WWE Studios Expanding Into More Digital and Television Based Content

WWE is currently planning on expanding the scope of their WWE Studios branch to include more digital and television based content, according to a recent report from Deadline.

The current president of WWE Studios, Michael Luisi, will oversee this new direction for the studio and stated the overall goal is to transform WWE Studios into a “multi-platform production company.”

“Our new expanded focus on television and digital continues to push WWE Studios as a multi-platform production company, with the ability to create original content for global distribution as we have successfully done for the big screen. We look forward to identifying key partners to work alongside us while creating opportunities to use our on-screen WWE talent in new and exciting ways.”

Besides co-producing several theatrical films over the course of its history, WWE Studios has also been recently involved in the television side of the industry with the co-production of E!’s Total Bellas and Total Divas series and HBO’s upcoming Andre The Giant documentary. They also have recently partnered with Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions studio on the development of a comedy-drama film based on the life of WWE star Paige called Fighting with My Family.

As part of WWE’s official announcement, Vince McMahon stated the company felt it was the right time to expand the WWE brand across new genres and platforms.

“Given the size of our fan base and their appetite for WWE programming well beyond our core in-ring shows, this is the ideal time to further establish the WWE brand with new genres across platforms. WWE Studios is open for business with this new TV and digital initiative.”

WWE also put out this press release:

WWE Studios goes multiplatform

WWE announced that WWE Studios, the organization’s motion picture production arm, will expand its mandate to include scripted, non-scripted, family and animated television and digital content.

Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios, will continue to oversee the studio and the new television and digital directive, and the Studio will be represented by global talent agency WME in these endeavors.

“Given the size of our fan base and their appetite for WWE programming well beyond our core in-ring shows Monday Night Raw and SmackDown LIVE, this is the ideal time to further establish the WWE brand with new genres across platforms,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “WWE Studios is open for business with this new TV and digital initiative.”

“Our new expanded focus on television and digital continues to push WWE Studios as a multi-platform production company with the ability to create original content for global distribution, as we have successfully done for the big screen,” said Michael Luisi, President WWE Studios. “We look forward to identifying key partners to work alongside us while creating opportunities to use our on-screen WWE talent in new and exciting ways.”

WWE has already seen success with hit shows Total Divas and Total Bellas on E!, and has a much-anticipated Andre the Giant documentary in partnership with HBO set to premiere in 2018. WWE Studios has produced movies such as “The Call” and “The Marine” franchise, and has most recently teamed up with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Film4 to produce the feature film “Fighting with My Family,” written and directed by Stephen Merchant (The Office, Hello Ladies), which MGM will distribute worldwide.