Legendary Entertainment Hires Apollo Partner Aaron Sobel to Senior Management Team

Legendary Entertainment has hired Apollo partner Aaron Sobel for a newly created role on its senior management team, overseeing corporate development, M&A, capital strategy and formation, and new business initiatives. He will report to CEO Josh Grode, Yahoo reported on November 10, 2026.

Aaron Sobel's New Role at Legendary Entertainment

Sobel joins Legendary Entertainment after 15 years at Apollo, where he was a partner in the firm's private equity business and worked on investments across media, entertainment and telecommunications. Before joining Apollo in 2011, he worked in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs. The company said the role is intended to expand its ability to pursue opportunities across media and entertainment.

Grode said: "I have worked closely with Aaron for the past four years and seen firsthand his exceptional strategic judgment, understanding of our business and genuine belief in Legendary." Sobel said he had worked closely with Grode, Mary Parent and the Legendary team through Apollo funds' investment in the company.

Legendary's upcoming slate includes "Dune: Part Three," "Godzilla x Kong: Supernova" and a sequel to "A Minecraft Movie." The company is also working on "Gundam," a live-action adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo.

Apollo's $760 Million Legendary Stake

Apollo Funds made a $760 million minority-stake investment in Legendary in January 2022, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list a $150 million minority stake acquired by TBS Holdings in January 2026 at a valuation exceeding $4 billion, alongside a strategic partnership to develop Japanese IP for global audiences. Legendary's recorded funding rounds also include an $800 million debt-funded round led by JP Morgan in April 2023 and a $1 billion debt-funded round in June 2018.

Lionsgate Talks Preceded the Hire

In October 2026, Legendary revived talks to acquire Lionsgate Studios and submitted a takeover offer, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The producer of Dune and Minecraft had weighed a bid last year, and the two parties have held on-and-off talks since. In July 2026, Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures unveiled the official trailer for "Dune: Part Three," set for release in North America on December 18, 2026, PR Newswire reported.