Rideback
Rideback is an American film and television production company founded by producer Dan Lin, formerly known as Lin Pictures.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Rideback is an American film and television production company established by producer Dan Lin in December 2007. The company began as Lin Pictures after Lin left Warner Bros., where he had served as a senior vice president of production. Its business model has centered on developing and producing commercial entertainment for theatrical release, television, and later streaming platforms, generally through partnerships with major studios and distributors rather than through direct ownership of a large distribution infrastructure. The company expanded its film-development operation in its early years by hiring Jon Silk as vice president of production and Stephen Gilchrist as director of development. In 2011, Lin Pictures entered television production through an agreement with Warner Bros. Television and established a television division led by Jennifer Gwartz with Lin. This expansion gave the company a broader operating scope across scripted series and feature films. Its television work included Forever, which was ordered to series by ABC, and Lethal Weapon, which was developed for Fox and became one of the company's more prominent television successes. Rideback's film portfolio has included high-profile franchise and adaptation projects. The company's notable credits include work associated with The Lego Movie franchise, the It films, and the live-action Lilo & Stitch. These projects reflect a strategy built around recognizable intellectual property, genre entertainment, family-oriented brands, and collaborations with large studio partners. The company has also participated in direct-to-video and streaming projects, although the available reference material does not establish a complete division of its output by platform. In 2017, the company recruited Lindsey Liberatore from TriStar Television as a senior vice president of its television unit. In 2018, Lin Pictures was renamed Rideback as part of a repositioning toward a newer production-company model emphasizing collaboration with filmmakers. In 2019, Rideback and Media Rights Capital launched the Rideback TV Incubator, intended to support emerging television writers through a structured class involving writers and mentors. This initiative broadened the company's role from conventional production toward talent development and creative community building. Rideback has continued to work with major entertainment companies, including Universal Pictures. In February 2024, Dan Lin departed Rideback to become Netflix's head of film. Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso were promoted to serve as co-chief executive officers, while Lin continued to serve as a board member of the nonprofit Rideback Rise. Rideback is therefore best understood as an independent-facing production brand operating through studio, network, and platform partnerships, with a focus on film and television development, established intellectual property, and collaboration with writers, directors, and producers.
History
Rideback was founded as Lin Pictures on December 12, 2007, after producer Dan Lin announced his departure from Warner Bros., where he had been senior vice president of production. The new company was established as a film-production venture led by Lin and initially concentrated on developing feature-film projects through relationships with major studios. In 2008, Lin Pictures expanded its film operation by appointing Jon Silk as vice president of production and Stephen Gilchrist as director of development. These hires gave the company additional capacity for project sourcing, creative development, and production management. The company's subsequent film work included projects connected with major commercial properties, including The Lego Movie franchise and the It films. The company entered television production in 2011 through a deal with Warner Bros. Television. Jennifer Gwartz was brought in to run the television division alongside Lin. The move established Lin Pictures as a company active in both feature films and scripted television. Its first television series, Forever, was picked up by ABC. The company later achieved further television visibility through Lethal Weapon, which was developed for Fox. In 2017, the television division was strengthened by the hiring of Lindsey Liberatore, formerly associated with TriStar Television, as a senior vice president. The following year, Lin Pictures was renamed Rideback. The new identity represented an effort to present the company as a next-generation production business built around collaboration with filmmakers rather than solely around its founder's name. Rideback also pursued structured talent development. In 2019, it partnered with Media Rights Capital to establish the Rideback TV Incubator. The program began with an inaugural class of writers and mentors, adding an educational and community-building function to the company's production activities. Rideback's film work has included prominent branded and adaptation-driven projects, including the live-action Lilo & Stitch. The company has operated through relationships with studio and distribution partners, and it later signed a deal with Universal Pictures. Its output has included theatrical films as well as direct-to-video or streaming productions and television series. A major leadership transition occurred in February 2024, when Dan Lin left Rideback to become head of film at Netflix. Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso were promoted to co-chief executive officers. Lin continued to be associated with the broader Rideback organization through a board position with Rideback Rise, a nonprofit group. Rideback remains an active production company whose identity is associated with commercial film and television, intellectual-property adaptations, creator collaboration, and partnerships with larger entertainment distributors.
- 2024
Founder exits executive leadership
[1]Dan Lin left Rideback for Netflix, and Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso became co-CEOs.
