“We’re just doubling down on our mission,” Witherspoon said. “Now we’re going to have the ability to tell more stories, to hire more female filmmakers, to promote and lift up even more authors.”

Hello Sunshine courted a number of offers, including one from Apple. A majority stake is being bought by a venture that includes Blackstone Group and is led by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs. A person familiar with the deal said it was valued at about $900 million.