Joe Drake Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: Producer Todd Lieberman has formed Hidden Pictures, and tapped Alex Young for the president post. Formed to generate film and TV projects, Hidden Pictures has entered a strategic film partnership with Lionsgate. Hidden Pictures has gotten off the ground with a film rights deal in competition for the Freida McFadden bestselling novel The Housemaid.

EXCLUSIVE:  Deadline has learned that Marisa Liston and David Edwards, Lionsgate’s president and executive vice president of theatrical marketing, will be stepping away from their posts. A new search is promptly underway by Lionsgate for a new head of marketing.

Keanu Reeves hits the stage at Lionsgate’s CinemaCon 2022 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Thursday (April 28).

John Wick: Chapter 4 doesn’t hit theaters until March 24, but it didn’t stop the pic’s leading man Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski from giving exhibitors at Caesars Palace Colosseum Theatre an early look.

Keanu Reeves’ John Wick is back for the fourth time, and he hasn’t slowed down a bit. Lionsgate teased “John Wick Chapter 4” in an exclusive look at CinemaCon with the action film’s first full trailer, and it’s even more of the slick, stylish and hyper-violent action that fans of the franchise can never get enough of. Lionsgate chair Joe Drake at CinemaCon compared the “John Wick” franchise to some of the subversive and unexpected ’70s movies of his childhood.

EXCLUSIVE:  Lionsgate has renewed its first-look film deal with 3Pas Studios, the production company run by producer Ben Odell and bilingual star Eugenio Derbez, Deadline has learned.

A biopic about Michael Jackson is in the works from Oscar-winning “Bohemian Rhapsody” producer Graham King and “Gladiator” screenwriter John Logan. Lionsgate will handle the worldwide distribution of the film, the studio’s chair Joe Drake said Monday.The studio said that the film will give, “an in-depth portrayal of the complicated man who became the King of Pop” and that it will bring to life his “most iconic performances as it gives an informed insight into the entertainer’s artistic process and personal life.” Also producing are John Branca and John McClain, who are co-executors the Michael Jackson estate.The Jackson business has been on the upswing of late, including the recently launched Broadway musical “ MJ: The Musical,” following a series of court victories that brought an end to serious legal crises.The 2019 HBO documentary “ Leaving Neverland ” raised child molestation allegations anew.

Graham King, who produced the Oscar-winning Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” will produce the film with the executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain. Three-time Oscar nominated screenwriter John McClain, whose credits include “The Aviator” and “Gladiator,” will write the script.

The Graham King produced Michael Jackson biopic project, which is being made with the blessing of the pop legend’s estate, is seeing its worldwide distribution rights snapped up by Lionsgate.

Heading into Lionsgate’s CinemaCon presentation this afternoon, the studio’s Motion Picture Group Chairman, Joe Drake, was trying to figure out what he wanted to say to the room of exhibitors.

Lionsgate has promoted Marisa Liston to president of worldwide marketing for the studio’s film group, chairman Joe Drake announced Monday. Liston, who was a 17-year veteran of Sony, joined Lionsgate in 2019 as EVP for earned media and communications, and she’s been leading the marketing department since March.

It’s good news for fans of “The Hunger Games”.

Joe Drake, the chairman of Lionsgate motion picture group, is opening up with a new update on the upcoming prequel movie for The Hunger Games.

Lionsgate’s Hunger Games prequel film based on Susan Collins’ novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is aiming to start production in the first half of 2022.

EXCLUSIVE: After recently committing to Under Cover, Lionsgate has entered into a producing deal with actor-producer Cole Sprouse to develop a new unidentified project for the studio.

Damon Wolf, the head of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group worldwide marketing, is exiting his role. The news was just revealed by group chairman Joe Drake in a note to staff. There’s no word on a replacement.

Lionsgate said Friday that it has finalized a reorganization of its Motion Picture Group, with chairman Joe Drake aligning the division into four key verticals — Marketing, Distribution, Strategy and Innovation, and Content — and setting the executives to oversee each.

Dave McNary Film ReporterLionsgate is laying off 15% of its motion picture group, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Joe Drake, chairman of the motion picture group, informed employees of the cuts on Thursday. A source said the layoffs will impact about 15% of the department.“While our business remains fundamentally strong, we are not immune to the ongoing COVID crisis that is impacting us like so many other studios,” Drake said in a note to employees.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorOn the day of its earnings call, Lionsgate has made the tough decision to cut 15% of its Global Motion Picture Group workforce.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorLionsgate film chief Joe Drake said the decision to skip theaters and make horror movie Antebellum a premium video-on-demand release does not mean theaters are fading from the scene.“I would love to see every one of our movies released theatrically,” the motion picture group chairman said during Lionsgate’s quarterly earnings call with Wall Street analysts.

Also Read: Janelle Monae Horror Film 'Antebellum' Scraps August Release“While the theatrical experience will always be the heart of our business, we are thrilled that we are able to seize the opportunity to match Gerard and Chris’s urgent and immediate film with a release strategy befitting this moment of extraordinary change,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Joe Drake.

By Anthony D'Alessandro

As movie theaters continue to shutter due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company will release the faith-based drama “I Still Believe” on premium VOD early, beginning on March 27.

It’s official — Lionsgate is preparing a sequel to its hit “Knives Out,” two of its top executives have confirmed.