The Shoe Fits for Lionsgate and Animated Cinderella Spoof HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER

The Shoe Fits for Lionsgate and Animated Cinderella Spoof HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER

Studio Acquires U.S. and Canadian Rights to CGI Family Feature Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sigourney Weaver, Freddie Prinze Jr., George Carlin, Andy Dick, Wallace Shawn

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) Toronto, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, announced today its acquisition of U.S. and Canadian rights to the computer- animated family comedy HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER, directed by Paul J. Bolger and written by Robert Moreland. The film was produced by John H. Williams (Oscar(R)-winning Shrek), BAF Berlin Animation Film and BFC Berliner Film Companie, co-executive produced by Ralph Kamp and Louise Goodsill of Odyssey Entertainment, and executive produced by Rainer Soehnlein, CEO of BFC Berliner Film Companie. It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sigourney Weaver, Freddie Prinze Jr., George Carlin, Wallace Shawn, and Andy Dick. The announcement was made jointly by Lionsgate President of Theatrical Films Tom Ortenberg and Executive Vice President of Lionsgate Family Entertainment Ken Katsumoto.

"HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER fractures a classic fairy tale in a way that is fresh, funny and immensely entertaining," said Ortenberg. "When a film's Cinderella and Evil Stepmother characters are played by action heroines Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sigourney Weaver, you know you're in for a different kind of enchantment. We think audiences of all ages will get a big kick out of HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER."

Noted Katsumoto, "HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER epitomizes the kind of quality films that Lionsgate seeks to bring to families everywhere. It's bursting with clever ideas, great jokes and delightful characters, and the animation is first-rate. Paul J. Bolger, Robert Moreland and an inspired cast have made a film that's sure to be a hit with the whole family."

"We are thrilled that Lionsgate will be bringing HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER to the U.S. and Canada," said co-executive producer Kamp. "We couldn't have found a better home for our movie, and are looking forward to a great relationship with Lionsgate and a big box office success."

In the spirit of HOODWINKED, HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER is a satirical retelling of the classic Cinderella story. It is set in Fairy Tale Land, where the age-old balance between good and evil has been thrown out of whack. Commanded by Frieda, Cinderella's power-mad stepmother, an unholy alliance of bad guys is taking on the good guys. When Cinderella (aka Ella) sees her own fairy tale take a radical left turn, she sheds her damsel-in-distress trappings to lead the resistance.

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Wayne Levin, EVP, Corporate Operations, and head of Lionsgate's business and legal affairs, Ken Katsumoto, and Wendy Jaffe, Senior Vice President Legal & Business Affairs, Acquisitions; by Ralph Kamp and Dr. Volker Baas of BAF Berlin Animation Film, on behalf of the filmmakers.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio. Fresh off the number one box office hits SAW II, HOSTEL and MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION and the Best Picture Academy Award(R)-winning CRASH, Lionsgate is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 5,000 titles is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

http://www.lionsgate.com/

For further information, contact:

Sarah Greenberg
310-255-3856
sgreenberg@lionsgate.com

For corporate inquiries, please contact:

Peter D. Wilkes
pwilkes@lionsgate.com
310-255-372

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Media: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856,
sgreenberg@lionsgate.com, corporate inquiries: Peter D. Wilkes,
+1-310-255-3726, pwilkes@lionsgate.com

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

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