Gerard Butler's Machine Gun Preacher Goes To Lionsgate And September

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Gerard-Butler-s-Machine-Gun-Preacher-Goes-To-Lionsgate-And-September-25581.html



Gerard Butler's Machine Gun Preacher Goes To Lionsgate And September


Hey remember when Gerard Butler was on his way to becoming this badass action star? Yeah, me neither. Now he’s that guy who does rom-coms with Katherine Heigl or, in the case of Machine Gun Preacher, plays a former badass turned peacenik.

CinemaBlend.com has learned that Machine Gun Preacher has just been picked up for distribution by Lionsgate and we can further confirm that it does not have Katherine Heigl in it. I mean, at least that’s a step in the right direction. Instead Butler stars opposite Michelle Monaghan (Source Code), Kathy Baker (Cold Mountain), and Michael Shannon in the true story of a drug-drug dealing criminal who finds Jesus. Sam Childers (Butler) reformed faith in the Lord leads him to East Africa where he’s shocked by all the horrible things going on in Sudan. To help refugee children, Childers becomes a crusader (not the caped kind) who creates a safe haven for Africans fleeing the brutality of war.

Machine Gun Preacher has been in the can for awhile now, Lionsgate’s newly announced involvement merely guarantees that you’ll be able to see it. The movie may not return Gerard Butler to his proper place on screen, kicking ass, but it is directed by Marc Forster who knows a thing or two about these redemptive and emotional movies after his work on films like Monster’s Ball and Finding Neverland.

Expect Machine Gun Preacher to kick off its limited release in New York and Los Angeles on September 23, 2011 with expansion into smaller markets to follow, depending on how it performs there.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/07/toldja-relativity-taking-over-distribution-of-machine-gun-preacher-from-lionsgate-release-date-set-for-sept-23/


TOLDJA! Relativity Taking Over Distribution Of 'Machine Gun Preacher' From Lionsgate; Release Date Set For Sept. 23
By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday July 7, 2011


We reported last month that Relativity Media would acquire from Lionsgate the North American distribution rights to Machine Gun Preacher, the Marc Forster-directed fact-based drama that evidently features a big-time performance from star Gerard Butler. Forster wanted the film to be released this year, but Lionsgate said its schedule was too crowded (Lionsgate does retain international rights on the movie). Now Forster will get his wish. The Sept. 23 premiere in Los Angeles and New York before expanding wide also puts Butler's performance squarely in the awards-season wheelhouse. Here's today's release:

Beverly Hills, CA (July 7, 2011) – Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired North American rights from Lionsgate to theatrically market and distribute Machine Gun Preacher. Directed and produced by DGA and Golden Globe®-nominee Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) and written by Jason Keller (Relativity’s Untitled Snow White Project), the film stars Gerard Butler (300) in a tour de force performance and will release in Los Angeles and New York on September 23, 2011. The film will expand markets in the weeks to follow. Lionsgate will continue to oversee international distribution on the film, working in partnership with Relativity.
The film also showcases powerful performances by an ensemble cast, including Michelle Monaghan (Due Date), Kathy Baker (Cold Mountain), Oscar®-nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), Madeline Carroll (The Spy Next Door) and breakout actor Souleymane Sy Savane (Goodbye Solo). Machine Gun Preacher is based on the true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who finds faith leading him on a path to East Africa. Shocked by the mayhem in Sudan, Childers becomes a crusader for hundreds of refugee children. Inspired to create a safe haven for the multitudes fleeing enslavement by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army, he restores peace to their lives and eventually his own. Producing are Relativity’s Robbie Brenner, Safady Entertainment’s Gary Safady and Craig Chapman, and GG Filmz’s Deborah Giarratana.

“This is a powerful story, and we feel strongly that it is one audiences need to see. Forster once again proves that he is among the best directors of our time and Butler delivers a career-defining performance bolstered by a rock solid supporting cast,” says Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production, Tucker Tooley.

“We have a longstanding relationship with Marc, and given that together we felt it was best for the film to be released domestically this year, we are very happy that Relativity is able to handle it,” says Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate’s President of Motion Picture Production and Development.

Interesting comment after the Deadline article:

Quote :

Butler is indeed good in the film, but the whole is a bit unwieldy. Lots of good stuff and more complexity than you would expect.

Comment by Tawdry Hepburn — Thursday July 7, 2011 @ 11:45am PDT Reply to this post

Interesting comments following this one too:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2011/07/07/marc_forsters_machine_gun_preacher_starring_gerard_butler_set_for_september/


Marc Forster’s ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ Starring Gerard Butler Set For September 23rd Release

It was only a couple of weeks ago when it was announced that Marc Forster‘s “Machine Gun Preacher,” a potential Oscar vehicle for Gerard Butler, was moving from Lionsgate to Relativity who planned to give the film the full awards season treatment. And it looks like they are going to get this one out of the gate pretty damn early.

