Lionsgate Renews Vows With Tyler Perry, Acquires Rights to His Next Two Films, WHY DID I GET MARRIED and A JAZZ MAN'S BLUES

Lionsgate Renews Vows With Tyler Perry, Acquires Rights to His Next Two Films, WHY DID I GET MARRIED and A JAZZ MAN'S BLUES

Fourth Film in Tyler Perry Franchise, WHY DID I GET MARRIED, Planned for February 2008 Release

A JAZZ MAN'S BLUES, Period Drama Set in Postwar South, to Follow

Studio's Third Film in Tyler Perry Franchise, DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS, to Have Gala World Premiere on February 3, 2007 at New Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, has renewed its commitment to its Tyler Perry franchise, acquiring the rights to the writer/director/actor/producer's next two films, WHY DID I GET MARRIED and A JAZZ MAN'S BLUES. These films will mark the fourth and fifth motion pictures in Lionsgate's Tyler Perry franchise. Yet another milestone in Perry's extraordinary career will take place on February 3, 2007, when the gala world premiere of his new film, DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS, takes place at the newly launched Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. The announcement was made by Lionsgate President of Film Production Michael Paseornek. Perry is represented by the William Morris Agency and Ziffren Brittenham.

Said Paseornek, "We're very proud to continue our association with Tyler Perry, one of the most unique, dynamic and successful talents at work today. Tyler has achieved so much in such a short period of time, and we look forward to celebrating yet more successes with him."

Said Perry, "Lionsgate is my family, the home for all my movies and videos. And they've given me exactly what you want in a home: a supportive environment and the room to grow."

Perry's latest achievement is the historic launch of a 60,000 square foot, full service Atlanta-based production and editing facility called Tyler Perry Studios (TPS). On February 3, 2007, the studio will host the gala world premiere of DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS, which opens nationwide on February 14, 2007. TPS marks the first time that an independent studio of this size has opened in the state of Georgia. The state-of the art facility currently houses three sound stages, as well as a 300 seat screening room and theater, and plans for a post production facility are in the works. Perry shot DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS at the studio, and the first ten episodes of his new sitcom "House of Payne," which is being syndicated by Lionsgate's recently-acquired Debmar-Mercury syndication company.

The opening of TPS caps a watershed year for Perry, which included the release of his second #1 film, MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION, the follow-up to 2005's DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN. MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION, which marked Perry's directorial debut, held the top box office spot for two weeks and went on to gross over $63 million domestically. In April, Perry's first book, Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Life and Love, debuted at #1 on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list and remained in the Top 10 for twelve weeks. Perry also conquered television as he created his first series, writing, producing and directing ten episodes of the first-run syndicated sitcom "House of Payne." A tremendous success when it premiered in ten major markets this summer, "House of Payne" will debut in national syndication in the fall of 2007 with 100 episodes already ordered by TBS and Fox.

SYNOPSIS -- WHY DID I GET MARRIED

Perry adapts his sensational stage play about love, faith, and the joys -- and trials -- of matrimony. When a sexy young temptress threatens an already troubled marriage, a close-knit family rallies to examine their own marriages. In the process, they rediscover the precious reason why the one they have is the one they want forever.

SYNOPSIS -- A JAZZ MAN'S BLUES

In the post-World War II South, a young black jazz singer leaves his rural town in search of fame. During his absence, it's discovered that he had an affair with a local married woman. But all is not as it seems: the woman is actually his former lover and a light skinned black who has been passing as white. Her racist husband has no idea about her color or her past, and organizes the local Klan chapter to hunt down the jazz singer. Now a successful performer in Chicago, the jazz singer finds himself drawn back South to help save his mother's ailing nightclub and face his accusers.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award(R) for CRASH, generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of prime time television series for fiscal 2007. It 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 10,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, 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 world.

ABOUT TYLER PERRY

Since making his film debut in 2005 with Lionsgate's DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN, Tyler Perry has become a multimedia phenomenon with a roster of hugely successful film, stage, television, and book projects. Perry's first two films both debuted at number one at the North American box office, and the combined sales of his nine DVDs have surpassed 11 million units. Perry began his career as a playwright with "I Know I've Been Changed" in 1992; six years and many failed productions later, the play became an overnight success after what was to have been its final performance ever. Perry's eight produced plays to date have grossed over $150 million in ticket sales and set box office records in major venues across the country, including the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and the Beacon Theater in New York. Perry's first book, Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Life and Love debuted at #1 on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list the week of April 30, 2006, and was named both "Book of the Year" and "Humor Book of the Year" at the October 2006 Quill Book Awards.

www.lionsgate.com

For further information, contact:

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

Jodie Magid
212-386-6885
jmagid@lionsgate.com

For corporate inquiries, please contact:

Peter D. Wilkes
pwilkes@lionsgate.com
310-255-3726

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: Jsandler@lionsgate.com

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, sgreenberg@lionsgate.com, or
Jodie Magid, +1-212-386-6885, jmagid@lionsgate.com, or corporate inquiries,
Peter D. Wilkes, +1-310-255-3726, pwilkes@lionsgate.com, all of Lionsgate

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

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