Thunder Road and Lit Entertainment Join Forces for New Production Venture
Thunder Road Films and Lit Entertainment Group have launched TR/AK, a new media company focused on original stories and film/TV projects. The venture combines Thunder Road's production slate, including the John Wick franchise, with Lit's roster of writers and creators. Recent collaborations include three films from Lit clients, such as The Surgeon and Day Drinker.
The partnership has already yielded three films from Lit's screenwriting clients, including Roshan Sethi's "The Surgeon" starring Michelle Yeoh and Martin Freeman, set for a Toronto Film Festival premiere. Marc Webb's "Day Drinker" is slated for Lionsgate, while Sascha Penn's "By Any Means" releases on September 4. Thunder Road is currently filming "Hivemind" with Samara Weaving and Nicholas Braun.
Thunder Road's upcoming slate features Donnie Yen's "Caine" from the John Wick series, Dev Patel's "The Peasant" for A24, and Brad Peyton's "The Kellys" for Amazon. Lit's roster includes Justin Marks ("Shogun", "Top Gun: Maverick") and Dave Andron ("Snowfall", "Justified"), while Kolbrenner's prior producing credits span "Free Guy" and "Prisoners".
This consolidation of a production powerhouse with a literary management firm could reshape how original screenplays get developed, potentially giving writers a more direct path to financing and production. Audiences may benefit from a wider array of ambitious, globally-oriented films, while the independent sector could see increased competition for top-tier talent and distribution slots. The venture may also influence how studios acquire projects, as TR/AK could become a more self-sufficient supplier of content.