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Tag: Lionsgate

  • Lionsgate invests in game developer Telltale Games

    Lionsgate invests in game developer Telltale Games

    MUMBAI: As part of the continued diversification of its content business and recent entry into the game space, Lionsgate has made a significant investment in leading game developer and publisher Telltale Games.

     

    As part of its investment, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer will also join the Telltale Board of Directors.

     

    The investment will continue the extension of Lionsgate’s film and television brands into the game space and will bring Lionsgate’s expertise in creating and marketing premium content to Telltale’s unique narrative-driven, storytelling approach to gaming.  The collaboration will also enable the two companies to explore opportunities to co-develop existing and original IP into episodic games and television.

     

    Telltale has emerged as an industry leader in narrative-driven episodic games with the blockbuster hit The Walking Dead, which has sold 8.5 million copies and topped sales charts on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam, as well as the hit Game of Thrones, based on the smash television series, The Wolf Among Us, the episodic interactive graphic adventure video game based on Bill Willingham’s Fables comic book, and Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale’s adaptation of the acclaimed PC, Mac and console video game title from Gearbox Software and 2K Games.

     

    “Telltale is one of the premier storytellers in the gaming world today. Their leadership in narrative-driven episodic games, together with our investment and the potential opportunities created by our premium content expertise, will continue to strengthen their ability to offer exciting new avenues of storytelling to their next generation audiences across a broad range of platforms,” said Feltheimer.

     

    “Lionsgate is one of the most innovative, entrepreneurial and impressive content companies in the world today. I’m delighted to welcome an experienced executive like Jon, a leader who shares our unique vision, to our Board. Lionsgate has a great track record in developing and marketing feature films as well as platform-defining premium scripted television. This partnership will accelerate Telltale’s ability to create not only original games, but episodic television series based on our game properties – an area at the cutting edge of industry growth,” added Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner.

     

    “Our partnership with Kevin Bruner and his team at Telltale continues to accelerate our momentum in the game space. The convergence between premium filmed entertainment brands and original game properties is a natural direction in which to continue diversifying our content business, and Telltale is the perfect partner with whom to explore this dynamic area of growth,” said Lionsgate president of interactive ventures & games Peter Levin.

  • Lionsgate launches ‘insurgent’ virtual reality experience with Samsung

    Lionsgate launches ‘insurgent’ virtual reality experience with Samsung

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate and Samsung Electronics America, Inc have teamed up to create the exclusive virtual reality (VR) experience – “Insurgent – Shatter Reality.”

     

    The four-minute visual work of art is a fully-immersive, 360-degree narrative experience set in the world of the upcoming feature film The Divergent Series: Insurgent and features stars from the film including Kate Winslet, Miles Teller and Mekhi Phifer.

     

    Beginning 27 February, fans can experience the VR content for themselves exclusively through Samsung Gear VR powered by the Galaxy Note 4 as “Insurgent – Shatter Reality” goes on tour in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and San Francisco prior to going live across all platforms and app stores.

     

    The experience will also be available exclusively on Samsung’s Milk VR service from 1 March. Fans outside the tour markets will have an opportunity to view the experience on Samsung Gear VR over the weekend of 7-8 March at select Best Buy stores across the US.

     

    “Virtual reality elevates the world of Divergent to a whole new level by creating a uniquely exciting and immersive experience for our fans. The ‘Insurgent – Shatter Reality’ experience reflects our commitment to partner with leading technology companies like Samsung to remain at the cutting edge of VR and other innovations that expand the worlds of our franchises and extend our storytelling in exciting new directions,” said Lionsgate chief marketing officer Tim Palen.

     

    “As we push new boundaries in the world of technology and virtual reality, we are excited to continue our relationship with Lionsgate and bring Divergent fans a one-of-a-kind experience through Gear VR and Milk VR. This partnership will bring fans closer than ever to the action in this blockbuster series,” added Samsung Electronics America vice president and general manager – Immersive Products & Virtual Reality Nick DiCarlo.

     

    By putting on the Gear VR headset, consumers are immersed in the role of “Divergent” members of society who have been captured by Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet) and her Erudite faction and are subjected to a series of mental “simulations” in order to determine the full extent of their divergence. As the VR technology simulates Jeanine and her faction cohorts testing them with experimental serums, they experience two distinct, intensely gripping and realistic fearscapes, transporting them from the frightening heights of a crumbling Chicago skyscraper to the intimidating challenge of a massive, fast-approaching locomotive.

