Dick Cook. (Photo:  s_bukley/Shutterstock.com)
Dick Cook. (Photo: s_bukley/Shutterstock.com)

Former Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook will launch Dick Cook Studios with an aim to produce Chinese stories and explore Chinese culture, it was announced last night.

Citic Guoan, part of China’s state-owned conglomerate CITIC, will invest $150 million in the venture.

Billed as a “creative content company,” Dick Cook Studios will focus on the development, production, marketing, and distribution of multi-generational family entertainment across live-action film, animated film, television, digital/mobile, games, theater, and more. The studios will be based in Los Angeles.

“Our mission will always be to provide the very best in family entertainment inclusive of all generations, which inspires, engages, excites and always contributes positively not only to our communities but to the world at large,” Cook said in a statement. “We will have many more announcements in the coming weeks and months as our long standing plans come together.”

At yesterday’s signing ceremony at the Beijing Film Market, Cook added, ”This has been quite a journey for all of us as it takes time to find the right people you want to be in business with.”

“With Mr. Cook and his highly respected team, we are guaranteed that every segment of our cooperation will be of the highest standards,” Citic Guoan chairman Li Shilin said in a statement. “They appreciate and understand traditional Chinese culture, and they look forward to telling Chinese stories that will play to families across the globe. We both believe that cultural works in spreading love and positive energy is the world’s eternal theme.”

Cook was chairman of Walt Disney Studios from 2002 to 2009—the culmination of nearly 40 years at Disney, where he had a reputation as one of the nicest execs at the company. Since being ousted in 2009, he has gone on to serve on the board of Legendary Pictures and as treasurer for the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.

Darryn King

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