LIONSGATE AND NEW REGENCY CREATE GLOBAL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION ALLIANCE
Lionsgate to Internationally Distribute New Regency Blockbusters Including The Revenant, The Big Short, Birdman and Gone Girl to International Television & Digital Platforms
Studios Also Partner on Television Production Joint Venture to Create Premium Scripted Series
LOS ANGELES and MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, and New Regency, a diversified film and television production company with one of the leading film brands in the world, have formed a multi-faceted production and distribution agreement to capitalize on content opportunities in the global marketplace, it was announced today by New Regency Founder and Chairman Arnon Milchan and Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer.
The long-term agreements reflect the continued growth of Lionsgate's international library and worldwide television business, provide New Regency with access to Lionsgate's television programming expertise and global distribution infrastructure and enable the two studios to also develop and co-produce A-list talent-driven premium scripted series for global audiences.
The alliance, unveiled on the opening day of NATPE, includes a global pact under which Lionsgate Television will distribute New Regency's new theatrical film releases and prestigious library of critically-acclaimed blockbusters on television and digital platforms around the world outside the U.S. and Canada following their pay television debut.
The global distribution pact encompasses New Regency's biggest hits, including: the multiple Academy Award®-nominated films The Revenant, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy and The Big Short, starring Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling; the 2015 Academy Award®-winning Best Picture Birdman; and David Fincher's box office smash Gone Girl, which grossed nearly $400 million worldwide. New Regency's prestigious library of acclaimed blockbusters also includes such iconic titles as Fight Club, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Under Siege, JFK, Natural Born Killers and The Client.
The arrangement also includes a television production joint venture under which the two studios will partner in creating premium scripted series for global audiences, capitalizing on the A-list talent relationships that New Regency has established in its film business as well as its deep pipeline of intellectual property. The partnership also allows for the joint venture to develop projects from Lionsgate's vast and esteemed library. Lionsgate will distribute the new series in all media worldwide. The partnership is another milestone in Lionsgate's continued expansion of its worldwide television operations and is also designed to enhance the growth of New Regency's television slate alongside its globally-renowned film business.
"We're thrilled to join forces with Arnon and the New Regency team in a partnership designed to continue the mutual growth of our content businesses around the world," said Feltheimer. "New Regency's library of award-winning blockbusters is a tremendous addition to our international television pipeline, and our alliance also creates exciting opportunities to produce premium scripted content drawn from a tremendous pool of world-class intellectual property."
"Jon Feltheimer and his team have led Lionsgate's evolution into a major creative force in the global marketplace, and we're delighted to tap into their international infrastructure as we continue to grow our business around the world," said Milchan. "We're also excited by the opportunity to draw upon their programming expertise as we continue to build our television slate, utilizing the same mix of singular creative voices, A-list stars and blockbuster properties that have driven the success of our motion picture business."
"We're proud to distribute a library of iconic blockbusters that has grossed billions of dollars at the international box office," said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution Jim Packer. "Led by The Revenant and The Big Short, their current and upcoming slate gives every indication of building on that momentum and creating fresh opportunities for ground-breaking distribution deals with nearly every kind of major platform."
"We're thrilled to partner with Arnon and his New Regency team to continue building our position as a leading supplier of platform-defining scripted series to broadcast, cable and digital networks around the world," added Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. "New Regency brings to our alliance some of the premier talent relationships in the business and an incredible pipeline of branded intellectual property to develop into scripted series for a global audience."