     

    Created by virtual reality innovators Kite & Lightning with assistance from the film’s VFX team, the experience was built using stereoscopic 4K video of the actors, with effects and environment built in Unreal Engine 4 and then rendered into an immersive 3D/360-degree experience. It was scored by The Divergent Series: Insurgent composer Joe Trapanese.

     

    The Divergent Series: Insurgent, the second installment of the Divergent franchise, will be released in theaters worldwide on 20 March. The first Divergent film grossed nearly $300 million at the global box office, and the Divergent trilogy has sold more than 30 million books around the world.

  • Lionsgate reports 10.9% revenue growth; TV Production profits quadruple: Q2-2015

    Lionsgate reports 10.9% revenue growth; TV Production profits quadruple: Q2-2015

    BENGALURU: Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation/Incorporated (Lionsgate) reported revenue growth of 10.9 per cent to US$ 552.88 million in Q2-2015 (quarter ended 30 September 2014, current quarter) from US$ 498.73 million in the corresponding quarter of last year (Q2-2014).  For HY-2015 (Six month period ended 30 September 2014), Lionsgate revenue fell 6.2 per cent to US$ 1002.26 million from US$ 1068.46 million in HY-2015.

     
    The company’s net income in Q2-2015 after taxes increased 41 times to US$ 20.78 million from US$ 0.51 million in Q2-2014. HY-2015 net income after tax more than quadrupled to US$ 64.04 million as compared to the US$ 14.12 million in HYT-2014.

     
    “We’re pleased that our entire portfolio of businesses contributed to our solid results in the quarter, driven by a particularly strong performance from our television operations,” said Lionsgate chief executive officer Jon Feltheimer.  “It was a quarter in which we extended our franchises into new lines of business, continued to assemble a strong pipeline of new properties with great commercial potential and developed online platforms that enhance our ability to deliver our content directly to the consumer.”

     
    Television Production Segment

     
    Revenue from the company’s Television Production segment more than doubled (increased by 140.7 per cent over Q2-2014) in Q2-2015 to US$ 154.85 million from US$ 64.33 million in Q2-2014. HY-2015 revenue from this segment rose 39.4 per cent to US$ 272.32 million from US$ 195.42 million in HY-2014.

     
    Television production segment’s profit more than quadrupled (increased by 352.3 per cent over Q2-2104) to US$ 13.93 million from US$ 3.08 million in Q2-2014. HY-2015 profit increased 27.7 per cent to US$ 27.63 million from US$ 21.63 million in the corresponding six months of the previous year.

     
    Lionsgate attributes the growth to strong gains in both domestic and international television as well as home entertainment revenue from television production.

     
    Fifty-five episodes and 38.5 hours of domestic television series were delivered in the quarter, including episodes of ‘Manhattan’ , ‘Anger Management ‘, ‘Orange is the New Black’ , ‘Houdini’ , ‘Nashville’ and ‘Mad Men’ , compared to 20 episodes and 11.0 hours in the prior year quarter. Strong international sales of ‘Orange is the New Black’, ‘Nashville’ and ‘Anger Management’ were also reported in the quarter, says the company.

     
    Motion Picture Segment
     

    Lionsgate’s major segment – Motion Picture- reported 8.4 per cent drop in revenue to US$ 398.03 million in Q2-2015 from US$ 343.4 million in the year ago quarter.  HY-2015 revenue from this segment fell 16.4 per cent to US$ 729.94 million as compared to the US$ 873.04 million in HY-2014.

     
    Motion Picture segment reported a 15.4 per cent drop in profit in Q2-2015 to US$ 57.95 million from US$ 68.81 million in Q2-2014. For HY-2015, profit was up 11.4 per cent at US$ 136.68 million as compared to the US$ 122.65 million during the corresponding period of last year.

     
    Within the Motion Picture segment, theatrical revenue declined to US$ 44.9 million with only two wide theatrical releases in the quarter, ‘The Expendables 3’ and ‘Step Up All In’, compared to a prior year quarter that included two wide releases, continuing revenue from the May 2013 release of ‘Now You See Me’ and the record-setting Spanish-language release ‘Instructions Not Included’ from Pantelion Films reveals the company.

