MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s hit narco-themed comedy Salvando al Soldado Perez (Saving Private Perez) is coming soon to theaters stateside under a distribution deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion.
Pantelion, an upstart joint venture between Lionsgate and Mexican media giant Televisa, has slated a Sept. 16 release, according to Mexican producer Lemon Films. Lemon said Pantelion still hasn’t specified how many prints Private Perez will go out with, however, the producer expects a relatively large release targeted at Latino audiences.
Private Perez has been billed as one of the most expensive productions ever in Mexican cinema. The story follows a group of drug traffickers in search of the cartel leader’s lost brother, who went missing in action in Iraq. The film has grossed more than $4.2 million after three weeks in theaters here.
Pantelion aims to release eight to ten pictures a year and produce four to five feature films in-house. Films on Pantelion’s release slate this year include Mexico’s top boxoffice earner last year, the comedy No Eres Tu Soy Yo (It’s Not You, It’s Me); Carmen Marron‘s Go For It; and the Eva Mendes-starrer Ansiedad (Anxiety), which Pantelion’s production arm is shooting in Vancouver through April 13.
