Lionsgate and Chinese online video platform iQIYI have signed a long-term output deal for movies from the studio as well as third-party titles. The deal gives iQIYI an exclusive SVOD and TVOD window on the films and includes a major promotional commitment with films that include The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 and Divergent Series: Allegiant. The deal will not affect Lionsgate’s existing relationships with Alibaba and Hunan.
Sacha Baron Cohen along with former head of All3Media-owned UK producer Objective Productions, Andrew Newman have launched a TV production company titled Spelthorne Community Television. UK’s Channel 4 is one of the company’s investors with a minority stake in the venture. Previously Cohen’s breakout series Da Ali G Show was broadcast on the same network. The new company will focus on finding new talent but also possibly projects involving Baron Cohen.
Quvenzhane Wallis, the youngest ever actress to receive a best actress Oscar nomination for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, has inked a deal to publish four books with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. The deal covers a chapter-book trilogy as well as a picture book. The first book in the trilogy is set to be released in January 2017, followed by the second book and the picture book in fall 2017.
LA based feature film production company The Green-Light Group has launched Green-Light International, a new international sales, distribution and financing company. Sales executive Christian de Gallegos has been named the President and will oversee the sales and distribution strategy for films produced under the Green-Light Group banner as well as titles produced independently by Elliott and Moore. Privately financed, Elliott and Moore will oversee the financing strategy for the new company. Upcoming films include Imperium starring Daniel Radcliffe and Custody starring Viola Davis.
Disney has signed a new multi-year film and TV output deal with Sky, the pan-Euro Pay TV mega company. The output extension, which continues a 25-year association between the two companies, will enable Sky Movies and NOW TV Sky Movies Pass customers to watch films such as Inside Out and Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the first pay TV window from about nine months after their theatrical release. Sky Movies subscribers can access the Disney channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior through Sky’s subscription packages in both standard and high definition.