Acclaimed Filmmakers Lend their Expertise and Passion in Support of Global Cinema
Formed to Advance and Champion the Theatrical Experience, Council is Led by Chair Jerry Bruckheimer and Vice Chair Emma Thomas
LOS ANGELES, CA – September 29, 2026 – Cinema United, the world’s largest exhibition trade association representing more than 63,000 movie screens worldwide, announced today that acclaimed filmmakers and Oscar® nominees Margot Robbie and Jason Blum have joined the Filmmaker Leadership Council, a strategic group of world-class producers and directors united in a single cause to champion the future of cinema worldwide. Robbie and Blum join council leaders Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas, and charter members Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman, and Celine Song.
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome two leaders like Margot and Jason to this influential group,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “Margot is a global superstar and the voice of a generation who loves movies on the big screen. Jason is beloved by fans around the world for creating incredible—and scary—experiences in theatres. They are both well-known, fierce advocates of the theatrical experience. I want to thank them both for their commitment, and I look forward to working closely with them to advance this great industry together.”
“It’s an absolute honor to have Margot and Jason join the Filmmaker Leadership Council,” said Council Chair Jerry Bruckheimer. “Their combined impact on this industry is enormous, and I know they will help our efforts immensely.”
“For me, the magic of cinema starts with the cinema itself,” Robbie said. “Storytelling in this format can be incredibly powerful, and I truly believe movie theatres are essential to our art form. I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to be able to work with such a powerful group of creatives to continue to drive the theatrical experience forward.”
Blum added, “Movie theaters are where fans are made. Bold, creative voices are bringing young audiences back to the movies, and that’s exciting. Turning moviegoing into a habit takes all of us, and this Council gives us a way to do that together.”
The Filmmaker Leadership Council brings together some of the world’s most influential movie creators to work alongside Cinema United to provide vital feedback and recommendations on the most pressing issues facing theatrical exhibition today—including consolidation, sustainable windows, the promotion and marketing of the cinematic experience, and highlighting innovation and technology.
At CinemaCon 2026, Bruckheimer and Thomas spearheaded a popular keynote discussion with O’Leary, hosted by Matt Belloni, during which they addressed important industry topics and the future of the Council. Also at CinemaCon, Reitman, a fellow theatre owner as part of the Village Directors Circle and member of Cinema United, spoke during Cinema United’s Independent Theatre Owners Coalition (ITOC) event and spent time touring the trade show floor to meet with vendors and members alike. This week, Blum will speak to members of exhibition as part of a live conversation at Cinema United’s annual Fall Summit gathering in Los Angeles. It is part of the Council’s overall mission to strengthen relationships between the exhibition community and filmmakers, as well as to help rebuild the moviegoing audience through a series of private and public initiatives, such as CinemaCon and the Fall Summit.
Members of the Council meet quarterly to discuss key priorities and upcoming initiatives. Serving as Executive Director of the Filmmaker Leadership Council is Greg Foster, industry veteran and senior consultant for Cinema United.
Margot Robbie is a three-time Academy Award nominated actress and producer who has captivated global audiences with breakout performances alongside some of the most notable names in film. Robbie is currently in production on the Oceans Prequel for Warner Bros., which she is also producing under her LuckyChap banner. The film will be directed by Bradley Cooper, with an exciting ensemble to include: Cooper, Monica Barbaro, Wagner Moura, Josh Gad, Omar Sy, and George MacKay, among others. Earlier this year, Robbie starred in and produced Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, which grossed over $240 million worldwide. In 2023, Robbie starred in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie as the titular role for Mattel and Warner Bros, which she also produced under her LuckyChap banner. The film grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide and was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. In 2022, Robbie starred in Damien Chazelle’s 1920s Hollywood drama, Babylon. Robbie received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Jay Roach’s Bombshell, opposite Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron. Prior to that and most notably, Robbie starred as Tonya Harding in I, Tonya and received an Academy Award nomination for her performance. Robbie also served as a producer on the film with LuckyChap. Other noteworthy performances include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mary Queen of Scots, Birds of Prey, The Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad, and The Wolf of Wall Street. LuckyChap’s projects across film, television, and theatre include Barbie, Wuthering Heights, Saltburn, Promising Young Woman, I, Tonya, My Old Ass, Sterling Point, Sirens, Maid, and 1536.
Three-time Oscar® nominee Jason Blum is the founder and CEO of Blumhouse Productions, a multi-media production company that has pioneered a new model of studio filmmaking- producing high-quality micro-budget films. Blumhouse has a first-look deal with Universal Pictures and has produced the highly-profitable “Paranormal Activity,” “The Purge,” “Insidious,” and “Sinister” franchises which have grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide on combined budgets under $40 million. Blumhouse’s model began with the original “Paranormal Activity,” which was made for $15,000 and grossed close to $200 million worldwide, making it the most profitable film in Hollywood history.
ABOUT CINEMA UNITED
Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 33,000 movie screens in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, with an additional more than 30,000 screens in 81 countries internationally. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.
