EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Toei Company and Thailand’s M Studio have forged a co-production partnership to develop and produce Thai films with global reach and are at the EFM to discuss the alliance.
The partnership covers the full development cycle, from concept and project selection to production and international distribution, with Toei sharing its market knowledge with the goal of producing Thai features for the international market.
It will lean on Toei’s extensive experience in film and IP-driven production, which includes blockbuster franchises such as Dragon Ball, One Piece and Slam Dunk and long-running series including Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. The major Japanese film group will work closely with M Studio to share production intelligence, development frameworks and international market expertise.
M Studio, launched by Major Cineplex Group in 2023, has quickly become Thailand’s biggest producer of films with popular titles such as the Death Whisperer horror franchise, some of the country’s biggest-ever box office hits. The cross-border collaboration with Toei marks its latest expansion having signed a co-production partnership with Korea’s Showbox in November.
M Studio CEO Surachedh Assawaruenganun is here at the EFM and said: “Toei is not only exceptional at creating hit content but also outstanding in long-term IP development and in successfully expanding Asian content into the global market.
“Through this partnership, we will work closely together from the earliest stages – idea development, project selection with strong potential, elevating production standards, and building international distribution strategies. M Studio’s goal is to transform Thai films from local content into a global business – one that delivers value, remains competitive, and achieves long-term sustainability in the global marketplace.”
Toei CEO Fumio Yoshimura said: “We believe Thai filmmakers possess distinctive storytelling voices, and through this partnership, we are willing to provide full support across IP development, production systems, technology, and our global distribution network. Our shared objective is to create films that can travel internationally with commercial success while respecting their cultural origins.”
No comments yet