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Media tech investment firm Stars Collective and visual effects powerhouse DNEG are joining forces to bring immersive theater experiences to the Chinese market. The partnership aims to develop, produce and operate virtual reality and immersive theater venues across China, with plans to expand into Southeast Asia and North America.
DNEG, the seven-time Oscar-winning VFX house behind “Dune: Part Two” and “Oppenheimer,” will provide technology, IP rights, financing and content creation services. Stars Collective, along with partners Meilin Culture and Xinghan Interactive, has already established dozens of offline experience stores in China and plans to reach 100 locations worldwide by 2025.
The deal includes backing from Pathbender Media Holdings’ MINT Fund, which has created “MINT Fund – Stars” to support projects across immersive experiences, live-action, animation, gaming, and visual effects.
Popular on Variety “The additive scale achieved with this partnership allows for a very wide assortment of opportunities that benefit filmmakers, storytellers and the global creative community at large,” said Stars Collective founder Peter Luo, who via his Starlight Media has backed films including “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Marshall.”
Stars Collective co-CEO Nancy Xu added: “Eventizing movies is key to the growth and evolution of our industry, and we see immersive experiences in theaters igniting a wave of opportunities for creators to ultimately serve audiences in innovative and engaging ways.”
“Through deep integration with globally renowned film IPs, our technology and services will deliver an unprecedented immersive entertainment experience to audiences,” said Xu Yu, CEO of Meilin and Xinghan.
DNEG Global CEO Namit Malhotra sees the partnership aligning with the company’s expansion plans: “With the launch of DNEG IXP, our immersive experiences division, and our continued drive to diversify our service offering to complement our Hollywood partnerships and projects, I welcome this strategic partnership with Stars Collective.”
The VFX studio has been Christopher Nolan’s go-to effects house since “Batman Begins,” winning Academy Awards for “Inception,” “Interstellar” and “Tenet.” Recent credits include “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” Season 2 and Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming “Mickey 17.” Via his Prime Focus Studios, Malhotra is producing an adaptation of Indian epic “Ramayana” alongside “K.G.F.” franchise star Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.
Stars Collective has been building its slate, recently acquiring rights to “Fortune Sons” with Academy Award winner Donna Gigliotti producing, and Shawn M. Warner’s bestseller “Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons – Pierce Manor.” The company also secured life rights to Chef Pam, named Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024 by World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
The partnership comes as Stars Collective continues to expand its reach through its $300 million Stars-Hana fund with Hana Investment (China) and Starlight Media. The fund is developing gaming adaptations of upcoming films including “The Garfield Movie” and projects from James Wan, Sam Raimi and Roy Lee, partnering with gaming companies including Tencent and DreamSky Technology.
