Latest news with #LionsgateStudios


Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Hunger Games prequel launches open casting call - but there's one catch
If you've ever dreamed of fighting your way through The Hunger Games, now's your chance to join Lionsgate's open casting call - except there's one detail that's left some fans disappointed Have you ever dreamed of entering the fictional world of Panem? Lionsgate Studios put out an open casting call for Hunger Games fans to become the latest addition to the hotly anticipated Sunrise on the Reaping - and let's just say, the auditions have been interesting. On X, the studio wrote: 'Your turn. This is an official casting call: one lucky fan will be selected for a role in Sunrise on the Reaping. To audition, show us your best: act out a scene, perform a song, or surprise us with something completely new. All talents welcome. No previous experience necessary.' As the latest addition to the Hunger Games franchise by Suzanne Collins, Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel centred on the fan favourite character mentor Haymitch, and is set to be made into a major motion picture in 2026. The star-studded cast already includes household names like Elle Fanning and Oscar-nominated Kieran Culkin. Lionsgate have stated that judging for the auditions will begin 'on or around June 7', and will factor in three key criteria: 25% acting ability, 25% charisma and 50% thematic relevance. As well as the possibility to appear on-screen, the prize includes an on-set visit with a guest. Now, all over TikTok, users have been throwing their best effort to make it big. And judging by the auditions, it appears there are three particular phrases that Hunger Games fans took to heart: all talents welcome, no previous experience necessary, and 'surprise us'. One of the most viral auditions so far was made by hopeful starlet @jwalkerbooks. In an explosive (literally) audition, she emerged from a fridge door to the visual effect of flames, holding none other than a bottle of milk. 'My audition for SOTR (as President Snow's milk),' she wrote. In the caption, she added: 'I can be 2%, 1%, whole whatever you need.' One commenter attempted to rename the franchise's famous catchphrase, 'Fire is catching? No. Milk is spilling.' It's not the only food item that fans have been eager to play. Another fan auditioned to become 'one of the google eggs Katniss brings Haymitch', by appearing next to a bowl of eggs in her kitchen. In fairness, some auditions have displayed real talent. User @simplystephjaye showed off skills Peeta himself would be envious of after auditioning 'for a tribute who uses camouflage to hide in the hunger games'. She then proceeded to film herself standing against a wall covered in wallpaper. Some strong acting and script-writing skills have been displayed too. TikTokker @oyesebastien caught the world 's attention after auditioning to be a District One tribute (aka one of the antagonists). Strolling in front of the camera, he proceeded to let out a menacing growl, before saying his now-famous line, 'What was your name again? Haymitch? More like, hey b---h!' Of course, the standard of the auditions have left many doubtful whether Lionsgate could actually hire one of the many hopefuls. Regardless, some TikTok comments have been pointing out that it is pretty clever marketing, with many of the auditions gaining millions of views. Unfortunately, not all fans are happy with the casting call. According to the official rules of the competition only legal residents from one of the 50 US states can compete. Which has left non-American fans with dreams of hitting the big screen a little deflated. Dutch influencer posted an audition 'from district 12 (Europe)', in spite of the rules. Other commenters were quick to commiserate. 'crying from Australia,' one wrote. 'We're district 13, they've forgotten our existence,' another added.


Cision Canada
23-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
FUNDS MANAGED BY LIBERTY STRATEGIC CAPITAL ACQUIRE COMMON SHARES OF LIONSGATE STUDIOS CORP.
