Summit

Possible Merger Between Lions Gate and Summit Entertainment

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 28th, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Earlier this month, we mentioned that Lions Gate Entertainment’s The Hunger Games must make at least $100 million in order to justify the sequels being made. While there’s no doubt in my mind the movie will make that at the box office, the independent film company does have another source of income: merge with Summit Entertainment. The studio that’s behind the current Twilight series (which has earned over $1 billion through 4 of its 5 planned films) is reportedly in talks with Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. about a potential merger. The benefit to Lions Gate would be a much-needed cash infusion. This, in turn, could ensure the production of The Hunger Games sequels, which could pay dividends for Summit if successful. Hit the jump for more on the possibility of a merger.

McG in Talks to Direct Cop Drama PUZZLE PALACE for Summit

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 25th, 2011 at 5:57 pm

Director McG is currently in negotiations to direct the cop drama Puzzle Palace. Deadline reports that Summit Entertainment acquired the project as a pitch earlier this year from David Guggenheim, who then penned the script. No other plot details are given other than the fact that the project is a “cop drama.” Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen, who were producers on the Twilight series, are onboard as producers. McG was in line to direct Ouija, based on the board game, as his next project but Universal ultimately passed on the film so it’s now back in development. The director recently wrapped the action comedy This Means War starring Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, and Reese Witherspoon.

Guggenheim recently penned the drama Safe House, which stars Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds and is slated for release in February. He also just sold a pitch for the superpower-centered pic 364 to Universal which Ron Howard is poised to direct.

Summit Acquires Rights to Comic AREA 52

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 27th, 2011 at 4:41 pm

The latest comic to be mined for cinematic gold is Image’s Area 52. Summit Entertainment has acquired the screen rights to the four-issue comic book series. The story centers on a top-secret warehouse in Antarctica named (naturally) Area 52 where countless otherworldly discoveries are stored. An alien killing machine is accidentally hatched in the lab, and the ragtag group of misfits tasked with manning the facility must use the stored mythological weapons and artifacts to stop the creature before it destroys the world.

I’m not familiar with the series, but if the studio can assemble some great behind-the-scenes talent I would assume that a pretty cool creature feature (or franchise) could be borne out of the material. Deadline reports that Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) are producing the pic, and will next set out to find a screenwriter.

The Weinstein Company Circling THE WETTEST COUNTY; Summit Acquires SNITCH

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 16th, 2011 at 5:21 pm

With the Cannes Film Festival ongoing, we’ve got a couple of acquisition stories for you today. First off, Variety reports that The Weinstein Company is in talks to grab the rights to John Hillcoat’s The Wettest County in the World. The film features a fantastic cast that includes Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Mia Wasikowska, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, Dane DeHaan, and Jessica Chastain. The story centers on two brothers who become bootleggers in the South during Prohibition. TWC has been busy at Cannes, snatching up the sure-to-be Oscar contender The Iron Lady a few days ago.

Additionally, Variety reports that Summit has grabbed U.S. distribution rights to the action thriller Snitch. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Felon), the film stars Dwayne Johnson and centers on a suburban dad who goes undercover to convict a drug dealer in order to reduce his teenage son’s 30-year prison sentence.

Exclusive: Summit Hires Jon and Erich Hoeber to Write Sequel to RED

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 17th, 2011 at 3:07 pm

Summit Entertainment landed a hit last year with the action-comedy Red.  The Bruce Willis film was the highest-grossing picture for the studio outside of the Twilight franchise and has currently raked in $164 million worldwide.  Also, while you and I know that the Golden Globes are meaningless, the nomination for “Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)” helped raise the movie’s profile.  With all that in mind, sources have told us that Summit has hired screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber to write a sequel.  It’s worth noting that commissioning a script is not the same thing as a giving a green light.  However, it is an important first step and if Summit is happy with the Hoebers’ screenplay, then I would expect the studio to hit the gas on what they’re probably hoping will be a new franchise.

Hit the jump for more on the Hoebers and my thoughts on a potential sequel.

New International Trailer for RED Starring Bruce Willis

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 24th, 2010 at 8:02 pm

As we approach the release of Summit’s spy comic adaptation Red, it continues to look like it’ll be the most fun we have in theaters in the month of October.  There’s a new international trailer (with plenty of footage not seen in the first domestic trailer), and the fantastic ensemble — Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker, etc. — clearly had a blast with the material.  I’d be surprised if you can make it the whole 1:44 without a smile creeping across your face; if you’d like to try, check out the trailer after the jump.

SDCC 2010: Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and Karl Urban Interview RED

by Christina Radish    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 9:41 am

Based on the D.C. Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, RED is an explosive action-comedy about Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren), who used to be the CIA’s top agents, but who are now the Agency’s top targets. Framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive, as the battle with the new regime.

During a press conference while they were at Comic-Con, co-stars Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and Karl Urban talked about the entertainment value of movies adapted from comics and graphic novels, and the enjoyment of getting to not only work with an amazing cast, but also kick some ass. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Nicolas Cage On Set Interview DRIVE ANGRY 3D

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 10:01 am

While on the set of Drive Angry 3D in early May, I got to participate in a small roundtable interview with Nicolas Cage.  While studios usually wait till closer to release to let us post on set interviews, I’m giving Summit a lot of credit for letting us get a jump on Comic-Con and lifting the embargo today.

For those not familiar with Drive Angry, you should start by reading my set report.  But the quick synopsis is the film “centers on a man (Cage) driven by rage who is chasing the people who killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby. The vendetta/rescue spins out of control as the chase gets bloodier by the mile, leaving bodies strewn along the highway.”

