Concord’s Film and TV Unit Acquires RKO, Legendary Studio Behind ‘King Kong,’ ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

Photo Credit: Concord Originals + RKO Pictures

Concord Originals acquires RKO, the film studio behind such classic films as ‘King Kong,’ ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ and more.

Concord Originals, the film and TV division of Concord, has announced the acquisition of  RKO Pictures, the film studio behind classics such as King Kong, Citizen Kane, The Best Years of Our Lives, It’s a Wonderful Life, Suspicion, and The Woman in the Window. RKO was acquired from Ted Hartley, who served as Chairman and CEO of RKO for 35 years.

The deal also sees Concord Originals securing the derivative rights to over 5,000 titles, which include the remake, sequel, story, stage, and copyrights (including unproduced screenplays) of the company’s storied film library.

RKO will continue to operate as an imprint under Concord Originals. Sophia Dilley and current RKO President Mary Beth O’Connor have been named Co-Presidents of RKO and will jointly run the company with the support of the Concord Originals team. Dilley will also maintain her current role as head of Concord Originals, and will continue to oversee its current mandate: to develop and produce projects drawing from Concord’s vast library.

“Concord’s commitment to championing legacy is unmatched,” said Ted Hartley. “We are confident that RKO has found its next big step into its future at Concord. They have committed to continuing and enhancing the rich history of the iconic studio. I am proud to build this with them and look forward to what this power team will bring to our industry.”

Hartley will remain as lead producer and Chief Storyteller on a slate of active RKO projects and will function as Chairman Emeritus at RKO. Alongside partners, Hartley is concurrently launching Roseblood Pictures, which focuses on book pick-ups, original programming, and becoming a home for selected writers, storytellers, and independent producers.

“RKO is a treasure trove of filmed storytelling that has had a permanent and profound impact on global popular culture,” said Concord CEO Bob Valentine. “We are honored that Ted Hartley has entrusted us as the next stewards to shepherd the studio and its storied catalog alongside our constantly growing roster of important IP.”

He adds: “As we continue to expand our catalog and content capabilities, RKO makes sense as a strategic step in widening Concord’s foothold in film, television, and theatrical rights, providing our Originals and Theatricals divisions with an extraordinarily deep collection of titles to develop and reimagine.”

Known as one of the last privately held of the original eight big studios, RKO’s iconic tower and globe logo has lit movie and television screens for over 90 years. The studio was owned at various times by Joseph P. Kennedy and billionaire Howard Hughes.

“Concord has embraced RKO and its proud legacy as a symbol of bold, imaginative storytelling,” said RKO Co-President Mary Beth O’Connor. “We are thrilled to be launching anew with Concord’s powerful platform and deep creative vision, anchored by the heart and spirit of our shared goals for RKO’s next chapter. Working alongside Sophia and the extensive Concord teams across divisions, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement to help carry RKO’s singular identity into a vibrant future.”

“Concord Originals takes pride in being a trusted partner for reinventing IP,” said Dilley. “This acquisition marks a thrilling new chapter for both companies. I am looking forward to working with Mary Beth and our teams to unite a prestigious history of storytelling with bold, forward-looking creative ambition. The combined catalogs offer an extraordinary foundation for reimagining beloved classics and launching entirely new franchises across film, TV, and theater. It’s a rare opportunity to honor the past while shaping the future.”

The RKO deal was negotiated by DLA Piper: David Markman, Tom Ara, and Alex Meiseles, for Concord Originals. RKO was represented by Chris O’Brien at Venable.

Link to the source article – https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/06/05/concord-film-tv-unit-acquires-rko/

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