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What a difference a Hollywood year can make.
Just a year ago, Zack Lebowski and Adam P. Stein were a filmmaking duo with modest indie horror roots preparing to release their first feature film, Final Destination: Bloodlines From New Line Cinema.
Now, thanks to the critical and box office success of that film, Lebowski and Stine first met 17 years ago as contestants on Steven Spielberg’s filmmaking reality show. On a lothas become one of the busiest filmmakers around the world.
They are so in demand that Sony Pictures has snared them, signing the duo to a wide-ranging overall deal, which covers all of the studio’s film posters.
Under the deal, Wonderlab, which Lebowski and Stine recently launched, will develop films for the duo to direct original projects they produce for other directors. The focus is on creating films that are entertaining, commercial, character-driven and genre-bending. They are currently meeting with potential executives to help lead the company.
As part of the deal, the duo will direct the Sony Columbia Pictures adaptation of the film metal gear solid, The groundbreaking video game created by Hideo Kojima. This will be the first time that the blockbuster title, a stealth combat game with sci-fi and espionage features, will be brought to the screen. Father and son team Avi Arad and Ari Arad are producing this film.
“Zack and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most admired directors and producers today,” Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures’ Motion Pictures Group, said in a statement. “With projects across all of the company’s film brands, we are thrilled to create a home for them, and proud to have them as part of the Sony family.”
The deal deepens Lebowski and Stein’s relationship with the studio, where they are already developing multiple projects, including animation Poison A Sony Pictures Animation film, which they’re directing. They are also developing an original sci-fi saga the earth for Columbia Pictures, which is attached to direct and will produce alongside Eric Heisserer and Scott Glassgold.
“We are honored to partner with the incredible executive team at Sony,” Lipofsky and Stein said in a statement. “Working with many Sony teams over the past year, we were blown away by the level of creativity, thoughtfulness and passion we felt in every conversation. We share the vision that Tom, Sanford, Peter, Louie, Christine, Damian, Ashley and the entire Sony team have to create theatrical films that entertain the world.”
related Metal Gear SolidThe duo stated,Metal Gear Solid It was nothing less than a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that revolutionized video games forever. We are thrilled and honored to bring Hideo Kojima’s iconic characters and their unforgettable world to life.
With the final destination: BloodlinesLebowski and Stein revitalized the Warners Bros. title. Dying, where they led the first final destination The film is about 14 years old. The film, which was released in May 2025, grossed $317.0 million worldwide on a budget of around $50 million, becoming not only the highest-grossing entry in the franchise but also its best-reviewed.
Before that, the film industry got notices for writing, directing and producing the independent science fiction film Freakswhich was one of the biggest sellers of the year at the Toronto International Film Festival. They are currently in post-production on A Freaks sequel.
In the past year, the duo has also worked on several high-profile projects around the city, including a new project Gremlins The feature they wrote for Warners, Lost long ago With Spielberg Amblin and Universal, and traveler At Paramount.
Lipofsky and Stein are repped by Verve, Ground Control and attorney Jimmy Feldman.
