lionsgate
OPINION: Too Many Robins Spoil The Soup
What do Warner Bros., Sony, Disney, and Lionsgate have in common nowadays?
Dean Israelite In Talks To Direct POWER RANGERS Film For Lionsgate/Saban
No darkness and grittiness here. Lionsgate is going its own route with a likely PG-13 big screen franchise as intended for the upcoming theatrical reboot of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The film was initially announced late last year with Haim Saban attached to produce the new film along with Brian Casentini, Allison Shearmur and Roberto Orci, based on the early-90’s American Tokusatsu re-working of the longstanding Super Sentai program, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, which centered on a handful of teens gifted with superpowered morphers to fight intergalactic evil.
As of this week, The Wrap reports that the production appears to finally be cicling a director in the form of Project Almanac helmer Dean Israelite, so time will tell if that gets made official. If and when that is so, he will be directing from a script by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz. In the meantime, there’s no cast publicly in place just yet, but there’s also the prospect of veteran series actor and co-star Jason David Frank, best known for wearing several colors among the title heroes throughout the two decades of the show’s existence in the U.S., who’s been notably hustling as best as he can to have a role in the film in some capacity for a while now.
Things are moving slowly, so keep an eye out as things develop!
Lionsgate Announces Promo Partnership With Samsung For MOCKINGJAY: PART 1
I’ve always been unsure about studios promoting events for trailers. In my head at least, it always used to be that the trailers would come and would sell the movie normally prior to whatever box office results would occur. Nowadays, trailers themselves are headlining events at specific venues, whether its online, on a certain T.V. show, or the like.
In my opinion, it feels tedious and a bit overhyped, but that’s the route studios are going for these days. From 6-second trailer-teasers to organized trailer events such as what Lionsgate is now bringing fans of the Hunger Games film franchise in light of San Diego Comic Con.
All I know is I’m already sold and I do still look forward to the trailer. But I don’t own a Galaxy Tab S either…so… oh well. Screw it. 😛
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung), have teamed up on the next installment of the global blockbuster Hunger Games franchise,The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. The collaboration will launch with all fans getting a sneak peek of the film’s first official teaser trailer, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, exclusively on Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab® S ahead of its online release. In a first-of-its-kind experience, fans will have the opportunity to preview the highly-anticipated The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 trailer on the Galaxy Tab S at an exclusive premiere in San Diego during Comic-Con on Friday, July 25. For those outside San Diego, beginning Saturday, July 26, fans can visit participating Samsung Experience Shops within Best Buy locations nationwide throughout the weekend to preview the trailer. Samsung will also provide visitors that view the trailer at Samsung Experience Shops one complimentary ticket to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 when it opens in theaters worldwide on November 21, while supplies last.
Additionally, owners of select Galaxy devices* will have the opportunity to download the all-new Hunger Games Movie Pack App, via Google Play™ for access to exclusive content from The Hunger Games franchise.
“We’re giving our consumers the unique experience to premiere the official trailer of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I on our new Galaxy Tab S,” said Todd Pendleton, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Telecommunications America. “Together with Lionsgate, we will give Samsung Galaxy owners access to experience The Hunger Games franchise like never before.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering on Mockingjay 1 with a company that has the global stature of Samsung and whose innovative technologies touch every aspect of consumers’ lives around the world,” said Paula Kupfer, SVP of Consumer Products & Licensing at Lionsgate. “They are a perfect fit with our franchise, and together we envision unlimited opportunities for expanding the world of The Hunger Games in exciting and visionary ways.
During San Diego Comic-Con:
On Friday, July 25 at 12:00pm PT, cast members from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 will introduce the trailer on the Galaxy Tab S in the Capitol Gallery located in the Samsung Galaxy Experience in San Diego (in the Hard Rock Hotel, corner of 5th and L Streets).
Nationwide at Best Buy:
Fans outside the San Diego area can also get an exclusive preview of the first official The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 trailer beginning on Saturday, July 26 and extending through Sunday, July 27 by visiting Samsung Experience Shops inside select Best Buy locations. While supplies last, visitors will receive one complimentary pass to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 when it opens in theaters November 21.
The Hunger Games Movie Pack App:
As part of the collaboration, The Hunger Games Movie Pack App will be available to download for free on select Samsung devices* beginning July 28, via Google Play. The app will give Galaxy owners access to exclusive Hunger Games content, including scripts, book excerpts, video clips and more.
Galaxy Tab S owners will have the opportunity to download the first two Hunger Games films for free, in addition to receiving all the exclusive content through the app. Samsung will continue to deliver exclusive Hunger Games content to Galaxy owners through the app leading up to the film’s premiere on November 21. *
Samsung, Galaxy, Galaxy S, and Galaxy Tab are all registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
*The Hunger Games Movie Pack App will be available to download for free on the Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 starting July 28.
*Limit to 200,000 downloads per movie. Available through December 31, 2014.
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS Adds Star Trek 3's Roberto Orci As EP And Two New Writers
Writers Zack Stentz (left) and Ashley Miller (right)
Following a press release back in May, the forthcoming production of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers finally found itself new additions to its creative team.
X-Men: First Class scribes Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller have officially been tasked to provide the screenplay for the new film which will also be executive produced by veteran scribe and former partner with Alex Kurtzman, writer Roberto Orci. The new film marks the first major feature-length effort since Saban Comapany launched the American Tokusatsu crossover hit series on TV almost 20 yearz ago, prior to two Hollywood films hit the big screen between 1995 and 1997.
