Relativity Media Taking Over Distribution Of Gerard Butler-Starrer 'Machine Gun Preacher' From Lionsgate

Interesting......


http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/relativity-media-taking-over-distribution-of-gerard-butler-starrer-machine-gun-preacher-from-lionsgate/


Relativity Media Taking Over Distribution Of Gerard Butler-Starrer 'Machine Gun Preacher' From Lionsgate
By MIKE FLEMING | Tuesday June 14, 2011 @ 8:13pm EDT


EXCLUSIVE: Relativity Media will be taking over from Lionsgate the North American distribution of the Marc Forster-directed Machine Gun Preacher. Relativity Media will set a fall release and is expected to platform the picture for Oscar season. Early word is that Forster might have pulled a performance out of Gerard Butler akin to the one Halle Berry turned in for Monster's Ball.

The film is a fact-based drama about Sam Childers, a reformed badass who established an orphanage in war-torn Sudan and then supervised a militia to protect the kids who were being kidnapped to become child soldiers. Butler plays Childers, and Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon, Madeline Carroll, Kathy Baker and Souleymane Sy Savane also star. Jason Keller wrote the script that was based on memoir Another Man‘s War: The True Story of One Man‘s Battle to Save Children in the Sudan.

Lionsgate acquired the film last June, and it is completed. The move involved a personal ask by Forster, who wanted the film to be released this year. Lionsgate has a crowded release schedule and just couldn't do it. Forster and Lionsgate's Joe Drake have a relationship that goes back to Monster's Ball, and that is why this is happening. Lionsgate will still handle the international rights on the film. It gives Relativity Media a horse in the Oscar race, after Ryan Kavanaugh's company rode The Fighter pretty far last year.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/relativity-distribute-marc-forsters-machine-201405

Relativity to Distribute Marc Forster's 'Machine Gun Preacher'The film, starring Gerard Butler and Michele Monaghan, is a biopic of Sam Childers.

Relativity Media is negotiating to take over U.S. distribution of the Marc Forster-directed Machine Gun Preacher from Lionsgate. The film will be released in the fall, though no date has yet been chosen.

The film, starring Gerard Butler and Michelle Monaghan, is a biopic of Sam Childers, a drug-dealing biker who found God and became an activist on behalf of child soldiers in Sudan. Jason Keller wrote the screenplay for the $30 million, independently financed production.

Sources say Lionsgate's packed fall release schedule, and Relativity's relatively spare one, led the companies to the arrangement. Lionsgate, which will still release the action movie internationally, has Warrior and Abduction hitting theaters in September and the Jason Statham actioner Safe opening in October. Relativity has two open months between Shark Night 3D in early September and Immortals in November.

Relativity needs product for its distribution pipeline and has been aggressively pursuing projects.

Interesting article, although it cites reviews on fansites, imdb etc. So I wonder about how objective they are. I am interested in seeing this film, and it would be great if it was a good film with good performances....I need something after TBH. That was painful.


http://thefilmstage.com/2011/06/14/does-gerard-butler-have-oscar-chances-for-marc-forsters-machine-gun-preacher/?utm_source=wordtwit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wordtwit


Does Gerard Butler Have Oscar Chances For Marc Forster’s ‘Machine Gun Preacher?’



The quick and practical answer to that question would be no, but stay with me. Gerard Butler‘s career has been mostly based on being a hunk of meat. Sometimes that hunk is used to charm the ladies (The Ugly Truth, The Bounty Hunter), and other times it is used for men with enticing action (300, Gamer, Law Abiding Citizen). It finally looks like he may be expanding his horizons. He has the highly-buzzed Coriolanus, the directorial debut of Ralph Fiennes, but there is also another film coming this year that is getting more recognition, and a new distributor.

Deadline reports that Relativity Media has taken over the North American distribution of Marc Forster‘s Machine Gun Preacher from Lionsgate. Butler stars alongside Michelle Monaghan, Kathy Baker, and Michael Shannon, in the “fact-based” film that follows Sam Childers, “a reformed badass who established an orphanage in war-torn Sudan and then supervised a militia to protect the kids who were being kidnapped to become child soldiers.”

Due to a request from Forster to release the film this year, the busy Lionsgate handed it to Relativity, who plan a fall release and an awards campaign. That last section may have caught you off guard, but there is said to be an Oscar-caliber performance from Butler, “akin to the one Halle Berry turned in for Monster’s Ball.” I couldn’t take this comment on its own, and I knew there have been a few test screenings in the LA area last month, so I scrounged up some comments from those who attended below. You can also check out extended ones on an un-official fan site of his, but I think the following comments give a more well-rounded view of the possibilities in store.

Had the good fortune last night to see a private screening of the not yet released film “Machine Gun Preacher” starring Gerard Butler in the true story of Sam Childers, a defender of Sudanese orphans. EASILY one of the most moving films I’ve EVER seen, I predict Butler will get Oscar nod portraying Childers, an extraordinary human being who proves ANYONE can turn their life around & be a force for good in the world. [source]

Saw this movie at an advanced screening with my husband last night and we both enjoyed it very much, not so much the subject matter (very sad) but the movie in general. VERY intense. At one point my husbands arm accidentally touched mine and I practically hit the ceiling (that’s how pi$$ed this movie got me). It’s one of those films that stays in your head for days. Michael Shannon was excellent and practically unrecognizable. I loved his character in World Trade Center. Great job by Gerard Butler and Souleymane Sy Savane too. Highly recommend! [source

Heard from a client who saw a screening of Gerard Butlers new film "Machine Gun Preacher." Film made her cry, she says it's a must see. [source]

I seriously was totally blown away by the film and by Sam’s story. It is the role of Gerard Butler’s career, for sure. There is A LOT of violence in it, but it’s necessary to show a realistic look at the incredible suff…ering of the kids in Sudan. I must have cried 10 different times during the film. [source]

Machine Gun Preacher Movie Preview last nite in LA. WOW 28 points above the avg.. Its gonna be BIG [source]

I just got back from a private screening of an upcoming motion picture called the “Machine Gun Preacher”. I believe this film is going to create a lot dialogue around peace vs. conflict to solve an issue. Marc Forster did a brilliant job directing. Stars Gerald Butler and Souleymane Sy Savane. [source]

Do you think Butler has a chance this awards season? Was this film on your radar?

Rotten Tomatoes has the release date listed at Sept 30, 2011.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/machine_gun_preacher/

However, Deborah Giarratana posted this on her twitter. So there should be an official announcement soon:

Quote :

Yes- a new distributor for #machinegunpreacher -producers are very happy & official release date to be announced next week.

http://twitter.com/DeborahGGFilmz/status/81410917417492480

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/07/gerard-butler-machine-gun-preacher-relativity-media/


Relativity acquires Gerard Butler's 'Machine Gun Preacher'
by Lanford Beard

Machine Gun Preacher, Gerard Butler’s upcoming foray into serious drama, has been acquired by Relativity Media. Michelle Monaghan, Kathy Baker, and Michael Shannon also star in the film, based on the true story of former drug-dealing criminal Sam Childers (Butler). After finding faith, Childers travels to Sudan and is shocked by the brutality he sees. He becomes a crusader for hundreds of refugee children and brings peace to his own life in the process.

Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) directed and Jason Keller (Relativity’s untitled Snow White project starring Julia Roberts as the evil Queen) wrote the project. Relativity will theatrically market and distribute the film throughout North America in advance of its limited-release opening on Sept. 23.