Reese Witherspoon Reclaims Hello Sunshine From Candle Media in New Deal With Mediawan

Actress Reese Witherspoon is returning to the company she founded a decade ago, after partnering with international production group Mediawan to buy back Hello Sunshine from Candle Media.

The deal comes five years after a majority stake in Hello Sunshine was sold in 2021 to a media venture backed by investment firm Blackstone.

“A new chapter for Hello Sunshine,” the Oscar-winning actress and entrepreneur wrote on Tuesday on her Instagram stories in response to the news.

“I’m so proud of what our incredible team has built, and I’m looking forward to continuing what we started: putting creators first and telling stories that matter,” she added while sharing a Variety article on the matter.

Financial terms of the latest transaction have not been officially disclosed, although industry reports indicate the new deal is substantially smaller than the company’s previous valuation.

Founded in 2016, Hello Sunshine was created to bring greater attention to women’s experiences through film, television, books, and other forms of entertainment.

Under Witherspoon’s leadership, the company has adapted popular stories into screen productions, including the acclaimed series “Big Little Lies,” “The Morning Show,” and “Little Fires Everywhere.”

The business also operates Reese’s Book Club, a literary platform that has helped introduce readers to new authors and books, several of which have subsequently inspired screen adaptations.

The partnership with Mediawan is expected to provide additional international resources and opportunities to reach audiences across different markets.

Headquartered in Paris, Mediawan has assembled a portfolio of independent production companies spanning television, film, and other creative formats.

“Mediawan has built a global, independent studio by putting creators first. That has always been my vision for Hello Sunshine,” Witherspoon told Variety in a statement.

“I’m investing alongside Mediawan and joining Pierre-Antoine Capton and his teams because this is the perfect home for this new media landscape. It’s also a homecoming.”

Hello Sunshine co-founder Seth Rodsky is also expected to join the company’s board alongside Witherspoon and Mediawan representatives.

“I’m deeply proud of what our incredible team has built, and grateful to Blackstone and Candle Media for their partnership and unwavering support,” she continued. “The best is still ahead.”

Other high-profile acquisitions from Mediawan include production companies such as Chernin Entertainment, Brad Pitt’s Plan B, and See-Saw Films.

“Mediawan has thrived by bringing together the best creative companies and giving them the resources, scale, and independence to tell great stories,” co-founder and CEO of Mediawan Group Pierre-Antoine Capton told Variety.

“Led by a generational talent in Reese, Hello Sunshine has an extraordinary track record of telling premium stories through film and TV and forming strong connections with audiences through Reese’s Book Club.”

“Bringing these creative brands together, giving producers access to a broader pool of talent, IP and resources, while preserving their independence is what differentiates Mediawan.”

Mediawan’s network also includes production labels Kinetic Content, Wiedemann & Berg, Palomar, Our Films, Drama Republic, Chapter 2, and Chi-Fou-Mi.

Their credits span a number of films and television projects, including “Backrooms,” “F1,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Slow Horses,” “Call My Agent!,” “Love Is Blind,” and “New Girl.”