The trades are reporting that multi-award winning singer Mary J. Blige will join Taraji P. Henson in I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Tyler Perry’s upcoming project for Lionsgate.
She will play a nightclub manager and singer who is a good friend to Henson’s character. Madea, Perry’s signature character, will be featured in the film as well.
Filming will begin at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, with the film due out September 11.
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“Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer has praised “The Hunger Games,” a futuristic novel by Suzanne Collins that 
appeared 25 consecutive times on the New York Times bestseller.
Lionsgate has acquired feature rights of “The Hunger Games” and Collins will adapt her own novel, the first in a trilogy, was published in the fall. The story takes place in a culture in which districts pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl who are forced to fight to the death on live TV.
The second installment, “Catching Fire,” will be on the book shelves in September.
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Surely, aliens being invaded by humans are a new concept, right? Lionsgate and Roadside Attraction are hoping so, as they have acquired US rights to animated 3D feature Battle for Terra.
The film offers the perspective of the aliens whose planet is invaded by humans fleeing a dying Earth. Actors in the project include Evan Rachel Wood, Justin Long, Luke Wilson, Dennis Quaid and many others.
Terra premiered in Toronto last year, marking the directorial debut of Aristomenis Tsirbas.
It will make its debut in the US on May 1 opposite X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.
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Are you paying attention Brad Pitt?
According to Variety, Lionsgate has acquired screen rights to “Loving Frank,” a historical novel about architect Frank Lloyd Wright by Nancy Horan.
John Burnham Schwartz is set to write the script.
“Frank” is about a pre-WWI story of the affair between Wright and Chicago society matron Mamah Borthwick Cheney.
An interesting take on the story is from the quote from Alli Shearmur, which was printed in Variety. “ ’Loving Frank’ unfolds in a unique historical milieu, yet it speaks to a fundamental aspect of human nature, that you can’t help who you fall in love with,”
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From Variety comes word that Lionsgate has secured the worldwide film rights to More Than a Game, a documentary about NBA star LeBron James’ high school days in Akron, Ohio.
The film, unlike most biopic documentaries, follows the five starters on the varsity team at St. Vincent St. Mary High School, who travel a winding road from rundown gymnasium to national glory.
It will mix archival footage with family memorabilia and interviews and is being positioned as feel-good story of overcoming adversity over everything else.
A fall 2009 release is planned.
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Shaun the Sheep: Off the Baa! is already a huge international hit! Shaun the Sheep is from the Oscar-Award Winning creators of Wallace & Gromit, which won a lot of people’s hearts. Shaun first appeared in the 1996 Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit short film, A Close Shave, and its popularity gave the creators an opportunity to do a spin-off series of 40 individual episodes.
Currently Shaun the Sheep shorts air on the Disney Channel and rank in the top five shorts on the network. My daughter talks about them all the time. For those who do not know, Shaun is one of the most mischievous, adventurous and entertaining animal on the farm. The DVD release features eight episodes and two bonus features that will have fans of all ages wanting one.
You can try to win Shaun the Sheep: Off the Baa! here at Screenhead. Post your name and we will pick the winner Sunday, November 30, 2008.
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Ashton Kutcher is set to star in Lionsgate’s Five Killers with Robert Luketic directing the action comedy.
Kutcher is set to take on the role of a former hit man whose life is turned upside down because someone from his past has paid a group of killers to bump him off.
Filming is set to start early next year.
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On behalf of Lionsgate, we are pleased to present the SAW V trailer mashup tool on the LionsgateLIVE channel of You Tube. Visit LionsgateLIVE to create a trailer for your favorite Saw film using the mashup tool, and then upload your video to be entered to WIN a trip to Los Angeles and two tickets to a Lionsgate Horror Film Premiere!
The Saw V trailer mashup has already received over 3 Million views – check it out for yourself!
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Variety carries word that Elliott Lester of Love is the Drug fame will direct the serial killer thriller Blitz.
In the works at the British division of Lionsgate, the film is an adaptation of Ken Bruen’s police thriller, telling the story of a serial killer who is aiming for tabloid immortality by executing cops in southeast London.
The script has been adapted by Nathan Parker. It will begin shooting early next year.
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The final poster for SAW V is wicked, in theaters October 24th!
If It’s Halloween, It’s Saw! It’s scary!
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