     
    The company reveals further that Lionsgate’s home entertainment revenue for the quarter was US$ 164.4 million compared to US$ 209.9 million in the prior year quarter due to strong performances from the Managed Brands slate and ‘Now You See Me’ in the prior year quarter partially offset by the outstanding home entertainment performance of Divergent in the current quarter. Home entertainment revenue from television production increased in the quarter due to gains in digital media revenue.

     
    Bolstered by the pay television window opening for ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ and the free television window opening for ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1’ , television revenue included in the Motion Picture segment more than doubled to US$ 69.4 million in the quarter compared to US$ 34.6 million in the prior year quarter.

     
    International Motion Picture segment revenue (excluding Lionsgate U.K.) for the quarter was US$ 75.6 million compared to $US 88.7 million in the prior year quarter with three wide release titles in worldwide release compared to five in the prior year quarter. Lionsgate UK reported revenue of US$ 37.3 million in the quarter increased 38 per cent compared to the prior year quarter.

     
    Lionsgate is a global entertainment company with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales.

     
    Lionsgate currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Nurse Jackie’, the comedy ‘Anger Management,’ the broadcast network series ‘Nashville’, the syndication success ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ and the critically-acclaimed hit series ‘Orange is the New Black.’

     
    Its feature film business has been fuelled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first two installments of ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise, ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’, the first installment of the ‘Divergent’ franchise, ‘Now You See Me’, ‘John Wick’ , ‘Warm Bodies’ , ‘The Possession’ , ‘Sinister’ , ‘Roadside Attractions’, ‘A Most Wanted Man’, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films’ ‘Addicted’ and Pantelion Films’ Instructions Not Included , the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the US.

     
    Lionsgate says that it handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses.

     
    Epix is an American hybrid premium cable and satellite television network, and subscription video on demand service that is operated by Studio 3 Partners LLC, a joint venture of Viacom (specifically its subdivision Paramount Pictures), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lions Gate Entertainment. Viacom handles operational support for the channel, including marketing and affiliate services, through its Viacom Media Networks division. The television channel features theatrically released motion pictures, documentaries, concert and comedy specials, and boxing and mixed martial arts matches. TVGN is an American cable and satellite channel that is joint venture between CBS Corporation and Lions Gate Entertainment.

     

    Click here to read the earning release of the company

     

  • “Asia is a priority market for Lionsgate”: Kevin Beggs

    “Asia is a priority market for Lionsgate”: Kevin Beggs

    CANNES: Lionsgate is scrutinising the Asian market.  For the company which has been in the channel business in Asia through joint ventures for the past five years, the region now features in the priority market list.

     

    Addressing the audience at MIPCOM 2014, Lionsgate chairman Kevin Beggs said that with its Hong Kong office, the company is also pushing into India. “Shows like Orange is the New Black in China represent a huge revenue growth for us, which before was pretty close to nothing,” he said, adding that while the region is temperamental in a way, it is also very promising.

     

    The theatrical side of Lionsgate is in deep discussions about bringing more films into Asia. “We are looking at developing shows that could find itself in the market now. It’s a priority for the company, but it is also an emerging market for us, that will go a long way at making us strong, and we are focused on it,” informed Beggs.  

     

    Lionsgate, the creators of ‘Orange is the New Black’, ‘Manhattan’, ‘Mad Men’ is a firm believer of having a global look, while making a show. “Both Mad Men and Orange Is The New Black are high quality shows, which we were hoping would be liked by the global audiences. It has exceeded expectations,” he said.

     

    The company keeps its eyes open for finding great partnerships across the globe. “We are talking to people all the time. We are finding the perfect shows that we can co-commission or commission simply for the UK or Germany or France pay market. It is a high priority for us,” informed Beggs.

     

    Lionsgate has auctioned many formats so far in different markets. “We always look for the right thing to adapt,” he added.

