Plan B Entertainment isn't just another Hollywood logo you see before the popcorn runs out. For two decades, it has been the gold standard for "prestige" cinema, churning out heavy hitters like Moonlight, 12 Years a Slave, and The Big Short. But if you're looking for the name on the deed in 2026, the answer is a lot more "global corporate" than "Hollywood A-list."
The short version? Brad Pitt doesn't own the whole thing anymore.
Honestly, the shift caught some people off guard. For years, Plan B was the ultimate "actor-run" passion project. But back in late 2022, the landscape shifted. A French media powerhouse called Mediawan stepped in and bought a 60% majority stake in the company.
So, while Brad Pitt is still the face and a major partner, he’s technically working under a larger umbrella now.
Who Owns Plan B Productions Right Now?
To understand who owns Plan B productions today, you have to look at a company based in Paris. Mediawan is a massive European independent studio founded by Pierre-Antoine Capton, Xavier Niel, and Matthieu Pigasse. They aren't just "investors"; they are a content machine.
They own dozens of production labels across Europe, and Plan B was their big, shiny entrance into the United States market.
Here is how the ownership is actually chopped up:
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- Mediawan (60%): The French conglomerate holds the steering wheel. They purchased this majority stake in a deal that valued the production house at roughly $300 million.
- Brad Pitt: He kept a significant minority stake. He didn't just take the check and run; he’s still the Chairman.
- Dede Gardner & Jeremy Kleiner: These two are the secret sauce. They are the Co-Presidents who actually run the day-to-day operations. As part of the 2022 deal, they also became shareholders in Mediawan itself.
It’s a "partnership," but in the world of business, the person with 60% usually gets the final say.
The Evolution: From Jennifer Aniston to Global Conglomerates
Plan B started as a bit of a "supergroup" in 2001. You had Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Brad Grey (the legendary manager who later ran Paramount). It was basically the coolest kids in the cafeteria forming a club.
Then things got messy.
When Pitt and Aniston divorced in 2005, the company could have easily folded. Instead, Pitt took over as the sole owner. Brad Grey headed off to run a major studio, and Pitt leaned into his taste for "difficult" movies that other people wouldn't touch.
For about 17 years, Pitt was the man. He was the sole proprietor of a company that seemed to have a permanent reservation at the Academy Awards. But the industry changed. Streaming wars made content expensive. Independent houses like A24 and Neon started nipping at their heels.
Selling a majority stake wasn't a sign of failure; it was a survival tactic. By joining Mediawan, Plan B got access to a massive European network and, frankly, a lot more cash to develop projects without Pitt having to bankroll everything himself.
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Why Mediawan Wanted In
Mediawan isn't just buying a name. They bought an Oscar machine.
By the time the deal closed, Plan B had racked up three Best Picture winners. That kind of track record is rare. For the French founders of Mediawan, owning the majority of Plan B meant they weren't just "French producers" anymore—they were global players.
They also launched a dedicated "Mediawan US" entity to house Plan B and other American ventures, like Blue Morning Pictures (which they started with director Florian Zeller).
What This Means for the Movies
You might be wondering if some corporate suit in Paris is now telling Brad Pitt what movies to make.
Not really.
The deal was structured to keep the "creative DNA" intact. Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner are widely considered two of the best producers in the business. Keeping them as partners was the only way the deal made sense. If they left, the value of the company would plummet.
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In fact, the ownership change has actually expanded their reach. Just recently, in late 2025, Plan B launched a European arm. They hired James Macdonald—the guy who helped bring Baby Reindeer to the screen—to lead it.
Basically, the French ownership is helping Plan B find stories in the UK and Europe that they can then "Hollywood-ize" for a global audience.
The "Brad Pitt" Factor in 2026
Even though he's a minority owner now, Pitt is still the "brand."
He’s still active in choosing projects, though he’s notoriously picky. In 2026, the company is still focused on that "director-driven" vibe. They have projects like The Adventures of Cliff Booth (a nod to his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood character) and various prestige TV shows for Amazon and Apple in the works.
The ownership structure is designed to let him be the "artist" while Mediawan handles the "conglomerate" stuff.
Actionable Insights for Following the Industry:
- Watch the "Mediawan" Logo: If you see the Mediawan logo alongside the Plan B "B," it usually indicates a project with a more international, co-production angle.
- Follow the Producers: If you want to know what Plan B is doing next, don't just look at Brad Pitt’s Instagram (he doesn't have one anyway). Follow the trade news regarding Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. They are the true architects of the studio's slate.
- The European Shift: Expect more Plan B content that feels "less American." Their new UK/European division is specifically designed to bridge the gap between Hollywood budgets and European storytelling.
The era of the "lone wolf" celebrity production company is mostly over. Like Reese Witherspoon selling Hello Sunshine or Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Artists Equity getting massive outside investment, Plan B's majority ownership by Mediawan is just how the big leagues operate now.