Paramount launching genre division led by BoulderLight Pictures founders

Paramount is opening a genre division to be led by BoulderLight Pictures founders and Weapons producers J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules once their current deal with Warner Bros expires in January 2026.

Lifshitz and Margules will develop, produce and release a slate of high-concept films that espouse the type of edgy fare there are renowned for, such as Barbarian, Zach Cregger’s pedecessor to this summer breakout Weapons, and Anna Kendrick’s feature directorial debut Woman Of The Hour.

BoulderLight Pictures has the option to participate as equity co-financiers on projects under the deal.

Paramount Pictures co-chairs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg said, “J.D. and Rafi have distinguished themselves as two standout visionaries of the ’premium pulp’ genre, while also proving their prowess across all genres.”

Lifshitz and Margules said of Greenstein and Goldberg: “Their commitment to theatrical volume, passion for cinema and visionary approach to the future of media is inspiring and speaks to our shared values.”

BoulderLight Pictures’ films include The Vigil, Becky, and Andrew DeYoung’s A24 comedy Friendship.

Under their first look deal with New Line Cinema they produced Drew Hancock’s sci-fi thriller Companion and Cregger’s Weapons. Upcoming projects include the horror film Buddy starring Cristin Milioti and Second World War thriller Play Dead from Jaume Collet-Serra.

• Guillermo del Toro on Korean cinema and releasing ‘Frankenstein’ at “a time of polarisation”