**Village Roadshow Entertainment Group Files for Bankruptcy Amid Legal and Production Woes**

The filing reveals a complex interplay of legal battles with Warner Bros and unsuccessful ventures in independent film production, leading to estimated debts of up to $1 billion.

Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, the powerhouse behind acclaimed franchises such as The Matrix, Ocean's series, and Joker, has filed for bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court. The company cited a deteriorating relationship with former partner Warner Bros (WB) and a "failed and costly endeavour" in independent film production as primary contributors to its financial distress.

In a strategic move to alleviate its significant debts, which range between $500 million and $1 billion, Village Roadshow is looking to sell its vast film library for $365 million (£281 million). The contentious history between Village Roadshow and WB dates back to early 2022, post the release of The Matrix Resurrections on HBO Max, where Village Roadshow accused WB of excluding it from obtaining rights to potential sequels and prequels of their collaborative projects.

Chief restructuring officer Keith Maib disclosed in court documents that the arbitration with WB has incurred over $18 million in legal fees, most of which remain unsettled. He emphasized that the legal contention has "irreparably decimated the working relationship" between the once-affiliated companies and concluded the "most lucrative nexus" that facilitated Village Roadshow’s past successes.

Additionally, Village Roadshow's foray into independent film and television series, initiated in 2018, has not yielded any profitable outcomes, compounding its financial challenges. The company, similar to its peers in the US film industry, faced a slump in audience demand due to the pandemic and disruptions caused by Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes that commenced in May 2023. Compounding the troubles, the Writers Guild of America restricted its members from collaborating with Village Roadshow after allegations of unpaid contributions arose in December.