projects, while Chernin retained much of its development slate and entered a multi-year film first-look arrangement with Netflix. The company also expanded beyond conventional scripted production through a partnership with Spotify to adapt projects from Spotify’s original podcast catalog. In 2021, Chernin Entertainment helped establish Words + Pictures, an unscripted and documentary production studio led by former ESPN executive Connor Schell. In 2022, Chernin’s scripted company and Words + Pictures became part of The North Road Company, a broader global content business founded by Peter Chernin. North Road combined Chernin Entertainment’s scripted operations with unscripted and international production assets, including businesses acquired from Red Arrow Studios and later companies such as Karga Seven Pictures, Two One Five Entertainment, Little Room Films, and Perro Azul. Chernin Entertainment therefore operates as the scripted film and television label within a larger independent production group rather than as a standalone publicly traded studio. Its positioning combines senior producer-led development, relationships with major distribution platforms, commercial feature filmmaking, television production, intellectual-property adaptation, and access to North Road’s international and unscripted capabilities.

Chernin Entertainment was established in Los Angeles on February 24, 2009, by Peter Chernin after his departure from News Corporation, where he had served as a senior executive. The new company immediately pursued a studio-oriented model, signing a five-year first-look arrangement with 20th Century Fox and 20th Century Fox Television covering both film and television development. Its first feature film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was released in 2011. The project became the foundation of a continuing relationship with the Planet of the Apes franchise and demonstrated the company’s ability to operate within large-scale studio filmmaking. Subsequent releases included Parental Guidance, Oblivion, and The Heat. During this period, Chernin Entertainment became a regular producer for 20th Century Fox, although its film agreement was later renewed on less favorable terms. The company also built a television operation. Jenno Topping joined in 2011, became president of films in 2013, and later assumed responsibility for film and television. David Ready joined the film group as a senior executive. Television leadership changed several times: Katherine Pope left in 2015, Dante Di Loreto became television president later that year, and Kristen Campo joined in 2016 to lead television following Di Loreto’s departure. The company’s television work included New Girl and projects developed with outside networks and distributors. As the television marketplace broadened, Chernin Entertainment diversified its partnerships. In 2015 it agreed to develop and produce projects for NBC through Universal Television. In 2017 it entered a scripted drama arrangement with Endeavor Content. In January 2020, Disney-owned 20th Century Studios ended the company’s broad production deal, citing a preference for internal financing and a greater focus on studio franchises. The parties retained selected collaboration, including work connected with Planet of the Apes, while Chernin moved much of its development activity toward other partners. In April 2020, the company signed a multi-year first-look film agreement with Netflix. Chernin Entertainment subsequently expanded into intellectual-property adaptation and unscripted production. A 2020 partnership with Spotify created opportunities to adapt original podcasts into films and television programs. In 2021, the company launched Words + Pictures with former ESPN content chief Connor Schell. The new unit focused on documentaries and unscripted programming, both sports-related and general-interest. In 2022, Peter Chernin reorganized these activities under The North Road Company, a global independent content studio. Chernin Entertainment became North Road’s scripted film and television label, while Words + Pictures formed the core of the unscripted operation. North Road also assembled a larger production network through assets and investments connected to Red Arrow Studios and subsequent acquisitions. These included Karga Seven Pictures in Turkey and the United States, Two One Five Entertainment, Little Room Films, and Perro Azul in Mexico. The expansion gave Chernin Entertainment access to a broader international development and production ecosystem. The company’s business model remains centered on producer-led development and partnerships with studios, networks, and streaming platforms rather than direct consumer distribution. Its history reflects the transformation of Hollywood production from long-term studio output deals toward a more flexible mix of first-look agreements, platform-specific partnerships, franchise participation, adaptations, and multinational production arrangements.

1. 2025North Road acquires Perro Azul

   The acquisition of Mexican production company Perro Azul marked North Road’s entry into Latin American production.

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2. 2023North Road expands its production network

   North Road added Karga Seven Pictures, Two One Five Entertainment, and Little Room Films to its broader portfolio.

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3. 2022Chernin Entertainment joins The North Road Company

   Peter Chernin placed the scripted company and Words + Pictures within the newly established global content group.

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4. 2021Words + Pictures launched

   The company created an unscripted and documentary studio with Connor Schell.

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5. 2020Major studio deal ends and Netflix agreement begins

   Disney’s 20th Century Studios ended the broad production arrangement, and Chernin subsequently signed a multi-year film first-look deal with Netflix.

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6. 2015Television partnership with NBCUniversal

   Chernin Entertainment agreed to develop and produce projects for NBC through Universal Television.

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7. 2013Jenno Topping becomes president of films

   Topping was promoted to lead the film division after joining the company in 2011.

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8. 2011Rise of the Planet of the Apes released

   The company’s first feature film was released and became an important commercial and franchise production.

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9. 2009Company founded and first-look deal signed

   Peter Chernin founded the company and entered a five-year film and television first-look agreement with 20th Century Fox and 20th Century Fox Television.

