21 Laps, Inc.,[2]doing business as21 Laps Entertainment,is an American film and televisionproduction companyfounded and run by filmmakerShawn Levy.[3]The company is best known as the producers ofStranger Things,and exclusively distributes content through a partnership withNetflix.[4]It has also produced films likeCheaper by the Dozen,The Spectacular Now,Real Steel,Arrival,and theNight at the Museumfranchise, as well as Levy's collaborations with actor and producerRyan Reynolds,which includeFree Guy,The Adam ProjectandDeadpool & Wolverine.The companies' name originates from the number of laps Levy's eldest daughter ran in a jogathon when she was 5 years old.[5]In addition to the logo, the icon is supposed to represent a race track.
 Logo used since 2014 | |
| 21 Laps Entertainment | |
| Formerly | Wunjo, Inc.(1999–2005) |
| Industry | Film Television |
| Founded | January 29, 1999(as Wunjo, Inc.) 2005(as 21 Laps Entertainment)[1] |
| Founder | Shawn Levy |
| Headquarters | 888 Seventh Avenue, New York City,New York10106 ,United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products | Motion pictures, television programs |
History
editIn 1999,Shawn Levy,who after his start on television incorporated and founded the company as Wunjo, Inc. It was in-name only from the beginning until 2005. Levy made his breakout role as a film director onBig Fat Liar,Just Married,andCheaper by the Dozen.
In 2003, Levy, after the success of his aforementioned feature films, launched his own production company with a first-look deal at20th Century Fox Television.The deal was to produce half-hour sitcoms and hour-long dramas.[6]
In 2005, Levy rebranded the studio to 21 Laps Entertainment and it signed a non-exclusive deal with20th Century Foxto produce their films. The film division would be run by Tom McNulty, formerly employee fromHappy Madison Productions,and its television division by J.J. Klein. The first two products wereCheaper by the Dozen 2andPepper Dennis.[7]
In 2010, Levy andMarty Adelsteinsigned on to form a television company called 21 Laps/Adelstein Productions, and they signed a deal with20th Century Fox Televisionand hired Becky Clements to serve as president.[8]
In 2014, both Levy and Adelstein parted ways, with the latter launchingTomorrow Studiosas a joint venture withITV Studios.[9]
In July 2016, one of the company's television projects,Stranger Things,premiered onNetflixand achieved critical acclaim, earning a 95% onRotten Tomatoeswith 55 out of 58 reviews being positive.[10]The show's first season was also one of Netflix's most watched series, averaging 14.07 million adults 18–49 in its first 35 days.[11]Along with producing the series, Levy directed two of the premiere season's episodes.[12]The third season premiered on July 4, 2019[13]and the fourth season premiered in two parts on May 27, 2022 and July 1, 2022. It was renewed for a fifth and final season.[14]In 2020, the company signed a first look deal with Netflix.[15]
Filmography
editFilms
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Creator(s) | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis | Gretchen J. Berg Aaron Harberts |
The WB | co-produced with20th Century Fox Televisionand Two Presbyterians Productions |
| 2011–2017 2018–2021 |
Last Man Standing | Jack Burditt | ABC Fox |
Credited as 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions co-produced with20th Century Fox Television,Double Wide Productions, NestEgg Productions, Mr. Big Shot Fancy-Pants Productions and Lyonsberry Productions |
| 2014–2015 | Cristela | Cristela Alonzo Kevin Hench |
ABC | Credited as 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions co-produced with20th Century Fox Televisionand Hench in the Trench Productions |
| 2016–present | Stranger Things | The Duffer Brothers | Netflix | co-produced with Monkey Massacre Productions |
| 2017 | Imaginary Mary | Adam F. Goldberg David Guarascio Patrick Osborne |
ABC | uncredited; co-produced withSony Pictures Television,ABC Studios,Happy Madison Productions,Adam F. Goldberg Productions and David Guarascio Productions |
| 2020 | I Am Not Okay with This | Jonathan Entwistle Christy Hall |
Netflix | co-produced with Ceremony Pictures and Raindrop Valley |
| 2020–present | Unsolved Mysteries | John Cosgrove Terry Dunn Meurer |
co-produced with Cosgrove-Meurer Productions | |
| 2020 | Dash & Lily | Joe Tracz | co-produced with Boy Detective Inc. and Image 32 | |
| 2021–2023 | Shadow and Bone | Eric Heisserer | co-produced with Chronology and Loom Studios | |
| 2022 | Lost Ollie | Shannon Tindle | co-produced withFufufufu Productions | |
| 2023 | All the Light We Cannot See | Steven Knight | co-produced with Nebula Star | |
| 2024 | The Perfect Couple | Jenna Lamia | co-produced withBlossom Films,Pathless Woods Productions Inc., Two–Four Two–Four Go and The Jackal Group | |
| Upcoming | ||||
| TBA | Real Steel | TBA | Disney+ | co-produced with Compari Entertainment, Angry Films,DreamWorks SKG,and20th Television |
References
edit- ^"Fox Animation Acquires Film Rights to Sanrio's Mr. Men Little Miss Properties".Business Wire.January 27, 2015.
