LEONINE Studios acquires blockbuster feature film slate from U.S. major Lionsgate for Germany and Austria
- The deal includes high-profile titles such as JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4, BALLERINA, ABOUT MY FATHER, SHADOW FORCE and the new comedy from director Adele Lim
Munich/Los Angeles, February 1, 2022 – LEONINE Studios, one of Germany’s leading media companies, and U.S. major Lionsgate will extend their successful collaboration as LEONINE Studios has secured all rights to a premium feature film slate for Germany and Austria.
Fred Kogel, CEO of LEONINE Studios, comments on the deal: "We are thrilled to extend our strong partnership with our friends at Lionsgate with this tremendous feature film slate. LEONINE Studios stands for premium content. The JOHN WICK films have redefined the action genre and JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 and the spin-off film BALLERINA will continue this success story. All the films we release in cooperation with Lionsgate are made for the big screen. We’re delighted to be able to offer this excellent new slate of high-profile titles to both audiences and our licensing partners alike."
Helen Lee-Kim, President of International at Lionsgate, added: "Fred and his team at LEONINE have done an amazing job building a world-class content and distribution studio. We are so proud to continue strengthening our partnership with this dynamic, diverse and strong slate of films."
The slate includes Chad Stahelski's iconic action franchise JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 with superstar Keanu Reeves ("John Wick" and "Matrix" franchises) reprising his legendary role, the multilayered franchise spin-off BALLERINA, headed by Hollywood’s new shooting star Ana de Armas (“No Time To Die”, “Knives Out”), the culture-clash comedy ABOUT MY FATHER from popular stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco (“The Irishman”, “Green Book”) starring opposite two-time Academy Award®-winner Robert De Niro (“The Irishman”, “Meet The Parents”), the action thriller SHADOW FORCE with Kerry Washington (“Django Unchained”, “Little Fires Everywhere”), the untitled new comedy from director Adele Lim starring Tony Award and Grammy Award®-nominated actress Ashley Park ("Emily in Paris"), the gamer comedy 1UP with Ruby Rose ("Batwoman", "The Meg", "Pitch Perfect 3"), and the horror-thriller DEAR DAVID, centering on the urban legend that had its origins on the Twitter channel of Adam Ellis, starring Augustus Prew ("The Morning Show") in the lead role.
About the titles:
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 continues the successful iconic action franchise. With JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM LEONINE Studios reached more than 1.2 million admissions in German theaters.
Director: Chad Stahelski (“John Wick“ franchise)
Writers: Shay Hatten (“John Wick: Chapter 3“, “Army of the Dead“), Michael Finch (“Predators“, “Hitman: Agent 47“)
Starring: Keanu Reeves (“John Wick“ and “Matrix“ franchise), Donnie Yen (“Mulan“, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story“, “Ip Man” franchise, “xXx: Return Of Xander Cage”), Bill Skarsgård (“It” franchise, “Deadpool 2”, “Atomic Blonde”), Laurence Fishburne (“John Wick” and “Matrix” franchise, “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Hiroyuki Sanada (“Mortal Kombat”, “Army of the Dead”, “Avengers: Endgame”), Shamier Anderson (“Stowaway”, “City of Lies”), Lance Reddick (“John Wick” franchise, “Godzilla vs. Kong”, “Angel Has Fallen”), Rina Sawayama (“Turn Up Charlie”), Scott Adkins (“Doctor Strange”, “Zero Dark Thirty”, “The Bourne Ultimatum”), Natalia Tena (“The Mandalorian”, “Game of Thrones”, “Harry Potter” franchise), Marko Zaror (“Alita: Battle Angel”, “From Dusk Till Dawn” series), Ian McShane (“John Wick” franchise, “Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides”)
Producers: Basil Iwanyk (“John Wick“ franchise, “Sicario“), Erica Lee (“John Wick“ franchise), Chad Stahelski (“John Wick“ franchise)
BALLERINA: The John Wick Universe expands to tell a whole new story.
Director: Len Wiseman (“Underworld“, “Underworld: Evolution“, “Live Free or Die Hard”)
Writer: Shay Hatten (“John Wick: Chapter 3“, “Army of the Dead“)
Starring: Ana de Armas (“No Time To Die”, “Knives Out”, “Blade Runner 2049”)
Producers: Basil Iwanyk (“John Wick“ franchise, “Sicario“), Erica Lee (“John Wick“ franchise), Chad Stahelski (“John Wick“ franchise)
ABOUT MY FATHER: When Sebastian (Maniscalco) tells his old-school Italian father Salvo (De Niro) that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, Salvo insists on crashing a weekend with her tony parents. Though cultures clash and it seems that the two families have nothing in common, by the end of the weekend, they’ll be “la famiglia.”
Director: Laura Terruso (“Work It”)
Writers: Austen Earl (“Happy Together”), Sebastian Maniscalco
Starring: Sebastian Maniscalco (“The Irishman”, “Green Book”), two-time Oscar®-winner Robert De Niro (“The Irishman”, “The Intern”, “Meet The Parents” franchise), Leslie Bibb (“Iron Man”, “Law Abiding Citizen”, “Love Life”), Anders Holm (“The Intern”, “How to Be Single”, “Game Over, Man!”, “Workaholics”), David Rasche (“Men in Black 3”, “Burn After Reading”), Brett Dier (“Jane the Virgin”), Kim Cattrall (“Sex and the City” franchise)
Producers: Chris Weitz (“The Farewell“, “A Single Man”, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”, “American Pie”), Paul Weitz (“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”), Andrew Miano (“The Farewell”, “A Single Man”)
SHADOW FORCE: Kyrah (Washington) and David were once the leaders of a multinational, special forces group called Shadow Force. They broke the rules by falling in love, and in order to protect their son, they go underground. With a large bounty on their heads, and the vengeful Shadow Force hot on their trail, one family’s fight becomes all-out war.
