STXfilms and Lionsgate have closed a deal to partner on the domestic distribution of STX’s upcoming film slate and library. The announcement was made today by STX Entertainment CEO Noah Fogelson and Lionsgate COO Brian Goldsmith. Under the pact, Lionsgate will handle marketing and distribution for future STX theatrical releases in North America as well as distribute STX’s 75-title library across all platforms.

As part of the alliance between the companies, STX and Lionsgate are also planning on developing several scripted television series based on some of the most popular titles in the STX library, including Bad Moms and Hustlers.

For the first motion picture to be distributed under the agreement, the studios were joined by Roadside Attractions to announce that Neil Burger’s highly anticipated thriller “The Marsh King’s Daughter,” will be distributed exclusively in theaters by Roadside on October 6, 2023.

Karen Dionne’s New York Times bestseller “The Marsh King’s Daughter” has been published internationally in 25 languages. It is a tense thriller that tells the story of a woman with a secret past who ventures into the wilderness she left behind to confront the most dangerous man she’s ever met: her father. In the film, Helena’s (Daisy Ridley) seemingly ordinary life hides a dark and dangerous truth: her estranged father is the infamous Marsh King (Ben Mendelsohn), the man who kept her and her mother captive in the wilderness for years. When her father escapes from prison, Helena will need to confront her past. Knowing that he will hunt for her and her family, Helena must find the strength to face her demons and outmaneuver the man who taught her everything she knows about surviving in the wild. In addition to Ridley, the film also stars Ben Mendelsohn (“Secret Invasion”), Garrett Hedlund (“Mudbound”), Caren Pistorius (“Unhinged”), Brooklynn Prince (“Cocaine Bear”), and Gil Birmingham (“Yellowstone”).

Produced by Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman, Keith Redmon, and Mark L. Smith, the movie is directed by Neil Burger (“Limitless,” “The Illusionist,” “Voyagers”) from a screenplay by Elle Smith & Mark L. Smith (“The Revenant”), based on the book by Karen Dionne. The executive producers are Michael Heimler, Charles Miller, Cliff Roberts, Robert Simonds, Adam Fogelson, John Friedberg, and Samuel J. Brown. The film was fully financed by Black Bear, who produced along side Anonymous Content.

“Theatrical exhibition continues to be essential to our company, and that’s especially true for movies like The Marsh King’s Daughter and its director, Neil Burger, with whom we had such a fantastic success with The Upside,” said Fogelson. “As Bob and I sought a longterm strategic distribution partner, Lionsgate was our first and best choice. We are excited to begin our deal with The Marsh King’s Daughter. We believe their production, marketing and distribution teams are the absolute best in the business and many of their marketing executives are already intimately familiar with our slate. That alone would make them a natural home. But we’re also huge fans of everything Jon, Michael, and Joe have built, and we are thrilled to be reunited with Adam and part of the powerful resources that the Lionsgate family can offer.”

“Daisy Ridley turns in a powerful, emotional, and impressively physical performance in ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’,” said Roadside Co-Presidents Eric d’Arbeloff and Howard Cohen. “Everyone knows what Daisy is capable of from the Star Wars movies, but here, playing a character in a fight to the death with the father she once idolized, she will bring audiences to the edge of their seats. We’re excited to be bringing this movie to theaters in October.”

“I’m excited to reteam with my friends at Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate,” said director Neil Burger. “This movie was made for the big screen and I’m thrilled that audiences will have the chance to experience it that way.”

Additionally, Lionsgate will handle distribution of STX’s library of films, including the Jennifer Lopez hit “Hustlers,” the “Bad Moms” franchise, Guy Ritchie’s action-comedy “The Gentlemen,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Gerard Butler’s hit disaster thriller Greenland, Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut “Molly’s Game,” starring Jessica Chastain, and hits “I Feel Pretty,” starring Amy Schumer, “My Spy,” starring Dave Bautista, and “21 Bridges,” starring Chadwick Boseman.

