AGBO

AGBO (also known as Gozie AGBO) is an independent entertainment company based in Downtown Los Angeles, founded and led by Anthony and Joe Russo and Mike Larocca. The Russo Brothers are best known for their work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most notably Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Recent AGBO TV releases include Citadel, a television series with Amazon Prime Video starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Recent AGBO film releases include Extraction, written by Joe Russo and starring Chris Hemsworth; Extraction 2; The Gray Man with Netflix in 2022; and Academy Award-Winning Best Picture film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
AGBO’s forthcoming productions include the film The Electric State, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag, starring Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown; a live-action remake of Hercules, to be directed by Guy Ritchie, and The Gray Man 2.
==History==
===Business Developments===
In March 2015, the Russo Brothers announced they were launching a production company, then known as Getaway Productions, and tapped Mike Larocca as President.
AGBO was officially founded in 2017 by film veterans and directors the Russo Brothers. Anthony and Joe Russo serve as founders and co-chairmen.
In March 2018, it was announced that screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote the screenplays for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, were named Co-Presidents of Story at AGBO, adding to the executive roster. The name "AGBO" was a surname selected randomly by Anthony and Joe Russo from an Ohio phone book years prior.
On January 5, 2022, it was announced that the Russo Brothers sold a minority stake in AGBO - or 38% - to Tokyo-based game maker Nexon, for $400 million. AGBO was consequently valued at $1.1 billion.
===Production Developments===
==== 2016-2017: The Founding Years ====
In July 2016, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would co-produce Deadly Class alongside creator Rick Remender and got a Syfy pilot order in September 2017 and the series starred Lana Condor and Benedict Wong and aired from December 20, 2018 through March 20, 2019.
In June 2016, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would produce action film 21 Bridges for STX Entertainment. In July 2018 it was announced that Chadwick Boseman would star in the AGBO produced movie and released on November 22, 2019.
In August 2017, it was announced that AGBO acquired the rights to the book Exit West with Morten Tyldum set to direct. On December 31, 2017, Barack Obama included Exit West on his list of the best books he read in 2017, and then Obama's production company, Higher Ground Productions, announced they would team up with AGBO to produce a feature adaptation for Netflix, with Riz Ahmed attached to star, and Yann Demange directing.
In December 2017, it was announced that AGBO won the rights to the graphic novel The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag, then in March 2018 it was announced that screenwriting duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely would develop the screenplay for the film.
==== 2018-2022: Launching the Studio ====
In January 2018, it was announced that AGBO and Neon acquired the worldwide rights to Assassination Nation, written and directed by Sam Levinson, at Sundance Film Festival in a $10M deal, the film was released later that year on September 21, 2018 in association with Refinery29. 
In June 2018, AGBO optioned the film adaptation of Alex North's novel The Whisper Man, with AGBO producing.
In August 2018, AGBO optioned Nico Walker's novel Cherry in a bidding war and announced this would be the next film the Russo Brothers would direct after Avengers: Endgame. Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo star in the film.
On August 30, 2018, it was announced that Anthony and Joe Russo were set to produce the Daniels' (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) sci-fi action film Everything Everywhere All at Once with A24 as the distributor.
On August 30, 2018, it was announced that Sam Hargrave would direct Dhaka, later renamed Extraction, from a screenplay by Joe Russo with Chris Hemsworth set to star in the film. The film was released on Netflix on April 24, 2020, and received the biggest premiere viewership in the site's history, leading to a sequel being put in development from the same team.
In October 2018, it was announced that AGBO would come on as a producer for the Emily Mortimer-starring indie horror film Relic which was the feature directorial debut for Natalie Erika James and debuted to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. On March 10, 2020, the AGBO produced film Relic was acquired by IFC Midnight with a release date set for July 10, 2020.
In October 2018, it was announced that AGBO would partner with Conde Nast Entertainment to produce thriller Mosul with World War Z screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan set to direct. The film played at the 76th Venice International Film Festival and 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. It was later acquired by Netflix and released in November 2020.
