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EXCLUSIVE: Matt Reilly, longtime Executive Vice President at Worldwide Pictures, is leaving the studio to become President of Production for Arena SNK Studios, the film and TV production company led by CEO Erik Feig.
After more than 20 years in executive roles at Universal, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., Reilly will oversee all creative aspects of the well-funded studio. Arena SNK will focus on developing franchises rooted in video games, anime, and related fandoms, alongside creating immersive experiences for dedicated fanbases.
- Matt reilly transitions from Universal Pictures to Arena SNK Studios as president of Production.
- Arena SNK Studios will concentrate on franchise development based on video games, anime, and fandom communities.
- Erik Feig highlighted Reilly’s expertise in creating and sustaining globally successful franchises.
- Reilly’s past successes include the Lego films, Kingsman, and Predator/Prey.
“Matt is recognized around the industry for his ability to create and sustain globally successful franchises,” Feig said. “his expertise, vision, and relationships will be major assets to the Arena SNK team as we build a powerful new player in the global media landscape focusing on the fastest-growing sectors, including gaming, live-action and anime adaptations.”
Reilly expressed his enthusiasm for joining the venture “at such a pivotal moment.” He stated, “The studio’s focus on global, franchise-driven storytelling is incredibly compelling, notably considering the trove of strong IP we’ll be able to leverage. It’s an honor to become part of such an excellent leadership team, and I look forward to working with Erik, the board, and our creative partners to bring bold, immersive stories to audiences worldwide.”
Arena SNK is chaired by Majid Al-Ibrahim, who also serves on the board of MBC Group. The board also includes former Disney film chief Sean Bailey; Andreessen Horowitz General Partner and leading AI investor Andrew Chen; and Epic Games CCO Charlie Wen.The studio will leverage opportunities through its investor network, encompassing SNK, MBC, and the MiSK Group, and plans to collaborate with major studios and streamers for global content distribution.
Reilly has consistently demonstrated an eye for valuable intellectual property. During his time at Warner Bros., he championed the development of films based on the lego toy line, partnering with producers Dan Lin and Roy Lee to create a billion-dollar film series. He also oversaw the Kingsman franchise and architected the Predator/Prey films by Dan Trachtenberg.
His work at Universal included close collaboration with Blumhouse on the Halloween and Exorcist franchises. Reilly recently oversaw production on Focker-in-Law, the fourth installment in the Meet the Fockers series, and sequels to Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone and the video game adaptation Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. He also led the Bourne franchise-with Universal recently securing complete rights to robert Ludlum’s novel series-and was an executive on hits like Cocaine Bear, violent Night, Speak No Evil, and Ben Affleck’s Boston crime drama The Town.