     

    Beggs also touched upon the streaming services that have started playing a key role. “While television has ad breaks with 42 or 43 minutes of drama, the streaming services have no advertising obligation. And they have a much longer running time and no breaks. The storytelling of ‘Orange is the New Black’ on Netflix is very different. It takes a lot of digressions on the shows, and because people will re-watch, one has a lot of freedom to tell a story in a much more serialised and novelised way. There is no need for a dramatic ending before a commercial break, so that people can come back. So the pacing is interesting from our standpoint as well,” he said.

     

    He feels that in a scenario like this, the writers have to do a great job and also as producers “we need to understand the audience and what would hold them back. Audiences can watch the whole season of a series in a few hours and would wait for the next season, which would take a year. So this is different,” he informed.

     

    Beggs believes that there will be more streaming players in the future. “It the next two years or so, there will be six to seven new streaming services or may be more,” he stated. Citing the reason for the change, which could see some big players jumping into it, he said that streaming business, on a pay basis, does not need a huge number of subscribers to breakeven.  “Brands will follow where the audiences are,” he concluded.

     

  • Johnny Depp to soon take on the role of famed illusionist Harry Houdini

    Johnny Depp to soon take on the role of famed illusionist Harry Houdini

    MUMBAI: Johnny Depp, the actor famously known for taking on different roles like Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Carribean franchise and the Mad Hatter in the Alice in Wonderland franchise is in negotiations to star as famed magician Harry Houdini in Lionsgate/Summit’s The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero based on the bestselling book by William Kalush and Larry Sloman, reports The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

     

    Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini’s life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and best-selling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy. After years of struggling on the dime museum circuit, Harry Houdini got a break that put him on the front page of a Chicago newspaper. He never looked back. Soon Houdini was performing for royalty, commanding vast sums, and exploring the new power of Hollywood to expand on his legend.

     

    At a time when spy agencies frequently co-opted amateurs, Houdini went to London and developed a relationship with a man who would run MI-5. For the next several years, the world’s most famous magician travelled to Germany and Russia and routinely reported his findings.

     

    After World War I was successfully concluded, Houdini embarked on a battle of his own. He created a group of disguised field operatives to infiltrate the seamy world of fake spirit mediums. In doing so, Houdini triggered the wrath of fanatical spiritualists, led by the esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Death threats became an everyday occurrence, but the group would pose an even greater danger to Houdini’s legacy.

     

    Rigorously researched, and as exciting as a good thriller, The Secret Life of Houdini traces the arc of the master magician’s life from desperate poverty to worldwide legend, initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic. In this remarkable book, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.

     

    Depp is also set to revisit two of the earlier mentioned blockbuster franchisees in the coming year with Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and a sequel to Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass.

     

    History Channel announced late last year that they have given the greenlight to their four-hour Houdini miniseries. Academy Award winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) will play Houdini with Kristen Connolly (House of Cards).

  • Pretty Little Liars writer to pen teen horror film

    Pretty Little Liars writer to pen teen horror film

    MUMBAI: The writer/creator of the blockbuster teenage drama, Pretty Little Liars, I. Marlene King will soon write the screenplay for the motion picture adaptation of an upcoming teen horror novel. Lionsgate, has acquired the film rights to Daniella Vega’s upcoming book, The Merciless with Alloy Entertainment, a television production unit of Warner Bros. Television. Through her chilling debut, Vega aims to deliver blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. According to the official synopsis of the book, by the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

     

    Here is the official synopsis of the book:

     

    Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.

    Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.

    Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .

     

    Kirkus Reviews opines on the book that, “It’ll take a sturdy reader not to keep flinching—or put this exercise in sensation down altogether.”

     

    Lionsgate recently achieved tremendous success with Divergent, the dystopian teen romance starring Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley. The film just grossed a worldwide box office of $260 million including India.

     

    Pretty Little Liars will soon return to Zee Cafe with the fifth season which will deal with the girls, and how they have to adjust to the new world where Alison is in.

  • Final book in Divergent trilogy to be split into two films

    Final book in Divergent trilogy to be split into two films

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate, one of the leading global entertainment company, will produce and release Allegiant, starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James and based on the third book in Veronica Roth’s best-selling Divergent trilogy, as two separate films.

     

    It was announced on 11 April by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger.  The Company will release a total of four Divergent films on its Summit Entertainment label, with the next film, Insurgent, which begins production next month, slated for an American release on 20 March, 2015 and Allegiant – Parts 1 & 2 scheduled for release on 18 March, 2016, and 24 March, 2017, respectively.

