Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the premier next generation global content
leader, and WWE Studios (NYSE: WWE) 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.
The popular directing team of Jen and Sylvia Soska (SEE NO EVIL 2,
AMERICAN MARY) will return to the WWE Studios and Lionsgate fold to
direct VENDETTA, the first installment of the “Action Six-Pack” series,
which will commence photography this summer and feature WWE Superstar Big
Show®. The second installment of the "Six-Pack" series, which is
currently in development, will commence photography this fall. WWE
Studios will leverage its extensive multi-platform reach to promote each
film.
Written by Justin Shady, VENDETTA centers on a hard-nosed detective who
deliberately commits a crime to get thrown in prison, allowing him the
chance to seek vengeance upon the criminal serving a life sentence for
having brutally murdered the detective's wife.
“This collection of six high octane films will not only excite our fans,
but provide a stage for emerging and talented filmmakers like the Soska
Sisters,” said Michael Luisi, WWE Studios President. He added, “We
couldn’t have a better partner in this enterprise than Steve Beeks and
the team at Lionsgate, who have been great teammates and are proven
distributors of this genre.”
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Michael and his WWE team on a series
of modestly-budgeted action films that extend our longstanding and
successful partnership,” said Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer and
Motion Picture Group President Steve Beeks. “We have a strong track
record in this genre, and we’re delighted to team with the WWE
juggernaut to deliver action-packed event films that will resonate with
their global fan base and beyond.”
WWE Studios and Lionsgate previously collaborated on THE CONDEMNED and
SEE NO EVIL, as well as the upcoming 2014 releases LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS
and SEE NO EVIL 2. Bradley Buchanan, SVP of Business Affairs, negotiated
the deal on behalf of WWE Studios and Wendy Jaffe negotiated the deal on
behalf of Lionsgate.
About WWE Studios
WWE Studios develops and produces feature films, as well as television
and digital content. Its diverse slate is released theatrically, direct
to home, and/or across digital platforms, and is co-produced &
distributed through partnerships with premiere global entertainment
companies including Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., 20th
Century Fox and Lionsgate. WWE’s film division, led by President Michael
Luisi, is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA.
Recent films from WWE Studios include The Call with Halle
Berry and WWE Superstar David Otunga®, Oculus directed by
Mike Flanagan starring Karen Gillan and Katee Sackhoff, Dead
Man Down with Colin Farrell and WWE Superstar Wade Barrett®,
No One Lives starring Luke Evans and WWE Superstar Brodus Clay™, and Scooby-Doo!
WrestleMania Mystery, which paired WWE Superstars with Scooby
and the gang.
Upcoming films from WWE Studios include Term Life starring
Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, and Hailee Steinfeld in a Universal Pictures
release, Incarnate starring Aaron Eckhart and featuring WWE
Superstar Mark Henry® in a Universal Pictures release of a Blumhouse
production, The Flintstones which joins Fred, Barney and the
whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas
in a Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release, Jingle All the Way 2 starring
Larry The Cable Guy and WWE Superstar Santino Marella® in a Fox Home
Entertainment release, and Leprechaun: Origins directed by Zach
Lipovsky and starring WWE Superstar Hornswoggle® in a Lionsgate release.
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media
organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company
consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original
content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family
friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view,
digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in
more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650
million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford,
Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City,
Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and
corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses,
slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the
exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks,
logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking
statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and
uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without
limitation, risks relating to entering into, maintaining and renewing
key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming and
our new network distribution agreements; risks relating to the launch
and maintenance of our new network; the need for continually developing
creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key
performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the
markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands,
media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to
regulatory matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive and
fragmented nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with
international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual
property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others;
the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding
events; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our
large live events, both domestically and internationally; risks relating
to our film business; risks relating to new businesses and strategic
investments; risks relating to our computer systems and online
operations; risks relating to general economic conditions and our
exposure to bad debt risk; risks relating to litigation; risks relating
to market expectations for our financial performance; risks relating to
our revolving credit facility; risks relating to the large number of
shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and
the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the
perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public
float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to
time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or
anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of
factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and
projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of
capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal
restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and
competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors
may consider relevant.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and
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 34
television shows on 22 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 network
series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams
Show and the critically-acclaimed series Orange is the New Black.
Its feature film business has been fueled 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, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Warm Bodies, The
Expendables 2, The Possession, Sinister, Roadside
Attractions' Mud and Pantelion Films' breakout hit Instructions
Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever
released in the U.S.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box
office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate
handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000
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. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain
synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets
around the world.
www.lionsgate.com
Copyright Business Wire 2014