Writers: Leon Chills (“Spinning Out”), Joe Carnahan (“Bad Boys For Life”, “Death Wish”, “The Grey”, “The A-Team”)
Starring: Kerry Washington (“Django Unchained”, “Little Fires Everywhere”, “Scandal”)
Producers: Stephen “Dr.” Love (“Notes From A Young Black Chef”), Kerry Washington (“Scandal”)
From the producers of NEIGHBORS comes the new feature film by director Adele Lim. An epic journey of four best friends traveling through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. Along the way, their hilarious experience will become one of bonding, friendship, belonging, and no-holds-barred wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.
Director: Adele Lim
Writers: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (“Family Guy”), Teresa Hsiao (“Family Guy”, “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens”), Adele Lim (“Raya and the Last Dragon”, “Crazy Rich Asians”)
Starring: Tony- and Grammy Award® nominee Ashley Park (“Emily in Paris”), Sherry Cola (“Good Trouble”, “I Love Dick”), Stephanie Hsu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens”), stand-up comedian Sabrina Wu, Desmond Chiam (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”), Ronny Chieng (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, “Godzilla vs. Kong”, “Crazy Rich Asians”)
Producers: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver (“Neighbors” franchise, “Good Boys”, “Blockers”, “This Is The End”)
1UP is a fun, outrageous comedy in which a reluctant coach (Rose) and her star player (Berelc) lead a team of female gamer misfits in a Pitch Perfect-style competition, where they face off against their male rivals. With their reputations and scholarships on the line, they prove that getting a life is more than a game.
Director: Kyle Newman (“Barely Lethal”, “Fanboys”)
Writer: Julia Yorks
Starring: Paris Berelc (“The Crew”, “Alexa and Katie”, “Hubie Halloween”, “Tall Girl”), Ruby Rose (“Batwoman”, “The Meg”, “Pitch Perfect 3”, “John Wick: Chapter 2”, “Orange Is the New Black”), Taylor Zakhar Perez (“The Kissing Booth 2 & 3”), Hari Nef (“You”, “Assassination Nation”, “Transparent”), Nicholas Coombe (“Dora and the Lost City of Gold”, “Midnight Sun”), D.J. Mausner (“Insecure”), Aviva Mongillo (“Long Shot”, “Workin’ Moms”), Madison Baines, Lolita Milena
Producers: Richard Alan Reid, Jason Moring (“The Doorman”), Michael Philip (“The Doorman”, “Disturbing The Peace”)
Based on a true story and the first Twitter urban legend, DEAR DAVID tells the story of Adam Ellis, a former BuzzFeed employee and social media content creator who becomes haunted by the ghost of a boy possessed by a demonic entity.
Director: John McPhail (“Anna and the Apocalypse”)
Writer: Mike van Waes (“The Crooked Man”, “Lilo & Stitch”)
Starring: Augustus Prew (“The Morning Show”, “High-Rise”, “Kick-Ass 2”, “Charlie St. Cloud”)
Producers: Richard Alan Reid, Jason Moring (“The Doorman”), Michael Philip (“The Doorman”, “Disturbing The Peace”), Naysun Alae-Carew (“Anna and the Apocalypse”)
About LEONINE Studios:
LEONINE Studios is a leading independent German content house focusing on inspiring viewers with premium content and being a reliable partner for creative talents.
With its three divisions LEONINE Production, LEONINE Distribution and LEONINE Licensing, the media company covers the entire value chain of the content business. LEONINE Studios produces feature films, series, TV shows, entertainment formats, infotainment formats, content for social media channels, and co-produces national and international fiction formats. The LEONINE Studios production companies – i&u TV, Odeon Entertainment, Odeon Fiction, SEO Entertainment, W&B Television and Wiedemann & Berg Film – are led by award-winning producers with long-term ties to outstanding creative talents. LEONINE Studios distributes its content in theaters, on digital services, in home entertainment and on TV channels. In this context, the company also draws on its market-leading license library which includes programs in all formats and genres. LEONINE Studios’ independence assures that all players in the content sector can be provided with premium content – digital streaming providers, pay TV partners as well as public and private television broadcasters.
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 17,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.
Press Contact LEONINE Studios:
Henriette Gutmann
Head of Corporate Communication & Sales Marketing
Tel. +49 (0)89 999513 - 0
Email: communication@leoninestudios.com
Alina Hülsken
Manager Public Relations
Tel. +49 (0)89 999513 - 0
Email: communication@leoninestudios.com
LEONINE Holding GmbH • Taunusstr. 21 • 80807 München • Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung • Sitz der Gesellschaft: München • Amtsgericht München HRB 246 195 • Geschäftsführer: Fred Kogel (Vorsitzender), Quirin Berg, Dr. Markus Frerker, Joachim Scheuenpflug, Max Wiedemann, Bernhard zu Castell