MGM Feeds North American Theatrical Pipeline With New Titles

MGM Feeds North American Theatrical Pipeline With New Titles

'Bobby,' 'Miss Potter,' and 'The Last Legion' on Tap for 2006-2007

LOS ANGELES, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) Chief Operating Officer Rick Sands, in continuing the studio's momentum in revitalizing its domestic theatrical distribution operations, has today announced three new theatrical releases.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011119/MGMLOGO )

"Our biggest commitment to date in the creation of content stems from our earlier theatrical distribution announcement," said Sands in announcing the Studio's latest theatrical projects. "Theatrical will always be an important part of our business in that it feeds all of the various distribution platforms, from video on demand and pay television, to DVD and eventually broadband as well as cable and free terrestrial broadcast television. By continuing to feed the domestic theatrical distribution pipeline, we are assured of growing and extending the valuable MGM brand while remaining competitive in today's rapid-fire media environment."

Clark Woods, President, Domestic Theatrical at MGM, added: "MGM has a full distribution and marketing team in place with some of the most talented executives in the business. We are well equipped to handle these wide theatrical releases as well as the bigger holiday titles. We are pleased to be coming to the market with such a diverse and exciting slate of films."

The new MGM theatrical releases for 2006-2007 from The Weinstein Company, which will be continuing to oversee the marketing for its titles, include:

"Bobby," slated for release on November 22, 2006 for the Thanksgiving holiday, revisits the night Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968. The film, which takes place against the backdrop of the cultural issues gripping the country at the time, is a fascinating and entertaining account that chronicles the intertwining lives of those at the hotel that evening. This ensemble drama was written and directed by Emilio Estevez and stars Estevez, Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Harry Belafonte, Laurence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Helen Hunt, Martin Sheen, Freddy Rodriguez, Nick Cannon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joy Bryant, Svetlana Metkina, Kip Pardue, David Krumholtz, Shia LaBeouf, Jacob Vargas, Brian Geraghty, Joshua Jackson and Christian Slater. Michel Litvak's Bold Films, Edward Bass and Holly Wiersma produced the film, which was executive produced by Gary Michael Walters and Dan Grodnik.

"Miss Potter," slated for release on December 29, 2006, explores the life of Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger), the author of the beloved and best-selling children's classic "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and her struggle to overcome a domineering and unsupportive mother and the chauvinism of Victorian England in an effort to become a published author. The charismatic and talented Academy Award(R) winning actress Renee Zellweger ("Cinderella Man," "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason") stars in the biopic directed by Chris Noonan ("Babe"). Kirschner Productions' David Kirschner and Corey Sienega produced "Miss Potter" alongside Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer and David Thwaites of Phoenix Pictures. Zellweger executive produced the film and stars in it alongside Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Barbara Flynn, Bill Paterson and Lloyd Owen.

On tap for release in 2007 will be "The Last Legion."

"The Last Legion," based on Valerio Massimo Mandredi's novel of the same name, is an action packed adventure drama set against the fall of Rome that tells the story of its last emperor, the young Romulus Augustus, who flees the city and all that he loves: his family, his home, and an empire that once stood for truth and honor, to lead a legion of supporters on a perilous voyage to Britain. The film, adapted by David Leland, is directed by Doug Lefler, produced by Martha and Dino De Laurentiis and stars Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, James Cosmo, Rupert Friend and Iain Glen.

"We are proud to be in business with MGM and to be marketing these highly anticipated and exciting titles to audiences around the country," said Steve Bunnell, chairman of domestic distribution for The Weinstein Company.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, which is comprised of more than 4,000 titles. Operating units including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. Under the supervision of new Chairman and CEO Harry Sloan, MGM is revitalizing all areas of the company. As a result, the studio is now being positioned as an independent, vertically integrated multi-media company. MGM ownership is currently as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

CONTACT: Jeff Pryor
Executive Vice President/Corporate Communications
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
e. jpryor@mgm.com; o. 310-449-3446

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011119/MGMLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

CONTACT: Jeff Pryor, Executive Vice President/Corporate Communications
of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., +1-310-449-3446, jpryor@mgm.com

Web site: http://www.mgm.com/

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