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2025 /CNW/ - Liberty 77 Capital L.P. ("Liberty Strategic Capital") announced today that it acquired an aggregate of 105,402 common shares ("Common Shares") of Lionsgate Studios Corp. ("Lionsgate Studios") in its capacity as portfolio manager for Liberty 77 Fund L.P. and Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. (collectively, the "Liberty Funds"). Following the acquisition, Liberty Strategic Capital exercises control and direction over an aggregate of 28,568,868 Common Shares for and on behalf of the Liberty Funds. The 28,568,868 Common Shares owned by the Liberty Funds represent approximately 10.00% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The acquisition of 105,402 Common Shares, representing 0.04% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, was made for investment purposes. Liberty Strategic Capital intends to review such investment in Lionsgate Studios on a continuing basis and, depending on Lionsgate Studios' performance and other market conditions, increase or decrease its investment position. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, OR TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE EARLY WARNING REPORT FILED BY LIBERTY 77 CAPITAL L.P. UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION, PLEASE SEE LIONSGATE STUDIOS' ISSUER PROFILE ON THE SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT ANALYSIS AND RETRIEVAL AT OR CONTACT: William Barratt Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, Liberty Strategic Capital Tel: (202) 984-7070
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lionsgate's Staggered ‘Ballerina' Embargo For 'Enthusiastic' & 'Critical Sentiment' Irks Reviewers
We're all atune to the increasingly curated early responses to movies from distributors but this was beyond the pale for many. Lionsgate yesterday sent out an email to Ballerina critics and reviewers in which it told them that 'spoiler-free enthusiasm' on social media is allowed starting on May 22 and that 'critical social sentiment & formal reviews are embargoed until' June 4. More from Deadline Lionsgate Confirms It May Split Michael Jackson Biopic Into Two Movies As Release Is Pushed - Update New Lionsgate Studios Swings To The Black, Revenue Pops In First Quarterly Report As Standalone Company Kieran Culkin Joins 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' As Caesar Flickerman Quite rightly, this bent many out of shape. That's an unethical demand for most. Critics we spoke to hadn't heard of an embargo edict going that far before. Many online were also perturbed. The BALLERINA embargo notice is absolutely unethical: An embargo hold on negative reactions?! Only positive reactions are okay?!Certainly hope none of you will be complicit in this buffoonery. If any of you value your dignity (I know, it's a tough ask), you won't cave. — Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) May 22, 2025 This is the review embargo for Ballerina. Negative reactions being on hold is absolutely insane. Regardless if the reaction is positive or negative, wouldn't you want people talking about your film anyways? — Mission Impossible – The Final Alex (@Alex_Madden_) May 22, 2025 The Lionsgate split embargo on BALLERINA has me fired up and I wrote a little rant about the slow death of film — devincf (@devincf) May 22, 2025 We hear from studio sources that this was a case of poor wording and that following the outcry marketers reached out to those who received the note to let them know that they're welcome to express whatever opinion they have of the movie. That would be a good outcome if it came to pass. Hopefully the rowing back wasn't only a result of the outcry. The early reaction and influencer curated responses to movies have been growing in the wrong direction for a while. We don't need anymore blurring of the critical boundaries. Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lionsgate, Now Without Starz, Swings to Quarterly Profit on Higher Revenues
Lionsgate, led by CEO Jon Feltheimer, has released its fourth quarter financial results for Lionsgate Studios — a standalone public film and TV company comprised of its Motion Picture and TV production divisions — after completing the spinoff of the media giant's studio business from Starz to create separately traded companies and stocks. The Hollywood studio now excluding the Starz results recorded a fourth quarter net profit attributable to shareholders at $21.9 million, compared to a year-earlier $47 million loss, on overall revenue rising 22 percent sharply to $1.06 billion, against a year-earlier $879.9 million. More from The Hollywood Reporter Kieran Culkin to Play Caesar in 'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' (Exclusive) Elle Fanning to Play Effie in 'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' (Exclusive) 'Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' Finds Its Louella and Lou Lou (Exclusive) Lionsgate during its latest financial quarter rolled out Flight Risk and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera at the multiplex, and delivered the scripted series The Rookie, Ghosts and Acapulco, while also licensing The Chosen to Amazon Prime and The Rookie to Disney+. The media giant, having greatly reduced its exposure to a declining linear TV space impacting rival studios, posted an adjusted earnings per-share profit of 21 cents, compared to a year-earlier per-share loss of 5 cents. Adjusted OIBDA rose 49 percent to $138.3 million. During the quarter to March 31, 2025, the company's studios business, which combines the Motion Picture and TV production segments, saw Motion Picture revenue rise to $526.4 million, compared to $410.6 million in the same period of 2024, while the TV production revenue reached $543.3 million, up 16 percent from a year-earlier $469.3 million on a higher number of episodic deliveries, compared to last year's fourth quarter impacted by the Hollywood strikes. The segment profit, a key metric, for the Motion Picture division soared to $135.3 million, compared to a year-earlier $82.2 million. The TV Production segment profit fell back to $40.6 million, against a year-earlier $52.6 million. The media giant launched Lionsgate Studios as a standalone, publicly traded company, split off from the Starz premium cable and streaming outlet now also a standalone company with shares trading on the NASDAQ exchange. The two companies still have ties on screen, as Lionsgate Television produces the flagship Power franchise for Starz along with BMF, P-Valley and the upcoming series The Hunting Wives. Starz, which continues to drive into the digital space, has around 20 million domestic subscribers on cable, satellite and streaming platforms. Launching Lionsgate Studios as a standalone company on the NASDAQ, separate from Starz, looks to have the goal of creating two companies so investors can value the Starz and studio assets separately amid a contracting media and entertainment landscape and financial markets uncertainty. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LIONSGATE AND LIONSGATE STUDIOS REMIND SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE AT THE UPCOMING MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCE PROXY SUPPLEMENT