- ^"21 LAPS, INC".OpenCorporates.RetrievedMay 5,2024.
- ^Breznican, Anthony."Shawn Levy to produce 'Man Made' book about toughened-up dad".EW.
- ^"'Stranger Things' Producer Inks Massive Overall Deal With Netflix ".The Hollywood Reporter.December 6, 2017.RetrievedApril 20,2019.
- ^Shawn Levy (March 19, 2018).The Story Behind The Name '21 Laps Entertainment'.Producer's Guild of America.
- ^Adalian, Josef (November 14, 2003)."Twentieth TV takes up with 'Married' man".Variety.RetrievedJuly 1,2020.
- ^Fleming, Michael (October 7, 2005)."Levy homes in on Fox".Variety.RetrievedJuly 1,2020.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (June 18, 2010)."Shawn Levy And Marty Adelstein Form TV Company, Sign With 20th Century Fox TV And Tap Becky Clements As Prez".Deadline.RetrievedJuly 1,2020.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (June 4, 2014)."Marty Adelstein Sets Joint Venture With ITV Studios US To Launch Tomorrow ITV Studios".Deadline.RetrievedJuly 1,2020.
- ^"Stranger Things - Season 1 Reviews".Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^Holloway, Daniel (August 25, 2016)."'Stranger Things' Ratings: Where Series Ranks Among Netflix's Most Watched ".Variety.
- ^Guerrasio, Jason."How the man behind Netflix hit 'Stranger Things' is taking over Hollywood".Business Insider.
- ^Wigler, Josh (December 31, 2018)."Netflix Reveals 'Stranger Things' Season 3 Premiere Date".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
- ^Goldberg, Lesley (September 30, 2019)."'Stranger Things' Renewed for Season 4 as Creators Ink Nine-Figure Netflix Deal ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
- ^McNary, Dave (November 19, 2020)."'Stranger Things' Producer Shawn Levy Signs First-Look Feature Deal With Netflix, Expands TV Pact ".Variety.RetrievedNovember 20,2020.
- ^abBarnes, Brooks (November 25, 2016)."A Filmmaker's Belief in Himself Pays Off".New York Times.RetrievedNovember 29,2016.
- ^Squires, John (August 23, 2021)."'Creep' Director Patrick Brice's New Movie 'There's Someone Inside Your House' Crashes Netflix in October ".BloodyDisgusting.RetrievedAugust 23,2021.
- ^Grobar, Matt (May 9, 2024)."Clea DuVall To Direct 'Abbi And The Eighth Wonder' For TriStar, 21 Laps".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedSeptember 28,2024.
- ^Kit, Borys (May 21, 2024)."Disney's Club 33 Getting Movie Treatment From 'Goosebumps' Writer Darren Lemke, Shawn Levy's 21 Laps (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 24,2024.
- ^Kit, Borys (November 4, 2019)."'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' Filmmaker Sets Thriller 'Consume' With 21 Laps, Fox Searchlight (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2021.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Kroll, Justin (May 31, 2024)."'Peanut Butter Falcon' Filmmakers Michael Schwartz & Tyler Nilson To Helm 'Riders Of Justice' For Lionsgate; 21 Laps Producing ".Deadline Hollywood.
- ^D’Alessandro, Anthony (July 8, 2020)."Screen Gems Picks Up Female Thriller Spec 'Sabine' For 21 Laps".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 13, 2023)."Netflix Picks Up 'Seismic' From 'Mortal Kombat's Greg Russo; Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Producing".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedFebruary 13,2023.
- ^Galuppo, Mia (December 5, 2018)."Anne Hathaway Eyes Starring Role in 'Sesame Street' Movie".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedDecember 5,2018.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 15, 2016)."Can You Spell David Guion & Michael Handelman? They Are Writing 'Sesame Street' Film For Warner Bros".Deadline Hollywood.
- ^Grobar, Matt (February 6, 2023)."'The Backrooms' Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps ".Deadline.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
- ^Fleming Jr., Mike (December 14, 2023)."'Deadpool 3's Shawn Levy Boards Ryan Reynolds Heist Comedy As Director & Producer At Netflix ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
