Comic-Con News:  On the eve of Comic-Con, the genre-specializing Hollywood production company has acquired Nerdist Industries, the multi-platform font of geek chic and nerd news founded by Chris Hardwick (The Talking Dead).  Nerdist Industries consists of a website, a You Tube channel, a podcast network, targeted newsletters, TV footprint and a live events business.  All together the various Nerdist platforms can reach up to 15 million viewers, readers, and listeners per month.  Nerdist’s frontman Chris Hardwick and CEO Peter Levin will remain in place and also become co-presidents of Legendary’s digital business.

 

Founded in 2004 by Thomas Tull, Legendary Entertainment was one of the first production companies to pair motion picture production with major Wall St., private equity, and hedge fund investors.  Legendary has been involved with a wide range of genre films ranging from the brilliant to the utterly forgettable.  The company has co-produced Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, 300, Beerfest, Watchmen, The Hangover, Ninja Assassin, Clash of the Titans, Jonah Hex, Sucker Punch, and Wrath of the Titans.  In 2010 Legendary launched Legendary Comics under the direction of editor-in-chief Bob Schreck.  In 2011 the company launched Legendary East, a joint venture company based in Hong Kong that produces movies in Asia.

 

The deal calls for Nerdist to maintain complete editorial autonomy and operations, while benefitting from Legendary Entertainment’s resources and platform as the company continues to offer up quality, "fanboy" content to audiences around the world.  It will also allow Nerdist to scale up its activities.