Toby Emmerich joins FilmNation's Infrared as consultant

Toby Emmerich, the former Warner Bros film chief, has joined Infrared as a consultant to advise on its slate of genre films, Deadline reported.

Infrared is the production label of FilmNation Entertainment, the company led by chief executive Glen Basner. In the new role Emmerich will consult on development and production across the label’s slate, according to the same report.

He will keep running his own companies at the same time. Emmerich will continue to operate Fireside Films and Fireside Television with Michele Weiss and Amanda Krentzman, and he remains an adviser to Leawood Films, the new film label from AMC Theatres, Deadline reported.

Emmerich is a long-time studio executive. He served as chairman of the Warner Bros Motion Picture Group until June 2022, after earlier serving as president and chief operating officer of New Line Cinema. His career at Warner Bros spanned 30 years, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

After leaving Warner Bros he founded Fireside Films, which landed a first-look deal with the Burbank lot, an agreement giving the studio first refusal on his projects. That independent chapter soon crossed paths with FilmNation.

The two sides already worked together on I Play Rocky, the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film from director Peter Farrelly. Emmerich’s Fireside produced the film alongside Christian Baha and Farrelly, with FilmNation providing production services and handling international sales, the sale of distribution rights territory by territory. The film had its world premiere at TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival, and is set for a theatre release on 13 November.

Infrared focuses on genre films with franchise potential, meaning action, horror, thriller and other audience-driven titles designed to support sequels. Its recent release was Novocaine, from directors Robert Olsen and Dan Berk and starring Jack Quaid.

Two titles are next on the label’s books. Painter, written by Derek Kolstad and starring Amber Midthunder and Walton Goggins, is set for 20th Century Studios. Skeletons, from writer-director JT Mollner and starring Brie Larson, is set for Sony Pictures, Deadline reported.

What makes this stand out for moviegoers is the mix. Infrared is built for tight, high-concept pictures. Emmerich brings three decades of big-studio releasing. The test will be what reaches screens next.