Leonine CEO Sees Opportunity in Skydance Deal

Fred Kogel, CEO of Leonine Studios, expressed optimism regarding the Skydance merger and its potential benefits for the German film and television sector. He is confident that Skydance, under David Ellison's leadership, will meet its pledge to produce more than 30 films per year, a feat Kogel believes is achievable given Ellison's production background and business acumen.

Kogel foresees opportunities for Leonine to collaborate with Skydance on film and TV drama productions, noting their successful work with HBO Max in Germany. He highlighted the importance of local German productions for streamers and broadcasters, emphasizing Germany's status as Europe's largest TV market. Kogel views the increased volume of films from Skydance not as competition, but as a positive addition to the German market, provided the films are of high quality and draw audiences to cinemas.

He also discussed the potential for Leonine to distribute Paramount and Warner Bros. films in German-speaking territories, a possibility that arises under specific circumstances. Kogel believes the merged streaming entities of HBO Max and Paramount+ will create stronger contenders in the streaming market, benefiting content creators and licensors. Furthermore, Leonine's affiliation with the Mediawan Group, including Plan B, offers advantages in co-productions and international distribution opportunities.

However, Kogel cautioned that Germany's current tax incentive system is not as attractive as those in other European countries, which hinders its competitiveness in attracting U.S. studio production. He stressed that improving this tax credit system is crucial for Germany to fully capitalize on global production opportunities and become a more competitive filming location.