     

    The three books ranked one-two-three on the USA Today best-seller list for 2013.

     

    “Veronica Roth brings her captivating story to a masterful conclusion in Allegiant, a rich, action-packed book with material that is ideally suited to two strong and fulfilling movies,” said Friedman and Wachsberger in a statement. “The storytelling arc and world of the characters lend themselves perfectly to two films, a storytelling strategy that has worked very well for us on the two Twilight: Breaking Dawn films and about which we’re tremendously enthusiastic for the two upcoming Mockingjay films of The Hunger Games franchise.”

     

    The first film in the series, Divergent, revolves around the story which takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic version of Chicago, where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Beatrice Prior is warned that she is Divergent and thus will never fit into any one of the factions and soon learns that a sinister plot is brewing in her seemingly perfect society.

     

    After the cataclysmic events in Insurgent, Tris and Four enter a dangerous new world in Allegiant: Parts 1 & 2 that they no longer recognise. As new truths are revealed about the past and future, Tris must face impossible choices about courage, allegiance and love to protect the people closest to her.

     

    Divergent stars Academy Award nominee Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), Theo James (Downton Abbey), Academy Award winner Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road), Ashley Judd (Missing), Jai Courtney (Spartacus), Ray Stevenson (Dexter), Zoe Kravitz (X-Men: First Class), Miles Teller (The Fantastic Four), Maggie Q (Nikita), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars) and Mekhi Phifer (Lie to Me).

     

    Divergent hit Indian theatres on 11 April.

  • Endemol India and Lionsgate collaborate on a project

    Endemol India and Lionsgate collaborate on a project

    MUMBAI: There have been many instances in the past where big production houses collaborated to create cinematic brilliance on the big screen. Now, news comes that Lionsgate has made its way to Indian shores for the first time.

     

    One of the leading global entertainment conglomerate, and Endemol India, operating under the banner ‘Eyedentity Motion Pictures,’ will co-produce the sports drama Warrior in Hindi for the Indian subcontinent.

     

    Warrior (2011), inspired by Lionsgate’s critically-acclaimed North American release of the same name, will be the first film jointly produced by the two companies in India.

     

    “We have got a prestigious title that a lot of people have been vying to get into the country, but we have beaten the competition to it. We have isolated a few other titles as well, but currently we are focused on this acquisition,” said Endemol India CEO Deepak Dhar. “Action-filled and emotionally powerful with themes of forgiveness and the enduring bonds of family, Warrior will be a quality film made with top-of-the-line production values that we believe will strike a responsive chord with Indian audiences.”

     

    The partnership was negotiated by Rohit Tiwari at Morris St. Advisors, Lionsgate’s agents in India.

     

    Commenting on the association with Endemol India, Lionsgate president of worldwide television & digital distribution Jim Packer said, “Lionsgate is committed to identifying opportunities to produce and deliver motion pictures, television programming and other premium content to one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in the world.”

     

    Inspired by the American film of the same name, Warrior tells the story of two estranged brothers and deals with their struggling relationship with each other and their father. The film will be adapted for Indian audiences and re-written for Indian tastes. Its focus on contact sport will be integral to the storyline and will position Warrior as one of the few sports dramas made in India.

     

    Lionsgate COO of international distribution Andrew Kramer added, “Warrior is the kind of locally-produced property based on timeless themes that we expect to resonate with mainstream commercial audiences in India, and our partnership with Endemol’s Eyedentity Motion Pictures will bring valuable local expertise to our venture.”

     

    Lionsgate is a global entertainment company whose roster of mainstream commercial releases includes The Hunger Games and Twilight franchises which have grossed nearly $5 billion combined at the worldwide box office.

     

    Eyedentity Motion Pictures and Lionsgate are currently finalising the cast for the film which is scheduled to go into production in December 2014.

     

    “We are looking for established actors to reprise the role of the two brothers and the role of the father, which has been made iconic in the film,” adds Dhar.