About Roadside Attractions
Since its founding in 2003, Roadside Attractions films have grossed over $500 million and garnered 23 Academy Award nominations. Recent releases include Spirit Award-winning “Emily The Criminal” starring Aubrey Plaza, Paul Weitz’ revenge comedy “Moving On” starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin; Ray Romano’s directorial debut “Somewhere in Queens” starring Romano, Laurie Metcalf, Jennifer Esposito and Sebastian Maniscalco and “Dreamin’ Wild,” directed by Bill Pohlad (“Love and Mercy”) starring Academy Award Winner Casey Affleck, Noah Jupe, and Grammy and Golden Globe Nominee Zooey Deschanel

Upcoming films include Liam Neeson’s action-thriller “Retribution” and “Camp Hideout,” an entertaining, family-friendly adventure film directed by four-time Emmy winner Sean Olson.

The company has released such critical and commercial hits as The Courier, Rita Moreno: “Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It,” “The Alpinist,” “Judy,” “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” “I Can Only Imagine,” “Manchester by the Sea,” “Beatriz at Dinner,” “Love & Friendship,” “Hello, My Name Is Doris,” “Mr. Holmes,” “Love & Mercy,” “A Most Wanted Man,” “Dear White People,” “The Skeleton Twins,” “All Is Lost,” “Mud,” “Winter’s Bone,” “The Cove,” “Arbitrage,” “Margin Call” and “Super Size Me.” Roadside is known for innovative strategies that maximize the value of their films via theatrical box office success.

About STX Entertainment
STX Entertainment, is a next-generation film and television studio that produces and acquires motion pictures and high quality television programming at scale. From blockbusters like “Greenland,” “Hustlers,” “Bad Moms,” and “The Upside” to hits like “The Gentlemen,” “Molly’s Game,” and “The Gift,” STX Entertainment, through its subsidiaries, produces star-driven films and television entertainment for a global audience. Upcoming films include “Ferrari” starring Adam Driver and directed by Michael Mann, “Greenland 2: Migration,” the sequel to the global hit starring Gerard Butler as well as “My Spy 2,” starring Dave Bautista. The company has a number of films and direct-to-platform productions in development including “Fast and Loose,” starring Will Smith, “Night Wolf” starring Kevin Hart, “I Slept with Joey Ramone” starring Pete Davidson, and Muscle, starring Vin Diesel, among others.

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by an 18,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.

About Black Bear
Founded in 2011 by Teddy Schwarzman, Black Bear is an award-winning media company which produces, finances, licenses and distributes film and television content around the world, including in the UK and Canada (Elevation Pictures), where it releases films directly. Black Bear also represents close to one hundred highly accomplished artists through its bespoke management arm run by partners Keith Redmon and Joanne Roberts Wiles, including Karyn Kusama (“Yellowjackets,” “Destroyer”), Johan Renck (“Chernobyl”, upcoming “Spaceman”), Cooper Raiff (“Cha Cha Real Smooth”), Morten Tyldum (“Silo,” “The Imitation Game”), Simona Tabasco (“The White Lotus”), and more.

Black Bear recently produced some of the most anticipated films this fall which will premiere at TIFF, including: Craig Gillespie’s “Dumb Money” starring Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Shailene Woodley, Sebastian Stan, America Ferrera, and Pete Davidson which Sony will release this fall; “Nyad” from directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, which Netflix will release later this year; and Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing,” starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo. The company has previously produced and financed such commercial and critical films as “The Imitation Game,” “I Care A Lot,” “Mudbound,” and “All Is Lost.”

Black Bear’s additional upcoming slate includes Andrew Patterson’s “The Rivals of Amziah King” starring Matthew McConaughey; David Mackenzie’s “Relay” starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James and Sam Worthington; the horror film “Immaculate, starring Sydney Sweeney; and Scott Frank’s newest limited series “Monsieur Spade,” starring Clive Owen.