Jason Reed has been appointed head of Skydance Sports, the sports-focused studio joint venture formed between David Ellisons Skydance Media and the NFL.
In the new role, Reed will oversee all Skydance Sports operations and the development and production of the studios entire slate of sports-driven storytelling across scripted and unscripted content, documentaries, and events including and not limited to NFL content. Hell report directly to the Skydance Sports Board of Directors, which includes Skydance Medias president and COO, Jesse Sisgold, who now serves as Chairman.
Jason is an outstanding executive with a proven track record of running complex organizations and producing top-quality films and series. His versatility, creative sensibility, and expertise launching some of the worlds most recognizable franchises is a boon to Skydance Sports, as we look to harness our early successes and scale the global footprint of the studio, said Sisgold.
Reed stated: I have always been drawn to sports stories because of their powerful ability to reveal character and explore themes. It is an incredible opportunity to work with both Skydance and the NFL; two organizations uniquely positioned at the top of their industries to grow in a dynamic media landscape. As we continue to work with the worlds premier filmmakers, documentarians, brands, and athletes, across all sports, we could not have better partners to bring these stories to life.
Prior to the appointment, Reed ran a self-titled production company focused on producing high-quality film, television, and digital content for global audiences. Under that banner, he produced Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Disneys live-action adaptation of Mulan, among others. Other Disney titles that came to life under Reeds leadership include the National Treasure franchise, Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, Enchanted, High School Musical 3, and Bringing Down the House. His sports-related features include Prefontaine, The Waterboy, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Mr. 3000, and Glory Road.
Variety previously reported Skydance Sports partnership with the NFL and NFL Films and the first project announcement to come from the joint venture, which is a docu-series chronicling Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys franchise. In addition to the NFL, Skydance Sports has announced other partnerships with Meadowlark Media, Mandalay Pictures, and Tom Brady and Gotham Chopras Religion of Sports.
Weinbach, who previously served as president of Skydance Sports, will now oversee the unscripted and documentary slate for the studio. Don Granger, president of features at Skydance, adds Skydance Sports to his title, reporting into Reed in that capacity as the two develop plans to expand the live-action film offerings of the studio.
Skydance Sports has also formed a Television division and will name its lead soon.