Additional Information and Where to Find It This communication is being made in respect of the Transactions described in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 involving Lionsgate, Lionsgate Studios and Lionsgate Studios Holding Corp ("New Lionsgate"). In connection with the Transactions, Lionsgate filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 on March 13, 2025 and a Proxy Statement on March 14, 2025. Promptly after filing its Proxy Statement with the SEC, Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios mailed the Proxy Statement and a proxy card to each shareholder of Lionsgate entitled to vote at the Meetings relating to the Transactions. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios has filed or may file with the SEC or send to its shareholders in connection with the Transactions. INVESTORS, SECURITY HOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTIONS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LIONSGATE, LIONSGATE STUDIOS AND THE TRANSACTIONS. The materials filed by Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios are available to Lionsgate's investors and shareholders at no expense to them and copies may be obtained free of charge by directing a request to Lionsgate at 2700 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404, Attention: Investor Relations or at tel: (310) 449-9200. In addition, all of those materials are available at no charge on the SEC's website at and on SEDAR+ at . If you need assistance in voting your shares or have questions regarding the Meetings, please contact Lionsgate's and Lionsgate Studios' proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at (800) 322-2885 (toll-free) or (212) 929-5500 (collect), or by email at lionsgate@ , if you are a shareholder of Lionsgate, or lgstudios@ , if you are a shareholder of Lionsgate Studios. Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios will hold the Meetings on April 23, 2025. Shareholders of record of Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios as of at 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on March 12, 2025 are entitled to vote at the Meetings in accordance with the joint proxy statement/prospectus. The board of directors for each of Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios strongly recommend that shareholders vote "FOR" each of the proposals presented at the Meetings. Story Continues Participants in the Solicitation Lionsgate, Lionsgate Studios and certain of their directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders in connection with the Transactions. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of Lionsgate's and Lionsgate Studios' shareholders in connection with the Transactions is set forth in the Proxy Statement. Additional information regarding these individuals and any direct or indirect interests they may have in the Transactions is set forth in the Proxy Statement and other relevant documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC in connection with the Transactions. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the Transactions are included in the Proxy Statement. These documents may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at No Offer or Solicitation This communication does not constitute (i) a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Transactions or (ii) an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase, any securities of Lionsgate, Lionsgate Studios or New Lionsgate. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom, nor shall any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction be affected. No securities commission or securities regulatory authority in the United States or any other jurisdiction has in any way passed upon the merits of the business combination or the accuracy or adequacy of this communication. Forward-Looking Statements The matters discussed in this communication include forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results in the future could differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to: changes in our business strategy; the substantial investment of capital required to produce and market films and television series; budget overruns; limitations imposed by our credit facilities and notes; unpredictability of the commercial success of our motion pictures and television programming; risks related to acquisition and integration of acquired businesses; the effects of dispositions of businesses or assets, including individual films or libraries; the cost of defending our intellectual property; technological changes and other trends affecting the entertainment industry; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships; weakness in the global economy and financial markets, including a recession and past and future bank failures; wars, terrorism and multiple international conflicts that could cause significant economic disruption and political and social instability; labor disruptions and strikes; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Transactions, including the approval of the requisite equity holders of Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios is not obtained; the inability to receive court approval of the proposed plan of arrangement in connection with the Transactions; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreements relating to the Transactions; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Transactions on Lionsgate's or Lionsgate Studios' ability to retain key personnel and to maintain relationships with business partners; risks relating to potential diversion of management attention from Lionsgate's and Lionsgate Studios' ongoing business operations; negative effects of this announcement or the consummation of the Transactions on the market price of Lionsgate's or Lionsgate Studios' applicable equity securities and/or operating results; transaction costs associated with the Transactions; and the other risk factors set forth in Lionsgate's and Lionsgate Studios' most recent Quarterly Reports Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the risk factors that are set forth in the S-4. Neither of Lionsgate nor Lionsgate Studios undertakes any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect any future events or circumstances. About Lionsgate Studios Lionsgate Studios (Nasdaq: LION) is one of the world's leading standalone, pure play, publicly-traded content companies. It brings together diversified motion picture and television production and distribution businesses, a world-class portfolio of valuable brands and franchises, a talent management and production powerhouse and a more than 20,000-title film and television library, all driven by Lionsgate's bold and entrepreneurial culture. About Lionsgate Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) owns approximately 87% of the outstanding shares of Lionsgate Studios Corp. (Nasdaq: LION), one of the world's leading standalone, pure play, publicly-traded content companies, as well as the premium subscription platform STARZ. For investor inquiries, please contact: Nilay Shah nshah@ 310-255-3651 For media inquiries, please contact: Laurel Pecchia lpecchia@ 310-255-5114 Cision View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lionsgate; Lionsgate Studios