Legendary Names Veteran Hollywood Lawyer Joshua Grode as CEO

After almost a yearlong search, Legendary Entertainment has named Hollywood finance whiz Joshua Grode as CEO.

Grode is a former partner of law firm Irell & Manella, where he was an architect of transactional deals for content companies like A24, Marvel, Miramax, Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment. He also represented Dalian Wanda in their billion-dollar acquisition of Legendary in 2106.

“It is the quality of the people at Wanda, Chairman Wang [Jianlin] and Lincoln Zhang, and at Legendary, specifically Mary Parent and her unrivaled creative expertise … that has convinced me that this is a unique opportunity,” Grode said in a statement.

Also Read: Jack Gao Set to Leave China's Wanda, Legendary Entertainment

Veteran producer Parent is vice chairman of worldwide production at Legendary, and will work closely with Grode on the current slate of film and TV. That includes the upcoming “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and the Dwayne Johnson thriller “Skyscraper.”

In a formal announcement, Grode touted the company’s “extremely strong balance sheet with significant excess cash,” as well as Legendary’s guaranteed Chinese theatrical business thanks to its majority owner Dalian Wanda.

“Josh has become my most significant thought partner on the content side of this business,” Parent said of the executive.

Grode’s hire suggests a priority for institutional prowess and financial stability on Wanda’s part. He wrote the business plan for the restructured entity after Thomas Tull left the CEO job last January.

Grode’s major credits include the capitalization and restructuring of Summit Entertainment during its sale to Lionsgate, overseeing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ creation of $341 million of tax-exempt “Oscar Bonds” to finance the construction of its new museum, and shepherding Colony Capital’s over $600 million purchase of Miramax Films from Disney.

17 Movies We're Dying to See in 2017, From 'Beauty and the Beast' to 'Dunkirk'

Scan TheWrap's list of our most anticipated movies of the upcoming year
March 10: "Kong: Skull Island"

The new iteration of the ginormous ape boasts a stellar cast of Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, John C. Reilly and Jason Mitchell. And the trailers have looked stunning (and terrifying) so far.

Warner Bros.
March 17: "Beauty and the Beast"

Yes, Disney is producing a lot of live-action version of their original IP, but after the success of "The Jungle Book" last year, we can't wait for this one. Also, Emma Watson is the perfect Belle and, based on what we've seen from trailers, it will be magical.
Disney
April 14: "The Fate of the Furious"

Who doesn't love a good ol' "Fast and the Furious" movie? However, this one will mark the first full movie without Paul Walker, who was included in the last film through CGI.
Universal
May 3: "Logan"

"Logan" will be Hugh Jackman's final performance as the famous "X-Men" character, which many call the best character in the franchise. It is also a coveted role that has defined Jackman's career for 20 years. But "Logan" will offer a new twist on the franchise -- Logan is older, and his powers are fading.
Fox
May 5: "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"

The first "Guardians" film was well-received both critically and commercially, so it's about time Marvel fans are treated to a sequel. And Baby Groot has already cozied up to fans everywhere.
Disney
May 26: "Baywatch"

Many are curious to see how a movie adaptation of the classic TV series will turn out -- but with a sexy cast and alums like David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson returning, we think it might be worth waiting for.
June 2: "Wonder Woman"

Come on, Gal Gadot in a movie that exemplifies female empowerment? We're in! The trailers have been epic so far, and DC fans desperately need a pick-me-up after many were disappointed with "Suicide Squad" and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."
Warner Bros.
July 21: "Dunkirk"

Christopher Nolan's WWII drama has been on people's radar for a while now, and the film will draw in younger fans with its casting of Harry Styles. The movie boasts a great ensemble, comprised of Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy and James D'Arcy.
Warner Bros.
July 28: "The Dark Tower"

Enough of Stephen King's novels have been adapted into film to know that "The Dark Tower" will be great. Idris Elba is set to play The Gunslinger, while Matthew McConaughey will star as The Man in Black.
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August 11: "Baby Driver"

Edgar Wright is a great writer/director, having directed "Shaun of the Dead" and written screenplays for movies like "Ant-Man." Starring Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx and Ansel Elgort, "Baby Driver" looks like a solid action thriller.
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October 6: "Blade Runner 2049"

Fans of the original "Blade Runner" had to wait 35 years for a sequel, and it comes with the return of Harrison Ford and the addition of Ryan Gosling -- and it's set way in the future.
Warner Bros.
November: "Bad Moms Christmas"

"Bad Moms" delivered one of the most hilarious scenes in a comedy this year (yes, we're talking about the grocery store one) so we're excited about the prospect of another movie featuring the Mila Kunis-Kathryn Hahn-Kristen Bell trifecta.
STX
Nov. 22: "Murder on the Orient Express"

An awesome cast including Daisy Ridley, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench and Michael Pena will star in the remake of the 1974 film, based on Agatha Christie's famous novel.
December 15: "Star Wars: Episode VIII"

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is set to return in the eighth movie, which will also mark Carrie Fisher's last performance as Princess Leia after her untimely death in December. And it's "Star Wars," so of course we're excited!
Disney
Dec 25: "The Greatest Showman"

For fans of P.T. Barnum or anything circus-related, "The Greatest Showman" will be the biographical drama to look out for in 2017. And for fans already deprived of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine... well, he's in this movie!
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2017: "Mother"

"Black Swan" and "Requiem for a Dream" director Darren Aronofsky helms this movie with his girlfriend Jennifer Lawrence starring. It's about a couple whose tranquil life gets disrupted when guests arrive at their home uninvited.
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2017: "Paul Thomas Anderson Untitled Fashion Project"

Movie buffs love seeing any new project by Paul Thomas Anderson. The plot is unknown, but it's described as a drama in London's fashion world in the 1950s. Daniel Day-Lewis stars.
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