What’s great about the movie is that it’s being filmed in 3D, it’s a super hard R, and it’s from the filmmakers behind My Bloody Valentine.  Meaning…expect plenty of blood and guts!  I’m super excited.  Anyway, while on set Cage told us why he wanted to get involved, what it was like to work on his first 3D movie, and a lot more.  Read or listen to what he had to say after the jump:

DRIVE ANGRY 3D Set Visit – Plus Check Out Some Concept Art From the Movie

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 10:01 am

Nicolas Cage is crawling on the ground.  There are three RED 3D cameras covering the scene and he’s crawling towards the one in the middle while Billy Burke – who is dressed like a rock star with black nail polish – is screaming at him.  I’m standing with the crew and a few other online reporters and we’re watching take after take of Cage crawling while director Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine 3D) is trying to get the shot.  Finally, Lussier is happy and the crew moves the camera for another set up of the same scene.

But let me back up as second.

Back in early May, I got to visit the set of Drive Angry 3D while the production was filming in Shreveport, Louisiana.  While the movie doesn’t get released until February 11, 2011, Summit is going to be promoting the film this week at Comic-Con and they’ve decided to let us post all our on set interviews and our set report now.  So hit the jump for why you should be excited for Drive Angry and you can also check out some concept art from the film.

Amber Heard On Set Interview DRIVE ANGRY 3D

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 10:01 am

Over the past few years, Amber Heard has made a name for herself in such films as Pineapple Express (Seth Rogen’s High School girlfriend), The Informers, The Joneses, Zombieland (she played the hot neighbor next door), The Stepfather, and Never Back Down.  While she’s proven she can play the girlfriend and the hot neighbor, in director Patrick Lussier’s Drive Angry 3D, Heard is going to show another side: ass-kicking vigilante.

In the film, Heard teams up with Nicolas Cage after he steps in to help her out of a situation at a restaurant she works at and soon after they form a close friendship.  Heard says of their relationship, “they become fast friends and form a bond and partake on this kind of supernatural evil-fighting journey together and they kind of become teammates.”

Much more after the jump:

Billy Burke On Set Interview DRIVE ANGRY 3D

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am

Twilight fans aren’t going to know what hit them.  That’s because while Billy Burke has made an impression as Bella Swan’s (Kristen Stewart) mild mannered father in the Twilight movies, in director Patrick Lussier’s Drive Angry 3D, Burke plays an over-the-top villainous cult leader that dresses like a rock star.

But let me back up a second.  Back in early May, I got to visit the set of Drive Angry while the film was being shot in Shreveport, Louisiana.  While studios usually wait till closer to release to let us post on set interviews, I’m giving Summit a lot of credit for letting us get a jump on Comic-Con and lifting the embargo today.  Much more after the jump:

William Fichtner On Set Interview DRIVE ANGRY 3D

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am

William Fichtner is one of those actors you’ve seen in a million movies and TV shows.  That’s because over the past fifteen years, Fichtner has had memorable characters in The Dark Knight, Go, Prison Break, Contact, Armageddon, Heat, Invasion, Entourage, and that’s just scratching the surface.  But no matter the role, Fichtner always brings a real authenticity to whatever character he’s portraying, and that’s why he continues to land so many parts.

Anyway, in director Patrick Lussier’s Drive Angry 3D, Fichtner is playing an all new character as he’s an agent from hell trying to bring back Nicolas Cage.  Needless to say, Fichtner told us he jumped at the chance to play this part.   Hit the jump for a lot more:

Screenwriter Todd Farmer On Set Interview DRIVE ANGRY 3D

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am

While it’s always great to talk to actors on movie sets, if you really want to find out how a movie got put together, you’ve got to talk to the screenwriter.  So when I was on the set of Drive Angry 3D in early May with a small group of online reporters, when we got to speak to screenwriter Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine), we all had very specific questions about the project.  Thankfully, Farmer was more than happy to talk and he discussed writing for 3D, how the movie got put together, the violence, the hard R rating, the cars, the music, and so much more.  It was this interview with Farmer that really got me excited as everything he was saying sounded great.  Hit the jump to check it out:

Summit Will Debut Footage from Bruce Willis’ RED and Nicolas Cage’s DRIVE ANGRY 3D at Comic-Con 2010

by Jason Barr    Posted: July 7th, 2010 at 7:54 pm

Summit Entertainment has confirmed via press release that it will host panel discussions with exclusive footage for two of its forthcoming releases at Comic-Con this year: the action-comedy Red and the action-thriller/”title of the year” candidate Drive Angry 3D.

• Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, and Mary Louise Parker join director Robert Schwentke and Warren Ellis for the Red panel,  scheduled for July 22nd
• The Drive Angry panel is on July 23rd, with stars Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard and director Patrick Lussier in attendance

Hit the jump for details on both films and the full press release.

Summit Hopes Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf Get Caught in Peter Morgan’s RIPTIDE, a Seafaring Whodunit

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: July 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 pm

With two Oscar nominations in recent years for his Frost/Nixon and The Queen screenplays, I’m sure Peter Morgan’s quote is on the rise.  But that hasn’t stopped wise studios from seeking his services, however: Summit hired Morgan to rewrite Richard McBrien’s script for Riptide, a “whodunit” set on the high seas.  The studio was confident enough in said screenplay to present it to Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf, coupled with an offer to star.  Details on the lead roles after the jump.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design