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A producer-led scripted film and television studio focused on commercially oriented entertainment, major-platform partnerships, franchise projects, and adaptations, operating within The North Road Company’s broader global content-production network.

• Rise of the Planet of the ApesFeature film2011

  A 2011 science-fiction film and the company’s first major feature release. It relaunched the Planet of the Apes film series and became the starting point for Chernin Entertainment’s continuing involvement with the franchise.

• Parental GuidanceFeature film2012

  A family comedy released in 2012, starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. It represents the company’s early work in broad-audience studio entertainment.

• OblivionFeature film2013

  A science-fiction action film directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise. The production illustrates Chernin Entertainment’s participation in high-budget genre filmmaking.

• The HeatFeature film2013

  A comedy led by Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock. The film is among the company’s commercially oriented studio productions from the 2010s.

• New GirlScripted television series2011

  A television comedy associated with the company’s early scripted television output and its relationship with broadcast television.

• 2022Formation of The North Road CompanyStrategy

  Peter Chernin sought to combine scripted, unscripted, international, and distribution capabilities in a larger independent content group.

  What changed. Chernin Entertainment and Words + Pictures became labels within The North Road Company, alongside newly acquired and affiliated production businesses.

  Aftermath. Chernin Entertainment continued as North Road’s scripted film and television arm while gaining access to a broader international production network.

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• 2021Launch of Words + PicturesOther

  Chernin Entertainment sought to expand beyond scripted production into documentary and unscripted programming.

  What changed. The company launched Words + Pictures with Connor Schell as chief executive.

  Aftermath. Words + Pictures became part of The North Road Company’s unscripted operations after the 2022 reorganization.

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• 2020Shift away from the broad 20th Century Studios production arrangementStrategy

  Disney-owned 20th Century Studios ended the wider production deal while emphasizing internal financing and franchise priorities.

  What changed. Chernin Entertainment retained selected collaboration with the studio, moved much of its development slate elsewhere, and entered a new film first-look relationship with Netflix.

  Aftermath. The change reduced the company’s dependence on a single major studio and accelerated its platform-diversification strategy.

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• 2020Podcast adaptation partnership with SpotifyStrategy

  Streaming audio platforms were building valuable original podcast catalogs with potential for screen adaptation.

  What changed. Chernin Entertainment signed a multi-year partnership with Spotify to develop films and television programs from Spotify original podcasts.

  Aftermath. The agreement broadened the company’s sourcing of intellectual property beyond conventional film and television development.

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• 2025North Road enters Latin American production through Perro Azul

  The North Road Company acquired Mexican television production company Perro Azul, adding a Latin American production platform to the group.

  M&A
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• 2023The North Road Company expands through international and production-company acquisitions

  North Road acquired or invested in production businesses including Karga Seven Pictures, Two One Five Entertainment, and Little Room Films, broadening the network surrounding Chernin Entertainment.

  M&A
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• 2022Chernin Entertainment becomes part of The North Road Company

  Peter Chernin formed The North Road Company and moved Chernin Entertainment and Words + Pictures into the new global content group.

  M&A
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• 2021Words + Pictures launches as an unscripted and documentary studio

  Chernin Entertainment and Connor Schell launched Words + Pictures to produce documentary and unscripted programming, including projects beyond sports.

  Product launch
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• 2020Disney ends broad 20th Century Studios production arrangement

  Disney-owned 20th Century Studios ended its wider production deal with Chernin Entertainment while retaining selected collaboration on Planet of the Apes and other projects.

  Other
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• 2020Chernin Entertainment signs multi-year film deal with Netflix

  Following the change in its 20th Century relationship, the company established a multi-year first-look film arrangement with Netflix.

  Other
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• 2020Chernin Entertainment partners with Spotify on podcast adaptations

  The company agreed to develop film and television adaptations from Spotify’s original podcast catalog.

  Product launch
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• 2017Chernin Entertainment enters scripted drama pact with Endeavor Content

  The company expanded its television development relationships through a scripted drama agreement with Endeavor Content.

  Other
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• 2015Chernin Entertainment signs television deal with NBCUniversal

  The company agreed to develop and produce television projects for NBC through Universal Television.

  Other
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• 2014Chernin extends its film arrangement with 20th Century Fox

  The company renewed its film relationship with 20th Century Fox under revised commercial terms.

  Other
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• 2011Rise of the Planet of the Apes becomes the company’s first feature release

  Chernin Entertainment’s first major feature established its connection with the Planet of the Apes franchise and became a significant commercial release.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2011Jenno Topping joins Chernin Entertainment

  Jenno Topping joined the company from Maguire Entertainment and later became its film and television president.

  Leadership change
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• 2009Chernin Entertainment signs first-look agreement with 20th Century Fox

  The newly formed company entered a five-year film and television first-look arrangement with 20th Century Fox and 20th Century Fox Television.

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1. Chernin Entertainment