Media Res Studio

What Media Res Studio does

Media Res Studio, LLC is an independent television studio and motion picture production company founded in 2017 by Michael Ellenberg, the former HBO drama head. The company develops, produces, and finances premium scripted and nonfiction content for global markets, working as a co-studio and production partner to major U.S. streaming platforms and premium cable networks. Its flagship productions include The Morning Show and Pachinko for Apple TV+, both of which have received Emmy, SAG, Critics Choice, and Peabody recognition, as well as The Chain for HBO, Enigma Variations for Netflix, The Miniature Wife for Peacock, and I'm a Virgo for Amazon Prime Video. The studio maintains a growing slate of projects in active production and development, anchored by repeat relationships with A-list showrunners (Damon Lindelof, Scott Z. Burns, Boots Riley, Ari Aster) and award-winning actors (Jessica Chastain, Meryl Streep, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

The company's core technology and product surface is human-driven content creation rather than a software platform; Media Res does not publish APIs, SDKs, or AI-enabled tooling. Its primary assets are creative IP and talent relationships rather than proprietary technology. The business operates two wholly-owned divisions in addition to its scripted core: Media Res Nonfiction (launched March 2022), producing premium docuseries and documentary films, and Media Res International (launched December 2022), handling international production and distribution. The studio is headquartered in Los Angeles with a headcount of 11–50.

Media Res generates revenue through production fees, licensing arrangements, and co-financing deals with streaming platforms and broadcast networks, rather than selling products or services directly to end consumers. Following an undisclosed strategic investment in January 2024 from RedBird IMI — a $1 billion media investment fund backed by RedBird Capital and Abu Dhabi-based IMI — the company has been expanding its partnership footprint with first-class creative artists, networks, and streaming services. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Media Res Studio

Legal name

Media Res Studio, LLC

Website

https://mediares.studio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Media Res Studio is an independent Los Angeles-based television and film production studio founded in 2017 by former HBO drama head Michael Ellenberg, producing premium scripted and nonfiction content for streaming platforms and networks including Apple TV+, HBO, Netflix, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television and Motion Picture Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile) (MPAIAHAA)

Keywords

• Premium television production
• Scripted content studio
• Streaming content production
• Nonfiction docuseries production
• Independent film studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Production Deals with Streaming Platforms: Media Res develops and produces premium scripted and nonfiction content under deals with major streaming platforms and networks. Revenue is generated through production fees, licensing, and co-financing arrangements with buyers such as Apple TV+, HBO, Netflix, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Media Res Studio is an independent television studio and motion picture production company that develops, produces, and finances premium scripted series, limited series, and nonfiction content for global streaming platforms and broadcast networks. The company works as a production partner and co-studio to platforms such as Apple TV+, HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Hulu, and also operates a dedicated nonfiction division and an international production unit.

Product overview

Media Res is an Emmy-nominated television studio and motion picture production company that develops, produces, and finances premium content for global markets. The company operates as a production studio with a portfolio of scripted and nonfiction content across multiple streaming platforms and networks. Current slate includes Apple TV+ flagship series THE MORNING SHOW (season 4) and PACHINKO (season 2), HBO limited series THE CHAIN, Peacock comedy THE MINIATURE WIFE, and Apple TV+ drama THE DEALER. The company also maintains a nonfiction division producing docuseries and documentary films. Past productions include I'M A VIRGO (Amazon), EXTRAPOLATIONS (Apple TV), and SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (HBO).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Morning Show Emmy, SAG, and Critics Choice Award-winning Apple TV+ drama series in its fourth season (with a fifth season in production), produced by Media Res.
• Pachinko Apple TV+ acclaimed series based on Min Jin Lee's international bestseller, with honors from Peabody Awards, American Film Institute, and Critics Choice Awards; currently in its second season.
• The Chain HBO eight-episode limited thriller series based on Adrian McKinty's bestselling novel, with Damon Lindelof as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.
• Enigma Variations Netflix limited series adaptation of André Aciman's bestselling novel, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the lead role.
• The Miniature Wife Peacock comedy series starring and executive produced by Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen, with Greg Mottola also executive producing.
• The Dealer

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Jodie ComercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning actor Jodie Comer has been cast in the lead role of Rachel in HBO's upcoming limited series The Chain, a thriller based on Adrian McKinty's bestselling novel. The series is created by Damon Lindelof with production by Media Res.
• Ari AsterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Director Ari Aster and producing partner Lars Knudsen have signed a first-look pact with Media Res. This is Aster's first venture into television, with the Eddington director looking to develop TV projects under the deal.
• HBO/Craig MazincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026HBO announced plans to adapt Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 into a television series. Craig Mazin serves as writer and executive producer alongside Michael Ellenberg of Media Res.
• HBOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Media Res is serving as co-studio on The Chain, an eight-episode limited series based on Adrian McKinty's bestselling thriller novel. Damon Lindelof is serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. The project marks Lindelof's first showrunner role since Watchmen.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bad Robot: J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath's production company producing prestige television and film for streamers and networks. Bad Robot has similar A-list showrunner relationships and premium-content positioning, with deep ties to Apple TV+ (the same lead platform partner as Media Res).
• Annapurna Pictures: Independent film and television production company focused on prestige content with major platform partnerships. Like Media Res, Annapurna develops high-end scripted programming for streamers and has a similar selective-slate, awards-focused strategy.
• Blumhouse Productions: Independent production company with first-look deals across major streamers (Amazon, Netflix) and a similar sales-led motion to global streamers. While genre-focused (horror/thriller), Blumhouse operates the same independent-studio model: develop, produce, and license premium content to platforms.
• MRC (Media Rights Capital): Independent entertainment company producing premium film and television content for major streamers and networks. MRC's slate (House of Cards, Knives Out) mirrors Media Res's premium-scripted focus, and both companies serve as co-studios or production partners with platforms.
• A24: Independent film and television studio with a similar prestige positioning and streaming platform partnerships. Both companies develop and produce premium content for global streamers and networks, compete for the same A-list talent, and target prestige awards circuits. A24 is larger and broader but operates in the same content-studio category.

Emerging players

• Sister: Global independent production company producing premium scripted and unscripted content for streamers and broadcasters. Sister operates an international production model similar to Media Res International and competes for similar prestige talent and IP.
• wiip: Independent television studio developing and producing premium scripted content for streamers and networks. wiip has a comparable boutique-prestige positioning and similar relationships with emerging creators, though with a smaller, more selective slate than Media Res.
• Chernin Entertainment: Independent production company developing premium scripted and unscripted content for streamers (Netflix, Apple) and networks. Chernin's slate-based model and platform-partner approach closely parallels Media Res's business.

Broad incumbents

• Lionsgate: Major studio with an independent production arm (Lionsgate Television) producing premium scripted content for streamers and networks. Lionsgate is broader and publicly traded but competes for similar premium-scripted commissions and platform partnerships.
• Skydance Media: Larger independent entertainment company producing premium film and television for global streamers and theatrical. Skydance's recent Paramount merger and Apple TV+ partnership create overlapping platform relationships with Media Res, though at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Media Res Studio