Ep 88. Simon Pulman: The REAL Reason Hollywood Only Makes Sequels Now

Entertainment attorney Simon Pulman (Prior Cashman, NYC) reveals how to build billion-dollar transmedia franchises without risking studio collapse. Learn the formula top 1% of adaptations use.

The entertainment industry faces its biggest paradigm shift in decades. While Hollywood struggles with declining theatre attendance and rising production costs, gaming properties are creating the most successful adaptations in history. Entertainment lawyer Simon Pulman breaks down exactly why this is happening and how it's transforming deal structures across the industry.

In this eye-opening conversation, Pulman reveals how individual incentives are driving risk-aversion across studios, why original scripts have been replaced by IP acquisitions, and the shocking truth about how "Hollywood created Netflix" through short-term financial decisions that destroyed their long-term business model.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Simon Pulman's expertise

02:14 Why original scripts dominated in the 90s vs franchise dominance today

04:35 The audience shift: Why people won't leave home for cinema anymore

07:18 How international content (Squid Game, anime) is reshaping Hollywood

10:47 Snow White remake failure: Budget vs ROI analysis

13:30 Community: The undervalued asset Hollywood ignores but gaming understands

17:42 The Holy Trinity of successful adaptations: Last of Us, Fallout, Mario

21:36 Why honoring IP is non-negotiable for successful adaptations

26:55 How transmedia success drives game sales - the feedback loop

30:10 The weekly episode model vs. binge culture for deeper engagement

33:22 Netflix's gaming strategy: Can they leverage their IPs effectively?

39:08 BioWare's storytelling potential beyond games

43:15 The new deal paradigm: How game companies flipped Hollywood's ownership model

49:40 Roblox's untapped potential: Why it's creating tomorrow's entertainment moguls

56:28 AI's complex entertainment industry implications

57:45 Entertainment predictions for next 12 months

About Simon Pulman:

Simon Pulman is an entertainment attorney with Prior Cashman in New York City, specialising in deals across television, motion pictures, podcasts, video games, and publishing. He helps companies develop, produce, and finance media projects during a period of unprecedented technological and audience behaviour change.

The Transmedia Revolution:

This episode explores how successful properties like The Last of Us have created a virtuous cycle where shows drive game sales and games build audience anticipation for new seasons - all while maintaining the core emotional elements that connected with audiences originally.

Join the Conversation:

What gaming property do you think deserves the Last of Us treatment next? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Connect with Simon:

Find Simon Pulman on LinkedIn for more insights on entertainment law and industry trends.

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