On March 20, 2019, AGBO acquired JJ Braider's script All Fun And Games.
In April 2020, it was announced that the Russo Brothers will team with Walt Disney Pictures to produce a live-action remake of the 1997 animated film Hercules.
Apple bought the rights to Cherry, starring Tom Holland in September 2020 - the movie hit Apple TV+ in early 2021.
In December 2020, The Electric State casting news broke that Millie Bobby Brown would star in the upcoming Sci-Fi Film.
In April 2021, it was announced that Epix gave a 10-episode straight-to-series order to From, a contemporary sci-fi horror series, created by John Griffin and produced by AGBO and the Russo Brothers. It was renewed for a second season in April 2022.
In July 2021, AGBO announced it was teaming up with Netflix again for a heist thriller forthcoming movie starring Regé-Jean Page and written by Noah Hawley.
In August 2021, Hulu announced the expansion of its true-crime collection, including the docuseries Captive Audience which is executive produced by AGBO's Anthony Russo, Joe Russo and Mike Larocca.
==== 2022-present: Onwards into the AGBOverse ====
On January 13, 2022, casting announcements were made for the forthcoming horror-thriller film All Fun and Games, which AGBO is producing, with Asa Butterfield and Natalia Dyer to star and Ari Costa and Eren Celeboglu to co-direct.
In February 2022, it was announced that AGBO would produce an animated film adaptation of Superfudge, one of Judy Blume's best selling books.
On June 17, 2022, it was announced that Guy Ritchie will direct the forthcoming Hercules live-action remake.
In July 2022, it was announced that the hit Hulu show, Captive Audience, which was executive produced by the Russo Brothers, became Hulu's most-viewed nonfiction TV program in its first month of release.
The Gray Man sequel and spinoff with Netflix was announced in July 2022; which will see Ryan Gosling reprise his role as 'The Gray Man,' with AGBO producing and the Russo Brothers directing. Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese of Deadpool) fame will write the spinoff series.
On September 15, 2022, it was announced that AGBO would executive produce a Butch and Sundance series at Amazon Studios, starring Regé-Jean Page and Glen Powell.
The Citadel global multi-series announced the casting of Matilda De Angelis as the lead for the Italian installment of the spy thriller franchise, which AGBO is producing in conjunction with Amazon Studios.
In November 2022, it was announced that Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, Anthony Mackie, and Billy Bob Thornton were joining the cast of The Electric State.
In November 2022, it was announced the Russo Brothers would executive produce and direct an eight-episode limited series about the FTX scandal in conjunction with Amazon Studios
In November 2022, Variety named the Russo Brothers "Showmen of the Year" and the cover featured the Russos with Chris Pratt, Priyanka Chopra, and Zoe Saldana all as part of upcoming AGBO projects 
==== Community Developments ====
Established in 2017 through AGBO, the National Italian American Film Forum Grant program annually awards multiple $8,000 grants to ambitious filmmakers around the country to create documentary, fiction or nonfiction narrative films that explore the Italian American experience for the benefit of future generations.National Italian American Foundation 
In October 2017, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would offer an annual fellowship with Slamdance Film Festival which would consist of a $25,000 prize, filmmaking support and an office at AGBO.
In June 2019, it was announced that AGBO partnered with the American Film Institute (AFI) for an inaugural development grant which would award the recipient $25,000 to develop a project as well as year-long mentorship from AGBO.
In May 2020, the Russo Brothers announced their new video podcast, Pizza Film School. The podcast aims to educate and spread some love to favorite classic films, as well as local pizzerias while movie lovers are stuck at home during the pandemic. Guests included Josh Brolin, Taika Waititi, Mark Hamill, Bob Gale and more. The second season premiered in April 2023 with the Russos talking to other directors including a viral episode with Zack Snyder, which was a crossover between the Marvel and DC universes. Other guests included Emerald Fennell, Nia DaCosta, Justin Lin, Justin Chon, R.J. Cutler, and more.
