Palak Patel, a pivotal figure in Sony Pictures’ Production and Development, is set to leave the studio after a successful decade to assume the role of Chief Content Officer at Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios.
Prime Focus Studios is known for its recent success with The Garfield Movie—co-produced with Alcon Entertainment and grossing over $257 million globally. The studio, founded by DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra, is dedicated to producing and financing films, TV series, and other content both independently and with major studios. Their current projects include Animal Friends, The Angry Birds Movie 3, and Ramayana.
Patel’s tenure at Sony has been marked by major contributions to blockbuster franchises. He was instrumental in the $1.8 billion-grossing Venom series and had a hand in Morbius. His journey with Sony began in 2015, following a realignment within the motion picture group led by Tom Rothman and Doug Belgrad.
Before joining Sony, Patel held the position of President of Production at Joe Roth’s Roth Films, where he earned executive producer credits on box office hits like Snow White and the Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Oz: The Great and Powerful, and Maleficent. His portfolio also includes the Netflix spy thriller The Gray Man, which garnered over 139 million global views, ranking it as the sixth most-watched movie on the platform.
Sony’s recent performance has been stellar, crossing the $1 billion mark at the domestic box office across its main label, Sony Pictures Classics, and Crunchyroll divisions. The Venom franchise continues to be a major profit driver, with the latest installment, Venom: The Last Dance, raking in $476 million worldwide on a $120 million budget.
Patel’s transition to Prime Focus Studios signals a new chapter for both him and the industry, as he prepares to steer the content strategy for one of the rising powerhouses in entertainment.
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