Universal Music Group‘s merchandise company Bravado has struck a worldwide merchandising partnership with Searchlight Pictures.
Under the deal, Bravado will handle direct-to-fan e-commerce, retail, and licensing for the Disney-owned film studio.
According to the companies, Searchlight is the first film studio to work with Bravado.
The partnership launches with a merchandise collection for Wild Horse Nine, the new film from writer-director Martin McDonagh.
The film stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents and is set on Easter Island in 1973, shortly before the Chilean coup.
Searchlight released Wild Horse Nine in US cinemas last Friday (November 6).
The collection is on sale now via Searchlight’s online store, which carries a “Powered by Bravado” credit in its footer.
According to the press release, the range spans apparel, travel accessories, and collectibles designed around the film’s 1970s setting.
Items carrying an embossed horse silhouette include a journal, a long-sleeve polo, a passport cover, and a bowling bag, alongside hotel keychains and horse-motif signet rings, according to Searchlight and Bravado.
Searchlight is also selling a ringer T-shirt printed with a line from the film: “Good luck with all the democracy and stuff.”
The film’s soundtrack is available on double vinyl through the same store.
“We’re excited to partner with Bravado to explore new and innovative ways to bring Searchlight films to life beyond the screen,” said Matthew Greenfield, President of Searchlight Pictures. “Their creative vision and forward-thinking approach make them a great fit for our studio, and Wild Horse Nine is an exciting first opportunity to push creative boundaries together.”
“We’re excited to partner with Bravado to explore new and innovative ways to bring Searchlight films to life beyond the screen.”
Matthew Greenfield, Searchlight Pictures
“Searchlight has built an incredible catalog of films that people have real connections to and we’re thrilled to be working with them as our first partner in film and entertainment,” said Dan Goldberg, SVP, Strategy & New Ventures at Bravado. “Great films create lasting fandom, and we see a real opportunity to build on that through products and experiences that extend those stories beyond the screen.”
Goldberg joined Bravado in March in a newly created role, as part of a leadership reshuffle that saw Matt Young promoted to CEO.
At the time, Bravado said Goldberg would lead strategy and business development, with a remit that included expanding into new verticals.
Goldberg previously built and led the Music & Entertainment division at Fanatics and served as SVP of Warner Music Artist Services, now WMX.
“Searchlight has built an incredible catalog of films that people have real connections to and we’re thrilled to be working with them as our first partner in film and entertainment.”
Dan Goldberg, Bravado
Bravado has worked on film merchandise before, albeit as a licensee rather than as a studio’s merchandising partner.
In 2021, it signed a UK licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products covering adult apparel based on titles including Space Jam, Mortal Kombat, and The Matrix.
Bravado describes itself as “the world’s leading artist merchandise and lifestyle company,” and counts The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Post Malone, and Morgan Wallen among its clients.
It also handles merchandise for Harley-Davidson and Travis Pastrana‘s Channel 199.
In August, UMG signed an exclusive, long-term global partnership with Apple Corps Ltd. covering merchandise, licensing, and e-commerce for The Beatles.
Bravado had handled the band’s merchandise in North America since September 2022.
UMG‘s ‘Merchandising and Other’ revenue fell 4.6% YoY at constant currency to EUR €248 million (USD $285.3m) in the third quarter of 2026.
According to UMG, the decline was primarily driven by “lower touring income compared to a prior-year quarter that included a greater number of high-profile tours.”
That was partially offset by “growth in direct-to-consumer revenue,” UMG said.
The division posted an Adjusted EBITDA profit of €11 million ($12.7m) in Q3, down from €13 million a year earlier.
Searchlight‘s catalog includes Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, and The Full Monty, as well as Oscar Best Picture winners Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland.
Greenfield took sole charge of Searchlight in 2024, when his co-president David Greenbaum was named President of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios.Music Business Worldwide