Key Highlights
- Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a multi-year, first-look production deal with Skydance Sports through his Dawn Apollo Studios company, expanding his footprint in film and television.
- Dawn Apollo Studios, founded in 2022, will develop and produce scripted, unscripted, and animated content with Hamilton serving as executive producer on all projects.
- The partnership follows Dawn Apollo’s significant involvement in “F1: The Movie,” which grossed over $634 million globally, and Hamilton has revealed three new film concepts in development, including two animations.
Hamilton Expands Media Empire with Skydance Sports Partnership
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has formalized a multi-year, first-look production agreement with Skydance Sports, the sports entertainment division of Paramount Skydance, through his Dawn Apollo Studios banner. The deal positions the newly signed Ferrari driver as an executive producer across a slate of scripted, unscripted, and animated projects, marking a significant escalation of his off-track business ventures. Announced amid Hamilton’s debut season with Scuderia Ferrari, the partnership leverages the commercial momentum generated by “F1: The Movie,” the Apple Original Films release that Dawn Apollo helped shepherd to a global box office haul exceeding $634 million.
Dawn Apollo Studios: From Consultancy to Content Creation
Hamilton launched Dawn Apollo Studios in 2022 with a mandate to champion diverse storytelling across sport, culture, and entertainment. The company’s most visible credit to date is its deep involvement in “F1: The Movie,” the high-octane drama starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris directed by Joseph Kosinski. Hamilton served as both executive producer and consultant on the production, embedding himself in the creative process from script development through post-production. The film’s commercial success—crossing the $634 million threshold worldwide—validated Dawn Apollo’s model of athlete-led content creation and provided the leverage for the new Skydance Sports arrangement.
Strategic Alignment with Skydance Sports Leadership
The agreement pairs Dawn Apollo with a division led by Jesse Sisgold, President of Skydance Sports, whose portfolio includes documentaries, series, and feature films centered on athletic narratives. Hamilton emphasized the cultural resonance of the collaboration in a statement accompanying the announcement:
“I’ve always believed stories can help people see the world differently and spark important conversations,” the Ferrari driver explained.
“That’s what excites me about Dawn Apollo Studios. It gives us the chance to back projects that feel honest, bold and meaningful, and to create space for voices and perspectives that haven’t always had that opportunity.
“Skydance Sports understands how powerful sport, culture and entertainment can be in moving audiences, and I’m excited to team up with Jesse and the team to bring those stories to life.”
Slate Expansion: Animations, Documentaries, and Feature Films
Beyond the structural partnership, Hamilton has offered a glimpse into Dawn Apollo’s active development pipeline. Speaking to media during the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, he detailed three original concepts currently in various stages of writing, signaling a shift from consulting on external projects to originating intellectual property.
“I’ve got three concepts that I’m writing,” he told the media at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. “I’m going to write them with a writer because I’ve never written a movie before.
“But I’ve got these concepts and these ideas that I’ve come up with for movies. I think two of them will be animations and one of them is already in a phase of the first part of the script already, so it’s exciting.
“And then there will be documentaries, there will be maybe a TV series at some stage, but mostly movies. I love the development of movies – that’s what I love the most.”
This disclosure reveals a deliberate diversification strategy: two animated features, a live-action script nearing completion, and a broader slate encompassing documentaries and potential series. The animation focus suggests an intent to reach younger, global audiences beyond the core motorsport demographic, while the documentary and series formats align with the current streaming-driven demand for behind-the-scenes sports content.
Why This Matters
The Hamilton–Skydance Sports deal exemplifies the accelerating convergence of elite athlete branding, media ownership, and studio infrastructure. As traditional endorsement models evolve into equity and production partnerships, Hamilton is following a trajectory blazed by figures like LeBron James (SpringHill Company) and Peyton Manning (Omaha Productions), but with a distinct Formula 1 global platform. For Paramount Skydance, the alliance secures a first-look window on projects from one of the world’s most recognizable athletes at the precise moment his Ferrari move amplifies international visibility. For the industry, it signals that athlete-led studios are no longer vanity imprints but viable content engines capable of delivering theatrical-scale returns, as evidenced by the $634 million gross of “F1: The Movie.” The next 12–18 months will test whether Dawn Apollo can translate that singular success into a sustainable, multi-genre pipeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dawn Apollo Studios and when was it founded?
Dawn Apollo Studios is Lewis Hamilton’s production company, established in 2022. It focuses on developing and producing scripted, unscripted, and animated content across film, television, and digital platforms, with an emphasis on diverse storytelling in sport and culture.
How was Dawn Apollo involved in “F1: The Movie”?
Dawn Apollo Studios was heavily involved in the making of “F1: The Movie,” with Hamilton serving as an executive producer and consultant on the project. The film, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, grossed more than $634 million at the global box office.
What new projects has Lewis Hamilton revealed are in development?
At the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton disclosed he is writing three original concepts—two animated features and one live-action project already in early script phase—with plans for documentaries and a potential television series. He is collaborating with professional screenwriters on these projects.