Mix of Live Action and Animated Films from Aardman to be
Released by Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment Labels, Roadside
Attractions
SANTA MONICA, Calif. and
PARIS, Nov.
2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflecting the continued growth of
their longterm partnership, global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE:
LGF:A, LGF:B) and STUDIOCANAL kicked off the American Film Market
(AFM) by announcing the next group of star-driven event properties
that Lionsgate will distribute in the U.S. under the companies' new
multiyear agreement.
The pact further strengthens Lionsgate's upcoming release slate
with an animated film from Oscar®-winning Aardman Studios and two
live action theatrical releases. The agreement also encompasses two
major STUDIOCANAL properties currently in development.
The pact includes U.S. distribution rights to the animated
family film Shaun The Sheep Movie 2, the follow-up to the
critically-acclaimed original that was nominated for an Academy
Award® in 2015. Live action releases include the action thriller
Hard Powder, teaming Academy Award® nominees Liam Neeson and Laura
Dern and Golden Globe® nominee Emmy
Rossum, and the adventure tale The Mercy for Roadside
Attractions, teaming Oscar® winners Colin
Firth and Rachel Weisz.
Lionsgate's distribution relationship with STUDIOCANAL was
launched by the 2010 horror thriller The Last
Exorcism, continued with the acclaimed Shaun the Sheep
Movie and includes the upcoming thriller The Commuter,
slated for a January 12, 2018 debut,
and the prehistoric comedy Aardman's Early Man, opening on
February 16, 2018. Lionsgate also
distributes STUDIOCANAL's 6,500-title film library in North America, and STUDIOCANAL has a long-term
output deal for Lionsgate and Summit titles in Australia/New
Zealand. The two companies are partnered in the Elevation
Sales home entertainment joint venture in the UK.
"We're delighted to continue to expand our longstanding
relationship with STUDIOCANAL, one of the greatest content
companies in the world," said Lionsgate Co-COO and Motion Picture
Group Co-President Steve Beeks.
"They bring to our slate a mix of live action and animated event
films driven by AAA talent that will continue to enhance the
strength and diversity of our portfolio for years to come. We're
also thrilled to be working again with our friends at Aardman
Studios, the gold standard in family animation, on the
highly-anticipated Shaun the Sheep Movie sequel."
"Lionsgate is a terrific partner with a proven track record of
success in handling our films," said STUDIOCANAL Executive Vice
President of International Distribution Anna Marsh. "We are excited by the opportunity
to continue to tap their marketing expertise and distribution
prowess as we add our titles to their commercially exciting
slate."
The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Beeks, Lionsgate
President of Acquisitions & Co-Productions Jason Constantine, and Lionsgate Executive Vice
President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions Eda Kowan. Marsh negotiated the agreement on
behalf of STUDIOCANAL.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
The first major new studio in
decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films,
television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top
platforms reach next generation audiences around the world. In
addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content
drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based
entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment
technologies. Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a
16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a
global licensing infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous
with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with
special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition
of the Company's worldwide consumer base.
ABOUT STUDIOCANAL
STUDIOCANAL, a 100% affiliate of
CANAL+ Group held by Vivendi, is Europe's leader in production, right
acquisition, distribution and international sales of feature films
and TV series, operating directly in all three major European
markets, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as in Australia and New
Zealand.
STUDIOCANAL owns one of the most important film libraries in the
world, boasting 6,500 feature films, including the iconic
Terminator 2, Breathless, Mulholland Drive and
Belle de jour.
STUDIOCANAL has fully-financed recent box office hits
like Paddington, Shaun the Sheep Movie
and Non-Stop. Upcoming films backed by STUDIOCANAL
include The Commuter featuring Liam Neeson, the
highly-anticipated Paddington 2 by Paul King, and Aardman Studios' stop-motion
movies Early Man by Nick
Park and Shaun the Sheep Movie 2.
STUDIOCANAL is actively developing and distributing high-end TV
series through its network of award-winning European production
companies, including Tandem Productions in Germany (Crossing
Lines, Spotless), the UK's RED Production Company (The
Five, Happy Valley), Scandinavia's SAM created by
Soren Sveistrup and Adam Price (Borgen, The Killing), and
Spain's BAMBÚ PRODUCCIONES
(Grand Hotel, Velvet). STUDIOCANAL has also stakes in the
UK's SunnyMarch TV, created by Benedict
Cumberbatch, Urban Myth Films and Guilty Party.
For media inquiries, please contact:
LIONSGATE
Peter D. Wilkes: (310) 255-3726 –
PWilkes@lionsgate.com
Cristina Castañeda: (310) 255-5114 –
CCastaneda@lionsgate.com
STUDIOCANAL
Antoine Banet-Rivet: +33 (0) 1 71 35
00 26 – antoine.banetrivet@canal-plus.com
Gabrielle Tensorer: +33 (0) 1 71 35 10 81 –
gabrielle.tensorer@studiocanal.com
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SOURCE Lionsgate