XOXO, LIONSGATE Thriller Reunites BLACK SWAN Filmmakers in Writing and Producing Roles

XOXO, LIONSGATE Thriller Reunites BLACK SWAN Filmmakers in Writing and Producing Roles

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, has acquired comprehensive rights to XOXO, a script written by Mark Heyman (BLACK SWAN). The announcement was made today jointly by Joe Drake, President of the Motion Picture Group, and Alli Shearmur & Mike Paseornek, Presidents of Motion Picture Development and Production, who will be overseeing the production at the studio.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/LA70620LOGO)

Michael London (MILK, SIDEWAYS, THE ILLUSIONIST) will be producing with Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin (BLACK SWAN, THE WRESTLER), through their respective production companies Groundswell Productions and Protozoa Pictures. Groundswell's Kelly Mullen ushered the project into the company, and will be involved in a producing capacity.

In a story that can be characterized as FATAL ATTRACTION for the digital age, engaged and on-the-rise young executive Will Campbell clandestinely flirts online and meets an alluring woman on Facebook. He begins a virtual relationship with her, but as the line between online temptations and real life possibilities begins to blur, Will soon discovers that his internet relationship is seeping into his real life... in a deadly way.

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate by Robert Melnik, EVP of Business Affairs, and on behalf of the filmmakers by CAA.

"The script that Mark has written for XOXO has that same winning combination of polish and urgency that made BLACK SWAN so special," said Drake. "XOXO is a high-class, intense thriller, but it also has a strong youth appeal and a distinctly contemporary feel. Michael London and Darren Aronofsky are the perfect producing partners for us on this incredibly tense thriller."

"Lionsgate is the perfect home for XOXO and we're thrilled with the passion they've shown for the project. We set out to make a cautionary tale for the Facebook generation. Lionsgate appreciates both the pop appeal of that concept as well as our ambition to do something smart and thought-provoking," echoed London.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as "Mad Men", "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" along with the comedy "Blue Mountain State," the upcoming drama "Boss" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne", its spinoff "Meet The Browns", the upcoming "For Better or Worse," "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?".

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

For further information, contact:

Lionsgate - Film Division
Kate Hubin Piliero
310-255-4064
khubin@lionsgate.com

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

SOURCE Lionsgate

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Lionsgate

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

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