Global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) has extended its ongoing partnership with Grindstone Entertainment Group, renewing a multiyear relationship through 2027, it was jointly announced today by Grindstone President and CEO Barry Brooker and principal Stan Wertlieb, along with Ron Schwartz, President and COO of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group. The new deal reinforces and extends a successful, nearly 17-year relationship between Lionsgate and Grindstone, driven by a string of commercially successful, star-driven event films combining into a formidable 700-title content library.
Grindstone, which had recent commercial success with the theatrically released, edge-of-your-seat thriller, “Fall,” is a leader in the multi-platform streaming space. The company has also released such films as “Damaged,” with Sam Jackson and Vincent Cassell; “How the Gringo Stole Christmas,” starring George Lopez, “Desperation Road, Manadrome” with Jesse Eisenberg; and “Lamborghini” with Frank Grillo, Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino and Gabriel Byrne.
The new agreement encompasses a slate of upcoming releases that includes the action-thriller “Alarum,” starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by Mike Polish; “Riff Raff” from acclaimed director Dito Montiel starring Bill Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Pete Davidson, Ed Harris, and Gabriel Union; “Wish You Were Here,” Julia Stiles’ directorial debut, starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Grey, and Mena Massoud; “The Gunslingers,” starring Stephen Dorff, Nicolas Cage, and Heather Graham; and “Fall 2” from the Spierig brothers. Further upcoming releases include “Hotel Tehran” with Zachary Levy and Liam Neeson, “The Beast in Me” with Russell Crowe from the writer and producer of “Land of Bad,” and “Off The Grid” starring Josh Duhamel and Greg Kinnear.
“Our relationship has been a model of success for nearly 20 years because Barry and Stan anticipate and understand what the market wants and needs in a way that has been consistently profitable for both of our companies,” said Schwartz. “Multiplatform partners the world over recognize the Grindstone name as one they can count on for high production values and big, star-driven concepts. We look forward to continuing to develop their brand and collaborating on another outstanding slate of films with Barry, Stan, and our distribution partners around the world.”
“We couldn’t imagine a better home for our team or our filmmaking partners than Lionsgate,” said Brooker and Wertlieb. “They are dominant worldwide leaders in handling the titles that have been our core specialty. As the demand for content continues to evolve, especially in the multiplatform arena, we couldn’t be in better or more capable hands.”
The Grindstone management team of Brooker and Wertlieb has had a successful working collaboration for over 25 years.
About Lionsgate Studios
Lionsgate Studios (Nasdaq: LION) is one of the world’s leading standalone, pure play, publicly-traded content companies. It brings together diversified motion picture and television production and distribution businesses, a world-class portfolio of valuable brands and franchises, a talent management and production powerhouse and a more than 20,000-title film and television library, all driven by Lionsgate’s bold and entrepreneurial culture.