WWE Studios names Michael Luisi president
WWE Studios, the undistinguished movie production arm of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., has promoted Hollywood veteran Michael Luisi to president of the unit.
Luisi, who had been WWE’s executive vice president and general counsel, succeeds Mike Pavone, who had served as executive vice president of WWE Studios until his abrupt resignation last month.
Before joining WWE in January, Luisi spent 12 years at Walt Disney Co.’s Miramax film label, most recently as an executive vice president of worldwide operations. He left the specialty movie company after Disney sold it to a group of investors led by Colony Capital.
Best known for its wrestling programs, including the highly rated “Smackdown” and “Raw,” WWE has tried for several years to carve out a place in the movie business with mixed results. Most of its films go to DVD pretty quickly, but the low production costs have kept the unit minimally profitable. Last year, the division brought in just $400,000.
WWE released four movies this year and two in 2010. Luisi wants to increase WWE’s output to six to eight films annually. He said that besides producing movies, he will actively seek to acquire films for WWE to release, which is a different approach from his predecessor.
Luisi, a veteran of the film festival circuit from his days at Miramax, said he is heading to the Toronto Film Festival to look for movies to buy.
Usually, the pictures released by WWE feature its talent in starring roles. Going forward, Luisi said that will not always be the case. “The creative will dictate whether or not it makes sense to have WWE talent in the movie,” he said.
WWE will also look to release movies on other platforms besides movie theaters. “Everyone is well aware that the landscape is shifting,” Luisi said. “We’re looking to create content that would potentially bypass the theatrical window.”
The first movie that Luisi will guide is “No One Lives,” an R-rated horror film that is a co-production with Pathe Pictures that he brought to WWE Studios after he joined this year.
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