Courtney Solomon

Courtney Solomon is an accomplished writer, director, producer and entrepreneur who is responsible for the creation of several franchises and has been involved with the production, marketing and distribution of over 80 films creating a significant film library. Solomon grew up in Toronto, Canada where he spent much of his childhood on film sets where is mother worked in various film crew capacities. At the age of 19, Solomon formed Sweetpea Entertainment, the first of what would become many production companies, to fulfill his vision to acquire the rights and bring the world famous "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" property to the big screen. At the age of 26, Dungeons and Dragons became his first producing and directing project and went on to gross over $75M globally. Two other D&D films were made in cooperation with Silver Pictures, and in 2023 "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIVES" which banked $208M Worldwide at the box office for Paramount Pictures, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez & Regé-Jean Page. Thereafter, Solomon formed After Dark Films a label to produce horror, thriller and action titles. He launched After Dark with "AN AMERICAN HAUNTING" starring Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek based on the well-known Bell Witch legend. He wrote, produced, and directed the film. Solomon became one of the first producers to raise funds to market and distribute the film theatrically wide in the US. Personally handling the entire release campaign with no prior experience, Haunting was released on over 1750 screens and opened #2 in US staying in the top ten films for six weeks. The success of An American Haunting resulted in a long term distribution and co-production arrangement with Lionsgate Films. Another of Solomon's creations, "8 FILMS TO DIE FOR" a one weekend only Rocky Horror Like Horror film festival which played 8 Films in hundreds of theaters nationwide over one weekend. 8 Films encouraged horror fans to dress as their favorite horror characters and "make a weekend of it" while they took over theaters across the country. 8 Films To Die For became an annual event for six years. Using the same format, Solomon also created a spin-off series of five action films ("ActionFest") in co-operation with Warner Bros. Today, After Dark's film library includes over 80 films. In 2014, Solomon partnered with Mark Canton one of Hollywood's most prolific studio heads (Sony) and Producers (300) on a slate of Dramatic Feature films which included the critically acclaimed "CAKE" starring Jennifer Aniston who was nominated for best actress by SAG, BFCA and the Golden Globes for her performance. Other films in the slate included "MR.CHURCH" starring Eddie Murphy, "THE COMEDIAN" Starring Robert DeNiro and Leslie Mann, "THE YELLOW BIRDS" starring Tye Sheridan, Alden Ehrenreich, Jack Huston, Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette and "BURN YOUR MAPS" which won multiple film festivals and stars Vera Farmiga and Jacob Trembley. In 2018, Solomon acquired the rights and produced the first film based on the world wide phenomenon and bestselling novel series "AFTER" . The film was released in April 2019 and became an international hit opening #1 in 22 countries grossing $80M Worldwide at theaters. The sequel, "AFTER WE COLLIDED", will be released in 2020. In 2018, Solomon acquired the rights to the world famous underground comic universe of the "Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers". Created by Gilbert Shelton in 1968 and distributed through underground presses because of the racy nature of the comics, the Freak Brothers and their unnamed Cat became the hilarious and witty voice for Cannabis around the world. The series "THE FREAK BROTHERS" debuted in 2020. Through the series, Solomon is making his first foray into the amazing world of Adult Animation with a super talented team of seasoned writers and actors to bring the Freaks to life. Solomon recently wrapped production on the cult classic remake of "THE STRANGERS," a trilogy of movies with Lionsgate directed by Renny Harlin starring Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez & Gabriel Basso. Simultaneously he wrapped production as well on Millenium's "RED SONJA" based on the world famous character and comic book; directed by MJ Bassett starring Matilda Lutz. He is also in post on "ARTHUR THE KING", based on Mikael Lindnord's book, starring Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Simu Liu.