‘We’re Not Going Back to 90 Days’: Legendary CEO Joshua Grode Talks Future of Movies at Variety Power of Law Breakfast
Cynthia Littleton Business EditorThe business of moviegoing may be grappling with unprecedented, pandemic-induced pressures, but no one should underestimate the economic value of a theatrical release.That was the strong perspective offered by Legendary Entertainment CEO Joshua Grode on Wednesday morning during a Q&A held as part of the Variety Power of Law breakfast, presented by City National Bank, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.“I think there’s going to be a very vibrant theatrical business,” Grode told Variety Editor-in-Chief Claudia Eller, who conducted the 30-minute interview. Grode, a former lawyer who took the reins of Legendary in 2018, emphasized that Legendary’s model for backing big tentpole movies relies on strength at the box office to drive pricing and fees for premium VOD, pay-one television deals and other after-market exploitation that goes on for years.