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Tag: Lionsgate

Lionsgate to Wait 1-2 Weeks Before Determining Fate of ‘Ender’s Game’ Franchise

In a conference call with analysts today, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer says they will wait “another week or two” before deciding whether they will make a sequel to ‘Ender’s Game’, which was released in theaters one week ago today. He also mentioned they are considering a TV series spinoff.

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Ender’s Game has earned $32.5 million as of Wednesday, November 6.

If they do a TV series spinoff, do you think they’d do something completely original in the Enderverse or try to follow the Shadow series or Ender in space? Do you think Asa Butterfield would be asked back as Ender for television and on that note, would he even do television? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Source: Variety

November 8, 2013
VIDEOS: Watch the Entire Ender’s Game Comic-Con Press Conference

Watch the entire Ender’s Game press conference at San Diego Comic-Con – courtesy of Screen Slam, and in pretty good quality!

Source: Screen Slam’s Youtube Channel

July 20, 2013
VIDEO: Gavin Hood/Bob Orci On Staying True to the Book

Entertainment site The Verge just uploaded their coverage of Ender’s Game at San Diego Comic Con. They spoke briefly with Asa and Hailee outside the Ender’s Game Experience before they sat down with director Gavin Hood and producer Bob Orci to discuss the making of the movie. Watch them talk about getting involved in the project, financing the movie, their devotion to stay true to both the “cool stuff” and the “cerebral” side of the book, and why the teaser trailer is so heavy on CGI.

Source: The Verge’s Youtube Channel

July 20, 2013
VIDEO: IF Recruitment Video

The IF wants to recruit YOU! Watch the recruitment video, presented by Colonel Graff, and including all new movie scenes!

Watch the HD version HERE.

July 17, 2013
New Interview with Orson Scott Card

Yesterday, The Digital Universe (Brigham Young University’s online news outlet) published a new interview with Orson Scott Card. None of the things he says about the book and the movie are entirely new, but the interview may clear up a few matters that people have been confused about. Here are a some excerpts:

About morality in Ender’s Game:

The novel doesn’t answer those questions, anyway — rather it raises them, and if anything it shows that the best you can do is muddle through, trying to do what’s right, as far as you can figure out what that is. That’s all that human beings can ever do. Even the great ones like Lincoln and Churchill are right only some of the time. Ender Wiggin, though fictional, is no better.

About his involvement in the movie:

My work as co-producer was all done in the early stages. Once Gavin Hood took over, my help was no longer required. […] The screenplay you see on the screen was 100 percent Gavin Hood. None of my writing was used. That was the decision that Odd Lot and Summit made; it was their money at risk, and they invested in the writer they believed in. I have no complaints.

Read the entire interview HERE.

Source: The Digital Universe

July 16, 2013
Lionsgate Issues Statement in Response to Card Controversy

In response to the flurry of controversy surrounding the Ender’s Game movie after a boycott gained national media attention, Lionsgate issued the following statement:

As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from Gods and Monsters to The Perks of Being a Wallflower and a company that is proud to have recognized same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage. However, they are completely irrelevant to a discussion of Ender’s Game. The simple fact is that neither the underlying book nor the film itself reflect these views in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the film not only transports viewers to an entertaining and action-filled world, but it does so with positive and inspiring characters who ultimately deliver an ennobling and life-affirming message. Lionsgate will continue its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community by exploring new ways we can support LGBT causes and, as part of this ongoing process, will host a benefit premiere for Ender’s Game.

Personally, I’m glad that the studio has come out in defense of the film and their hardworking cast and crew. Hopefully this will show people that the studio and its employees do not necessarily share the same beliefs as the author of the work they’ve adapted.

Source: GLAAD via Deadline (thanks to Aldrin for the tip!)

July 12, 2013
Lionsgate Holds Film Rights to 12 Ender Novels

In a recent stock analysis story by Variety, it was revealed that Lionsgate holds the rights to all 12 novels in the Ender series.

Warning, the following quote may cause you to gouge out your eyes.

A cult favorite among teen boys and young men since its publication in 1985, it’s been described as “Star Wars meets Harry Potter.”