The new film is part of a newly announced joint venture between Lionsgate and Saban Brands, which grants the film a reboot to attract audiences who have contributed to the major successes of the former, with films such as the Hunger Games and Divergent film franchises, both which are currently in production with releases pending. Official updates are still developing pertaining to who will star in the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reboot, so stay tuned for more information.
In the meantime, Stentz and Miller ate currently providing their services on other projects, including the screenplay for Top Gun 2 with producer Jerry Bruckheimer while Orci is still on deck to direct Star Trek 3 for a 2016 release upon greenlight.
H/T: THR
WARRIOR Prepares A Hindi Remake With Lionsgate
The martial arts action genre continues to play heavily in India’s highly productive market despite anyone’s notice of these films beyond their borders. So, it still a delightful surprise to see such films come about, and much to the chagrin of some critics, that includes remakes which are pretty typical in Indian cinema as directors sometimes remake their own films or that of other directors, local or abroad.
In this instance, we take the name Gavin O’Connor whose 2011 feature-length mixed martial arts drama, Warrior, was a critical hit, but flopped in the U.S.. This week, that film falls at at the feet of Bollywood writer and director Karan Malhotra for the Hindi remake with lead actor Sidharth Malhotra (pictured above) and potential addition, action hero Akshay Kumar respectively portraying the roles previously played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton.
The original film’s distributors at Lionsgate are producing the remake with Endemol India to retell the story that previously featured fight choreography by J.J. Perry (Haywire, The Expendables 3) and centered on Hardy and Edgerton as two brothers, one a former Marine and the other a former UFC fighter-turned-schoolteacher, on opposite ends of a three-way family rift stemmimg from their abusive childhood at the behest of their father, played by Nick Nolte. Driven by their own motives, the two brothers eventually find themselves competing in the same mixed martial arts tournament with the grand prize of 5 million dollars to the winner.
In my opinion, not a lot of people are very familiar with Indian action cinema as it gets overlooked by a lot of other films from Hollywood, Hong Kong and the like. But with Lionsgate helping out the project, we’ll see how much publicity this one gets in the states. Granted it might gain its footing mostly with filmgoers familiar with Bollywood cinema, but it could go as far as the film festival circuit in North America much like Vidyut Jammwal’s 2013 hit, Commando, and grow its audience from there. But, time will tell.
In the meantime, Malhotra is currently expected to dazzle audiences at home with director Mohit Suri’s latest romantic murder thriller, Ek Villain, which releases natively on June 27. Check out the trailer below!
H/T: Bollywood Hungama
INSURGENT Kicks Off In Atlanta!
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) announced today that principal photography has commenced in Atlanta on the feature film adaptation of INSURGENT, the second installment of the blockbuster DIVERGENT action adventure franchise, starring Golden Globe® nominated Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet. Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer joins returning cast members Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q and Mekhi Phifer. Based on author Veronica Roth’s New York Times best seller, the film is being directed by Robert Schwentke from a screenplay by Brian Duffield and Akiva Goldsman. Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing the film through their Red Wagon Entertainment banner along with Pouya Shahbazian. Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman are executive producing through their Mandeville Films banner along with Neil Burger and Barry Waldman. Lionsgate will release INSURGENT theatrically in North America through its Summit Entertainment label on Friday, March 20, 2015.
WWE And Lionsgate Launch New Film Initiative With VENDETTA
SANTA MONICA, Calif. & STAMFORD, Conn., May 22, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Lionsgate, the premier next generation global content leader, and WWE Studios are extending their longstanding partnership to encompass six new action films which will serve as starring vehicles for WWE Superstars as well as incubators for new and emerging talent, the two companies announced today.
RocketJump Celebrates 1 Billion Views With A Video Update
Visionary online filmmaker Freddie Wong and the guys over at RocketJump have made a huge name for themselves over the last four years, namely known for showcasing creative, VFX-heavy and spectacular shortfilms that are full of stylish action. In 2014, their efforts have lended them over a billion views on their YouTube channel, and the group is looking toward bigger goals in the years ahead.
How big? Well, for starters, RocketJump announced a partnership with Lionsgate in a deal last month which benefits everyone involved, but essentially provides RocketJump the means to utilize their resources to create and promote their content more conveniently and expansively. And on Monday, Wong shared a video on the channel to explain the future of RocketJump, the future of its online content, plans to work on feature films, and a lot more.
I’ve shared some of Wong‘s work on my site having only learned of him last year. He’s collaborated with some really amazing people and with Lionsgate by their side, film fans alike can look forward to RocketJump as the next level of innovate action filmmaking. And fans of Wong‘s longstanding successful webseries, Video Game High School will definitely have something to look forward to.
Check out the announcement video below!
Lionsgate And Saban Team Up For A New POWER RANGERS Movie
SANTA MONICA, CA, May 7, 2014 – Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, and Saban Brands, a strategic brand management company that acquires and builds global consumer brands, are partnering to develop and produce an original live action feature film based on the iconic Power Rangers property, it was announced today by creator of Power Rangers Haim Saban and Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. The announcement marks another step in Lionsgate’s continued commitment to build a broad portfolio of branded properties and franchises with global appeal.
The New Trailer For POWER RANGERS: CLASH OF THE RED RANGERS – THE MOVIE
The 45-minute feature is now available for pre-order at Amazon and will be available on DVD and Digital Download on March 5th.