In April 2021, AGBO began running its annual “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” competition, an opportunity for emerging creators to submit a short film for consideration from AGBO’s Executive teams. The virtual short film festival invites filmmakers from all countries to make a short movie in only 48 hours. The first year of the festival received over 700 submissions from filmmakers in over 60 countries.
==Productions==
===Films===
Year 	Title 	Director 	Notes
2018 	Assassination Nation 	Sam Levinson 	Under Gozie AGBO; co-production with Bron Studios, Foxtail Entertainment and Phantom Four; co-distributed with Neon, 30West and Refinery29
2019 	21 Bridges 	Brian Kirk 	Co-production with MWM Studios, H. Brothers and X-Ception Content; distributed by STXfilms
2019 	Mosul 	Matthew Michael Carnahan 	Co-production with Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Condé Nast Entertainment; distributed by Netflix
2020 	Relic 	Natalie Erika James 	Under Gozie AGBO; co-production with Screen Australia, Film Victoria, Nine Stories Productions and Carver Films; distributed by IFC Midnight and Stan
2020 	Extraction 	Sam Hargrave 	Co-production with Thematic Entertainment, India Take One Productions and T.G.I.M. Films; distributed by Netflix
2021 	Cherry 	Anthony and Joe Russo 	Co-production with The Hideaway Entertainment and Endeavor Content; distributed by Apple TV+
2022 	Everything Everywhere All at Once	Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert 	Under Gozie AGBO; Co-production with Ley Line Entertainment and IAC Films; distributed by A24
2022 	The Gray Man 	Anthony and Joe Russo 	Co-production with Roth/Kirschenbaum Films; distributed by Netflix
2023 	Extraction 2 	Sam Hargrave 	Distributed by Netflix
2023 	All Fun and Games 	Ari Costa and Eren Celeboglu 	Under Gozie AGBO; Co-production with Anton; distributed by Vertical Entertainment
2024 	The Electric State 	Anthony and Joe Russo 	Co-production with Double Dream; distributed by Netflix
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="13" 	 	 	
Poltergeist 	 	Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 	
Battle of the Planets 	 	 	
The Thomas Crown Affair 	 	 	
The Last Neanderthal 	Terry Notary 	 	
Untitled Cambridge Analytica scandal film 	Matt Shakman 	 	
Untitled heist film 	Noah Hawley 	Co-production with 26 Keys Productions; distributed by Netflix 	
The Whisper Man 	 	 	
Down Under Cover 	 	 	
Hercules'Hercules' Live-Action Remake in the Works From Disney, 'Shang-Chi' Writer (Exclusive) The Hollywood Reporter, April 30, 2020.	Guy Ritchie 	Co-production with Walt Disney Pictures; distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures	
The Secret of NIMH 	James Madigan 	Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 	
Saigon Bodyguard 	 	co-production with Indivisible Productions; distributed by Universal Pictures 	
Superfudge 	 	Co-production with Disney Television Animation; distributed by Disney+ 	
===Television series===
Year 	Title 	Creator(s) 	Co-production(s)
2019 	Deadly Class 	Rick RemenderMiles Orion Feldsott 	SyfyUniversal Cable ProductionsSony Pictures Television
2019 	Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy	Larry Charles 	Netflix
2022 	From 	John Griffin 	EpixMGM TelevisionMidnight Radio
2023 	Citadel 	Josh AppelbaumBryan Oh 	Amazon StudiosMidnight Radio
rowspan="4" 	Grimjack 	Kevin Murphy 	Amazon Studios
Mastermind 	Krysty Wilson-Cairns 	Amazon Studios26 KeysSkybound Entertainment 	
The Warriors	Frank Baldwin 	Midnight Radio and Paramount Television Studios	
==References==
==External links==
* Linkedin page
Category:American companies established in 2016
Category:2016 establishments in California
Category:Companies based in Los Angeles
Category:Privately held companies based in California
Category:Entertainment companies based in California
Category:Film production companies of the United States
Category:Television production companies of the United States
Category:Mass media companies established in 2016