- 2019
Rideback TV Incubator launches
[1]Rideback and Media Rights Capital introduced a television incubator for writers and mentors.
- 2018
Lin Pictures becomes Rideback
[1]The company changed its name to Rideback and presented itself as a next-generation, filmmaker-collaborative production company.
- 2017
Television leadership is reinforced
[1]Lindsey Liberatore joined the television unit as senior vice president after working at TriStar Television.
- 2014
Forever reaches series order
[1]Forever became the company's first television series to be picked up to series, by ABC.
- 2011
Television division is launched
[1]The company entered television production through an agreement with Warner Bros. Television and appointed Jennifer Gwartz to lead the division with Dan Lin.
- 2008
Film-development team expands
[1]Jon Silk joined as vice president of production and Stephen Gilchrist became director of development.
- 2007
Lin Pictures is founded
[1]Dan Lin formed Lin Pictures after leaving Warner Bros., establishing the production company that would later become Rideback.
Products and positioning
A filmmaker-oriented film and television production company focused on commercially prominent feature films, scripted series, adaptations, and collaborative development with major entertainment partners.
Theatrical film franchise
The Lego Movie franchise
A commercially oriented animated film franchise built around the Lego brand. Rideback is associated with the franchise among its notable film credits, reflecting the company's work on large-scale family entertainment and established intellectual property.
Theatrical horror films
It films
A film adaptation project based on Stephen King's horror novel. The It films represent Rideback's participation in major genre productions and adaptation-led studio filmmaking.
Live-action theatrical film
Lilo & Stitch
A live-action adaptation of Disney's Lilo & Stitch property. The project extends Rideback's work into family entertainment and live-action reimaginings of established intellectual property.
Television series · 2014
Forever
A scripted television series that became Rideback's first television project to receive a series order, from ABC. It marked the company's transition from a primarily film-focused operation into television production.
Television series
Lethal Weapon
A television adaptation of the Lethal Weapon property developed for Fox. The series provided Rideback with one of its most visible television successes and demonstrated its focus on recognizable entertainment brands.
Writer and creator development program · 2019
Rideback TV Incubator
A television talent-development initiative launched with Media Rights Capital. It began with an inaugural cohort of writers and mentors and broadened Rideback's activities beyond conventional project production.
Brand decisions
2024
Transition to co-CEO leadershipOtherBackground
Founder Dan Lin left the company to become Netflix's head of film.
Action taken
Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso were promoted to co-chief executive officers, while Lin continued as a board member of Rideback Rise.
Aftermath
Executive leadership shifted from the founder to a two-person management structure while preserving Lin's connection to the wider Rideback nonprofit ecosystem.
2019
Creation of the Rideback TV IncubatorStrategyBackground
Rideback sought to support emerging television writers and strengthen its relationship with new creative talent.
Action taken
Rideback partnered with Media Rights Capital to launch a television incubator featuring writers and mentors.
Aftermath
The initiative added a structured talent-development component to Rideback's production-company activities.
2018
Rebrand from Lin Pictures to RidebackStrategyBackground
The company wanted to present itself as a next-generation production company with an emphasis on collaboration with filmmakers.
Action taken
Lin Pictures adopted the Rideback name and repositioned its corporate identity.
Aftermath
The Rideback brand became the public identity for the company's film, television, and talent-development activities.
2011
Expansion into television productionStrategyBackground
After operating primarily as a film production company, Lin Pictures sought to broaden its business across scripted television.
Action taken
The company signed an agreement with Warner Bros. Television and established a television division led by Jennifer Gwartz and Dan Lin.
Aftermath
The expansion produced television projects including Forever and Lethal Weapon and became a durable part of the company's operating model.
Recent events
- 2024
Dan Lin leaves Rideback for Netflix[1]
Leadership change
Dan Lin departed Rideback to become Netflix's head of film. Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso were promoted to co-CEOs, while Lin retained a board role with the nonprofit Rideback Rise.
- 2019
Rideback and Media Rights Capital launch television incubator[1]
Other
The companies created the Rideback TV Incubator and introduced an inaugural group of writers and mentors to support television talent development.
- 2018
Lin Pictures is renamed Rideback[1]
Other
The company adopted the Rideback name as part of a repositioning intended to emphasize a newer production model and collaboration with filmmakers.
Sources2 sources
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