Lionsgate has renewed its film slate deal with CBS Films for another three years, CEO Jon Feltheimer announced Tuesday during an analyst call.
The studio first signed a multiyear deal with CBS Films in 2015 with The DUFF. The previous deal covered four wide-release films annually for up to three years.
CBS Films has acquired or produced movies and oversaw marketing, while Lionsgate handles distribution across all media, including theatrical and home entertainment. Lionsgate, backed by its expanding global sales network, also retains exclusive international sales rights for all titles from CBS Films, excluding The DUFF.
“Coming off the success of last year’s best picture nominee Hell Or High Water, we’re particularly pleased with the strength of our relationship with Leslie Moonves and his organization,” Feltheimer told analysts.
Next up from Lionsgate as part of the slate deal is American Assassin, an adaptation of Vince Flynn’s best-selling book series that stars Dylan O’Brien, in his first role since an accident on the set of the Maze Runner sequel, and Michael Keaton. The action-thriller tells the tale of Mitch Rapp (O’Brien), an Arab linguistics student who becomes a CIA assassin after his girlfriend dies in a terror attack. He teams up with reluctant mentor Stan Hurley (Keaton), who trains him.
CBS Films will continue to acquire, produce and self-distribute its own limited releases.
