By Jessica Sanchez
Discussions relating to the possibility of SkySoft Entertainment LLC. signing a distribution deal with Thunderstorm officially began in October 2018, after a meeting that Mark Laubenstein had with SkySoft CEO Monroe Hayden during pre- production deals were underway for the upcoming Gene Tierney biopic, of which Hayden is set to star as the legendary actress. Laubenstein told Hayden he was considering retirement and planned to sell the company.
On June 21, 2019, Thunderstorm Pictures announced they have been acquired by SkySoft for an undisclosed amount.
Under the deal, SkySoft acquired ownership of Love, Infatuation and Stability, The Olympians, a 9/11 drama and the Gene Tierney bipoc, as well as Thunderstorm's operating businesses in live-action film production, consumer products, video games, animation, visual effects, and audio post-production. SkySoft also acquired Thunderstorm's portfolio of entertainment technologies that were used for The Olympians. The intent was for Thunderstorm employees to remain in their current locations. On May 14, 2019, the SkySoft-Thunderstorm merger was approved by the Federal Trade Commission, allowing the acquisition to be finalized without dealing with antitrust problems. On June 1, 2019, Thunderstorm Pictures converted from a corporation to a limited liability company, changing its name to Thunderstorm Pictures LLC. in the process. On June 21, 2019, SkySoft completed the acquisition and Thunderstorm became a wholly owned subsidiary of SkySoft.
Hayden confirmed that SkySoft has plans to reboot Love, Infatuation and Stability and The Olympians, as well as produce the Gene Tierney biopic. Thunderstorm had bought the rights to produce a 9/11 drama back in 2017 but Hayden commented, "I think its still too soon to see something like that on the big screen- at least for American's. I don't think it's a respectful time to make it and I don't think the survivors and our country's family of the fallen want to see that horrific event on the big screen. It was something that has affected us a people and we're still a bit sensitive about it. Sometime in the future perhaps we'll tell that story but for now, I think our memories haunt us enough."
Short films released prior to the merge, have returned to the executive producers to do with what they wish. SkySoft had only acquired feature films and future feature films.
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