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Fanatics Studios Makes Waves with Blockbuster Sports Entertainment Deals

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, January 13th 2026 at 15:09 GMT by The Hollywood Reporter

By Anya Sharma, Sports & Entertainment Correspondent

Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 - Fanatics Studios, the burgeoning entertainment arm of the sports and merchandise giant Fanatics, is making waves in Hollywood with a series of blockbuster partnerships announced this week. Deals with WWE, ESPN, Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games signal a significant shift in the landscape of sports entertainment, positioning Fanatics Studios as a major player poised to redefine how fans experience their favorite teams, athletes, and events.

Co-founded by Michael Rubin and Brandon Gordon in 2021, Fanatics Studios initially operated as a smaller, developing division. However, the current announcements represent a dramatic expansion, solidifying the company's ambitions to fuse the excitement of sports with the appeal of premium entertainment. As co-president Brandon Gordon stated, the core mission is to "create content that combines the best of sports and entertainment" - a goal they are now powerfully equipped to achieve.

WWE Partnership: Wrestling Reimagined

The collaboration with WWE is perhaps the most immediately exciting for fans. Fanatics Studios plans to create a diverse range of content centered around the world of professional wrestling. This includes both animated series and live-action productions, potentially introducing new audiences to the captivating storylines and larger-than-life characters that define WWE. The deal suggests a move beyond traditional wrestling broadcasts and merchandise, leveraging the power of storytelling to broaden the appeal of the sport and explore narratives in a fresh, visually engaging way. Industry analysts predict this could lead to a revitalization of WWE's brand, attracting younger viewers and providing existing fans with a deeper dive into the careers and backstories of their favorite wrestlers.

ESPN: Digging into the Archives

Fanatics' partnership with ESPN will focus on documentary series. ESPN's vast historical archives--a treasure trove of game footage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments--provide ample material for compelling narratives. While details are currently scarce, sources suggest the series could explore iconic moments in sports history, profiles of legendary athletes, and the evolution of various sports over time. Given ESPN's reputation for high-quality sports documentaries, the Fanatics Studios collaboration is expected to raise the bar for sports storytelling.

MLB: Bringing Baseball Stories to Life

MLB fans can anticipate a renewed focus on cinematic storytelling through the partnership with Fanatics Studios. The deal specifies film and series productions, indicating a commitment to more ambitious and narrative-driven content than simply game highlights. Expect to see dramatizations of historic baseball moments, biographical films exploring the lives of iconic players, and potentially even fictionalized series inspired by the sport's rich history and culture. This move is strategically important for MLB, as it seeks to engage a broader audience and highlight the inherent drama and compelling narratives within the sport.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics: Building Anticipation & Legacy

Securing a deal with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games demonstrates Fanatics Studios' commitment to capturing the spirit of global sporting events. The partnership will encompass both extensive pre-Games documentary content - chronicling the athletes' journeys and the city's preparations - and post-Games analysis and celebrations. This allows Fanatics to tap into the global excitement surrounding the Olympics and create lasting content that captures the human drama and inspiring moments of the Games. The content will be tailored for multiple platforms, including digital streaming, television, and social media, ensuring broad reach.

Building a Sustainable Content Engine

The announcements reflect Fanatics Studios' strategy to create a robust and sustainable content engine. This involves not only securing key partnerships, but also investing in a talented team of creative executives and experienced production partners. The company appears to be committed to delivering a consistent stream of high-quality programming, signaling a long-term vision for its entertainment arm. The success of these initial partnerships will be crucial in shaping Fanatics Studios' future and cementing its place in the competitive world of sports entertainment.