LOS ANGELES — One of the last Hollywood studios without a Broadway division, 20th Century Fox, is diving into the live theater business by teaming with Kevin McCollum, a producer of hits like “Rent,” “Avenue Q” and “Motown.”

Mr. McCollum and Fox — along with the film producer John Davis and Tom McGrath, a veteran entertainment executive — announced a joint venture on Thursday to develop a slate of nine to 12 musicals based on Fox films.

The shows could go to Broadway or simply tour, either in North America or overseas.

Mr. McCollum and Mr. Davis, whose blockbusters have ranged from “Dr. Dolittle” to “Predator,” declined in interviews to say what films they saw as likely candidates for stage adaptations. Fox’s 4,500-title catalog dates to the 1930s and includes such seemingly tantalizing titles as “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the “Ice Age” movies, “Moulin Rouge” and old Shirley Temple and Marilyn Monroe comedies.

“Theater is about surprises and things that you haven’t seen before on stage,” said Mr. McCollum, who will oversee day-to-day operations. “There are amazing Fox Searchlight titles and great films from the ’70s that nobody today has heard of.” (Searchlight is the studio’s art-house label.)