Matthew N. Sugarman is a shareholder in the Firm’s entertainment practice group.
Matthew’s practice focuses on the representation of writers, actors, directors, producers and commercial, management and production companies in motion picture, television and digital media. Matthew has also worked extensively in connection with the development, financing, production, distribution, licensing and acquisition of audio-visual productions in all media. His practice also includes merchandising, endorsements, and print publishing.
Matthew has served as a member of both the Syllabus Committee of the USC Institute for Entertainment Law and Business and the Entertainment Industry Leadership Institute of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. In addition, he is actively involved with several charities including the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, and is an avid science fiction, fantasy and comic book reader. Prior to attending law school, Matthew helped to found the business and legal affairs department at Walden Media in New York City, worked on the advance team for Bill Bradley’s 2000 U.S. Presidential campaign, participated in the investment banking trainee program at a top Wall Street investment house and served as a Page in the U.S. Senate.
Speaking Engagements
Matthew spoke at Wondercon on the process of shopping a comic book property in Hollywood, in a program entitled, “From Page to Screen.”
Matthew received his J.D. in 2004 from the University of Southern California Law Center, where he was a quarter-finalist in the Hale Moot Court Honors Program, and received his undergraduate degree, with a dual major in political science and sociology, from the Brandeis University in 1999.
USC Institute for Entertainment Law and Business
Syllabus Committee Member
The Entertainment Industry Leadership Institute
of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles
Member
Awards
Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report 2015
J.D., University of Southern California Law Center, 2004
B.A., Brandeis University, 1999
On September 8, Weintraub Shareholder Matt Sugarman will present as part of the American Bar Association webinar Comic Book Law 101. This panel will explore the comic book industry, its place in greater pop culture, and the key legal issues attorneys practicing in this area should know. Topics covered will include…
Bestselling novel The Honeys, by Weintraub client Ryan La Sala, is set to be adapted for film by Anonymous Content. The social horror story was published in August 2022, and was named a “Best Book of 2022” by several media organizations, including NPR, Barnes & Noble, and the New York…
Weintraub client Jess Varley (Phobias) will make her solo writing and directorial debut with the new film The Astronaut, a sci-fi thriller set to star Emma Roberts (Madame Web) and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix franchise). The film is due to start production later this year, with Brad Fuller (A Quiet…
Universal Pictures is set to adapt to film the bestselling novel “A Deadly Education,” the first title in the Scholomance Trilogy by Weintraub client Naomi Novik. The film will be directed by Meera Menon (Ms. Marvel) with Emily Carmichael (Jurassic World Dominion) and Shantha Susman adapting the screenplay. Todd Lieberman…
On September 29, 2022, WT client Macrocosm Entertainment won a News and Documentary Emmy Award for the HBO Documentary film Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street. The documentary won for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary. Trevor Crafts accepted the award, and Weintraub Tobin was honored to be thanked…
Disney+ is set to develop a new live-action series based on the first book, Eragon, of the popular young adult book series The Inheritance Cycle, written by Weintraub client Christopher Paolini. Paolini will co-write and executive produce the series, alongside Bert Salke via Co-Lab 21. The studio will be 20th…
Weintraub client Diane Lane has been cast in the Netflix limited series “A Man in Full,” based on the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name. Lane will star alongside Jeff Daniels. David E. Kelly will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner for the series. Weintraub client Tommy Schlamme…
The animated adaptation of ND Stevenson’s bestselling graphic novel Nimona has been picked up by Netflix and Annapurna Pictures. The film was originally under production and set to release this year from Blue Sky Studios, a division of then 20th Century Fox. The film was canceled, however, after Fox was…
Warner Bros. and Studio 8 are set to produce a film adaptation of the comic book “Black.” The comic was first introduced in 2016, created by Weintraub Tobin clients Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3, and also published by Weintraub Tobin client Black Mask Studios. Black Mask Studios’ Matteo Pizzolo…
Sony Pictures Television has acquired the superhero horror comic “Faust” for development into an animated series. Creators David Quinn (writer) and Tim Vigil (artist) of Rebel Studios will serve as consulting producers on the adaptation. Brian Giberson of Black Mask Entertainment will executive produce and Matteo Pizzolo (Godkiller) will write…
Strange Planet creator Nathan Pyle is teaming with Dan Harmon to adapt his webcomic and graphic novels for Apple TV+. Pyle and Harmon will executive produce along with Steve Levy and Taylor Alexy Pyle. Amalia Levari is set as showrunner. The series is produced by Apple Studios and ShadowMachine, the…
Weintraub Tobin joins Matt Sugarman in congratulating his clients recently announced as Hugo Award Finalists: Best Young Adult Book: Naomi NovikBest Novel: Tamsyn MuirBest Novel: Mary Robinette KowalBest Novella: P. Djèlí ClarkBest Series: John ScalziBest Series: Mary Robinette KowalBest Dramatic Presentation Short Form: Noelle StevensonBest Dramatic Presentation Short Form: James…
Rebekah Weatherspoon has struck a deal to have her romance book trilogy to be developed for television. The first book, A Cowboy to Remember, is now in development as a pilot and will be written and executive produced by Valerie C. Woods. The trilogy is about a woman who has…
FX Network is adapting the newly released nonfiction book written by cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth. The series is being developed by Tommy Schlamme from The West Wing. The book is about the history of cyberwarfare and how the United States became vulnerable to attack. The drama series is being executive…