“While the book on which the film is based is a classic of the genre, we think the film remains a bit of a longshot to achieve breakout success (which we would define as a domestic box office in excess of $125 million) due to some potentially challenging subject matter,” he added.

It’s been previously stated that the budget for Ender’s Game was around $100 million.

Harrigan said in his report that “Ender’s Game” has “distinct fanboy and likely general audience appeal” with Lionsgate possibly responsible for 10% to 15% of the production cost. He also noted Lionsgate has rights to all 12 of Card’s “Ender’s Game” series, adding that not all of them are readily adaptable for film.

I feel I should note that if you haven’t read the book, the original Variety article spoils the ending.

Thanks to fanette for the news tip!

May 28, 2013
Lionsgate to Showcase 2013 Release Schedule at CinemaCon

At this year’s CinemaCon, which will take place from April 15-18, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lionsgate will be hosting a two hour product presentation. The schedule of events was updated today on March 11.

The presentation, which will take place on April 18 from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM in The Colosseum on the Casino level of Caesar’s Palace will be highlighting their 2013 lineup. Since Summit is a Lionsgate company, they may use this presentation to show a bit of Ender’s Game.

Merchandise, perhaps? Character posters? Teaser?

I’ve never been to CinemaCon, so I have no idea what studios would typically show. I know I’d love to see official Army banners or scrolls (imagine hanging that on your wall!), t-shirts, and posters for each major character. What would you like to see?

The schedule mentions several special guests, which could be good news for both Hunger Games and Ender’s Game fans. Hopefully as things get closer, they’ll provide more details about who will be attending. If I had to guess, I’d say Harrison Ford is one of them, since he’ll be at the convention to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Registration for the con is still open, but the price is pretty steep at $1,040 for non-members.

Source: CinemaCon

March 12, 2013
Michael Burns Talks ‘Ender’s Game’ with CNBC

Last week, Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns talked to CNBC’s Fast Money regarding their upcoming strategy for the summer and eventually the topic came to Ender’s Game.

Host Melissa Lee hinted that Burns had pegged Ender’s Game as their next big YA franchise, but he remained cautious about it’s prospects.

Melissa Lee: Last night when we were exchanging emails you said, “Have you read Ender’s Game. You were saying Ender’s Game is going to be the next big young adult franchise after Hunger Games, how excited are you about this? Can you give us sort of a… when you read the books, do you think it’s going to be as big, as resonating as ‘The Hunger Games’?

Unfortunately, he seemed to get the book confused with The Hunger Games, citing how great it was that it was back on the NYT Bestseller list four years after it originally came out. Still, he said he has high hopes for it.

Michael Burns: You never want to try to pick your hits. The book is terrific, I’m not going to put a spoiler out here right now. We have a great cast. Our head of production and his team think this movie is going to be a great addition to the young adult franchise, so yeah I have high hopes for it.

It’s interesting to hear them talk franchise, since book readers know very well that the Ender’s Game book sequel Speaker for the Dead wouldn’t fall into the YA category by a long shot, but Ender in Exile, which was published just under four years ago, would be the likeliest candidate for a chronological sequel.

To watch the video, head over to CNBC. (skip to 3:50)

June 7, 2012
Summit Entertainment Acquired by Lionsgate for $412.5M

In a press released issued today, Lionsgate announced their acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the studio currently holding the rights to the Ender’s Game movie, for the sum of $412.5 million.

Approved by the Lionsgate board earlier this week, the deal will keep the two studios operating as distinct brands, but it’s unclear at this point what will happen to Summit executives Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. In a meeting with Summit employees this afternoon, they informed staff that they would continue to operate on a day-to-day basis on their current projects, so at this point, the merger does not seem to affect the production schedule of Ender’s Game.

With Summit closing out their mega Twilight franchise and Lionsgate about to unleash their potential smash hit The Hunger Games, the merging of the two studios seems to make a lot of sense, bringing together two small studios to create one powerhouse studio with a lot of potential to corner the young adult movie adaptation market.

It sounds like a great opportunity for Ender’s Game, whose “young adult” fanbase has since grown into middle adulthood since the book was first published, because the film can benefit from the combined knowledge and expertise on marketing a young adult film.

Source: Variety

January 14, 2012