Two of Hollywood’s leading independent studios, Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment, may be on the road to a merger, creating a major mini-studio in its wake. Summit is riding high with international box office receipts from its TWILIGHT series, the latest installment of which has taken in more than $500 million in just two weeks. Lionsgate, which produced the Oscar hopeful MARGIN CALL and has had such hits as the animated THE EXPENDABLES and the horror series SAW in the past, is ramping up for its new HUNGER GAMES series of films. Lionsgate was recently in the news due to a boardroom battle with corporate raider Carl Icahn.
The company emerged intact under CEO Jon Feltheimer, but the company’s vulnerabilities plus some disappointing releases in the past year (RABBIT HOLE, FOR COLORED GIRLS, THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE, THE LINCOLN LAWYER) has made it a takeover target. While Summit is still collecting serious coin from the TWILIGHT series, the company has also stumbled with such high profile box office misfires as 50/50, SOURCE CODE, THE BEAVER and THE THREE MUSKETEERS. By pooling resources and capital, both companies can protect themselves from hostile takeovers and pool their film libraries for necessary ongoing capital. The companies have been in talks before but past negotiations have broken down over financial and administrative control. However, insiders are now insisting that the merger is just a matter of time and should be in place by early next year.
Latest FFT Tweets
-
.@PatHoward1972 writes: #HTTYD3 Delivers Family Fun but Never Matches Dramatic Weight of Predecessors… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
-
Sundance 2019 - Film Review: The Fresh and Poignant Perspective of MS. PURPLE #mspurple #sundance @MsPurpleFilm… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
-
Film Review: THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT #brunoganz @MattDillon #thehousethatjackbuilt filmfestivaltoday.com/film-reviews/f… https://t.co/n6zP7Rr9jN
-
Featured Specialty
Sundance 2019 – Film Review: The Fresh and Poignant Perspective of MS. PURPLE

Ms. Purple (Justin Chon) 3 out of 4 stars Kasie is split between two worlds: caretaker of her father by day and karaoke bar doumi by night. Her life revolves around helping the men around her, whether it be changing … Continue reading →
FATHER/DAUGHTER FILM REPORT’S First Thursdays Film Festival Selection & Interview: JUANJO JARO

Hello…! We are David & Amanda, also known as the Father/Daughter Film Report & would like to share with you some of the best films seen and screenplays read from all the film festivals we have covered, the submissions we … Continue reading →
2019 Sundance Film Festival Photo Coverage

January 26th – February 2nd, 2019 – Park City, Utah – Film Festival Today is back in Park City for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Related
FATHER & DAUGHTER FILM REPORT by Amanda Perkins & David Bryant Perkins

SAN ANTONIO FILM FESTIVAL: MORE than International……..One Millennial. One Baby Boomer. Two totally different perspectives. Perspectives that cross not only generations – but styles, tastes, passions, interests, and impressions. The duo offers you impressions of not just films, but of … Continue reading →