     

    Endemol India has also partnered with Fox Star Studios for its ‘emotional thriller’, Traffic in the recent past. It marks the foray of Endemol into Hindi film industry as its first venture. Traffic is the Hindi adaptation of the critically acclaimed Malayalam blockbuster of the same name and will release in April 2014. The movie showcases a high voltage drama and a battle against time when stakes run high and life is in danger. The film stars Manoj Bajpai and Jimmy Shergill in the lead roles along with Bengali actor Prosenjit, Parambrata (of Kaahani fame), Divya Dutta, Kitu Gidwani and Sachin Khedekar. It will be helmed by the national award winning film maker Rajesh Pillai and adapted screenplay by Suresh Nair; with music by Mithoon.

     

    Eyedentity Motion Pictures (the film arm of Endemol India) marks its film debut in the southern market with the bilingual film (Tamil and Telugu) Anaamika (adaptation of Kahaani) in association with Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Moving Pictures. South actress Nayantara depicts a woman’s search for her missing husband that brings her from US to Hyderabad and is aptly supported by actors Vaibhav Reddy and Pasupathy.

     

    The film is directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Sekhar Kammula which is slated for release in April, 2014. Screenplay adapted by Sekhar Kammula and Yandamoori Veerendranath, music and background score composed by National Award winning music director M.M Keervani.

     

    With such a busy slate and more movies in the pipeline, Endemol India’s Eyedentity Motion Pictures looks set to become a production house to reckon with in the coming years.

  • Lionsgate set to bring Twitter story on TV

    Lionsgate set to bring Twitter story on TV

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate, a leading global entertainment company, has optioned the rights to Nick Bilton’s New York Times best seller Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal, with Allison Shearmur set as executive producer.  Bilton, a columnist and reporter for the New York Times, will write the screenplay and serve as the producer. The announcement was made on 18 December by Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs. 

    Hatching Twitter presents a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the creation of the social media service by four friends and its evolution into worldwide phenomena that has changed the accession of digital communication. Bilton sheds light on the relationships, battles, power grabs and betrayals along the way in one of the most talked-about books of the year.

    Published by Penguin/Portfolio on 5 November, 2013, Hatching Twitter is a New York Times Best Seller that debuted at number 14 on the E-Book Nonfiction list and number five on the Wall Street Journal’s Hardcover Business list.  The readers of the Wall Street Journal named it the Best Book of 2013.  It has also made it to the “best of year” lists in a number of other outlets, including The Economist, Gizmodo, Bookish and Mashable and was an Amazon Best Book of the month in November.

    “Twitter has transformed almost every aspect of our lives from politics to business to friendship, and I can’t think of a more compelling story to adapt for television right now,” said Beggs in a release. “Nick’s book has all the elements of a great drama with its complex characters, high-stakes power struggles and betrayed friendships, and we’re extremely fortunate to have Alli Shearmur onboard as executive producer,” he added. 

    “Hatching Twitter will go behind the scenes of a groundbreaking Silicon Valley company in a way that’s never been captured before on television,” said Shearmur. “The Social Network was a perfect film, and this series will be different, providing a longer view of the work life changes, gamesmanship and personal sacrifices made by a group of individuals who are building a company that will change the way that people communicate,” he added.

    “I am thrilled to work with Allison Shearmur and Lionsgate to adapt my book about the power, betrayal and billions of dollars that swirl through Silicon Valley,” said Bilton.  “The story of Hatching Twitter really speaks to a generation that has searched for friendship through technology and it will be very exciting to see it brought to life on screen,” he said. He further added on his website that, “I’m thrilled to announce that Hatching Twitter has been optioned by Lionsgate and we will be starting development of a TV series.”

    Lionsgate has enjoyed great success with book adaptations, including its blockbuster movie franchises Hunger Games and Twilight, which have collectively grossed more than $4 billion at the box office worldwide. Hunger Games’ Indian release of its latest installment, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has garnered a three-day collection in India of approximately – Rs 21 crore.

  • Robert Knepper cast as Antonius in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – parts 1 & 2′

    Robert Knepper cast as Antonius in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – parts 1 & 2′

    Prison Break’s Robert Knepper will play President Snow’s minister Antonius in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 & 2, Lionsgate announced recently.

     

    Jennifer Lawrence reprises her role as Katniss opposite Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta in the final two franchise sequels. Julianne Moore also joined the cast as Alma Coin along with Natalie Dormer, Stef Dawson, Lily Rabe, Patina Miller, and Wes Chatham and Elden Henson.