Fifth Season has upped Christopher Slager to Head of Film as the studio expands its in-house production and development of feature films.
Slager will oversee the studio’s anticipated productions including Netflix/Artists Equity’s Animals, starring Matt Damon and directed by Ben Affleck, as well as the Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman movie The Beast directed by Emmy winner James Madigan.
Alexis Garcia, who previously managed features, will launch a new venture with backing from Fifth Season, details to be announced down the road. Garcia will remain a consultant to the studio during his transition.
Among those titles on the horizon for Fifth Season under Slager’s watch are Stephen Chbosky’s Nonnas, starring Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, and Linda Cardellini; Jan Komasa’s Anniversary, starring Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Dylan O’Brien, Zoey Deutch, Phoebe Dynevor, Madeline Brewer, Mckenna Grace, and Daryl McCormack; Nick Rowland’s She Rides Shotgun, starring Taron Egerton; and Friendship, starring Paul Rudd, Tim Robinson, and Kate Mara, from Emmy-nominated writer-director Andrew DeYoung.
Slager served as a Partner and SVP of Film Finance and Sales at Endeavor Content and previously WME. Prior to this, he was at Focus Features. A former Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Slager counts over 100 feature film credits, including Academy Award nominees The Florida Project and Mudbound, as well as Jerry and Marge Go Large, The Banker, Uncorked, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Independent Spirit Award winner Pig, and the Book Club franchise.
“Christopher is one of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial executives working today,” said Fifth Season Co-CEOs Graham Taylor and Chris Rice. “We believe there is a huge opportunity ahead in the film space, and we are committed to expanding our focus on in-house production and development under his leadership.”
“Over the last decade and a half, I’ve been inspired by colleagues and artists whose vision and tenacity have brought forth many of the great movies of our time,” said Slager. “Our film group at Fifth Season has learned and grown a lot over the last few years and has steadily been built to offer an alternative to filmmakers in a moment of industry transformation.”
Fifth Season’s feature canon includes 80 for Brady, Michael Bay’s Ambulance, and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s multiple Academy Award nominee The Lost Daughter, among other titles.