Relativity has announced that the film will kick off in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on September 23rd before rolling out to more cities in the weeks to follow. It might seem far too early to start an Oscar bid but the studio is likely hoping to use that time build critical consensus and word of mouth about the film that deals with some challenging material. Based on a true story, it’s a biopic of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing Hell’s Angel who found God, set up an orphanage in Sudan in the 1990s, and then formed a militia to prevent the children from being turned into child soldiers. Butler plays Childer, with a decent cast including Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon, Kathy Baker and Souleymane Sy Savane in support, and Marc Forster, who had moderate success in the awards race a few years back with both “Monster’s Ball” and “Finding Neverland,” is at the helm. All the ingredients are there, but will it work?

The filmmakers think so. Forster personally asked Lionsgate to move the film to a studio that would give it awards season push he thinks it deserves and early word is that Butler’s performance is truly something great. With the release now just a few months away, we’d guess trailer will pop up soon giving us a taste, and it seems inevitable that critics will get to sample it at TIFF. “And the winner is….Gerard Butler”? We don’t believe it now, but we’re willing to be convinced. [Deadline]

http://www.movieline.com/2011/07/gerad-butlers-machine-gun-preacher-picked-up-for-early-awards-season.php?_r=true





Gerad Butler’s Machine Gun Preacher Picked Up For Early Awards Season


Relativity Media sends word today that it has acquired Machine Gun Preacher, the Marc Forster-directed, Gerard Butler-starring biopic about a drug dealer-turned-man of God who becomes a crusader for refugee children in East Africa. And thus did the studio — with its Sept. 23 limited release date (and presumed Toronto Film Festival debut) — and its partners at Lionsgate enter the awards hunt. Full details about the film and its rollout are below.

Forster has directed awards-caliber performances before, calling “Action” for Halle Berry’s Oscar-winning turn in Monster’s Ball and for Johnny Depp’s Oscar-nominated work in Finding Neverland. His last foray into awards-season contention actually ended better than anyone remembered, with his 2007 adaptation of The Kite Runner taking home the Oscar for Best Score (thought it was notably DOA in the prestige categories, lost in the shadow of There Will Be Blood at Paramount Vantage). Stay tuned for more on this one as events (and/or clips and trailers) warrant.

====
(Beverly Hills, CA) July 7, 2011 - Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired North American rights from Lionsgate to theatrically market and distribute Machine Gun Preacher. Directed and produced by DGA and Golden Globe®-nominee Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) and written by Jason Keller (Relativity’s Untitled Snow White Project), the film stars Gerard Butler (300) in a tour de force performance and will release in Los Angeles and New York on September 23, 2011. The film will expand markets in the weeks to follow. Lionsgate will continue to oversee international distribution on the film, working in partnership with Relativity.

The film also showcases powerful performances by an ensemble cast, including Michelle Monaghan (Due Date), Kathy Baker (Cold Mountain), Oscar®-nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), Madeline Carroll (The Spy Next Door) and breakout actor Souleymane Sy Savane (Goodbye Solo).

Machine Gun Preacher is based on the true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who finds faith leading him on a path to East Africa. Shocked by the mayhem in Sudan, Childers becomes a crusader for hundreds of refugee children. Inspired to create a safe haven for the multitudes fleeing enslavement by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army, he restores peace to their lives and eventually his own.

Producing are Relativity’s Robbie Brenner, Safady Entertainment’s Gary Safady and Craig Chapman, and GG Filmz’s Deborah Giarratana.

“This is a powerful story, and we feel strongly that it is one audiences need to see. Forster once again proves that he is among the best directors of our time and Butler delivers a career-defining performance bolstered by a rock solid supporting cast,” says Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production, Tucker Tooley.

“The film is blessed to have two passionate partners in Relativity and Lionsgate. I’m excited to be working with both companies to bring the incredible story of Sam Childers to the world. I’m really proud of my cast, and all of their hard work in making this movie that means so much to all of us personally,” said Forster.

“We have a longstanding relationship with Marc, and given that together we felt it was best for the film to be released domestically this year, we are very happy that Relativity is able to handle it,” says Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate’s President of Motion Picture Production and Development.

http://www.hollywood.com/news/Gerard_Butlers_Machine_Gun_Preacher_Gets_New_Distributor_Release_Date/7814663


Gerard Butler's 'Machine Gun Preacher' Gets New Distributor, Release Date

By Thomas Leupp , Hollywood.com Staff | Thursday, July 07, 2011


Relativity Media announced today that it has struck a deal with Lionsgate to acquire the North American distribution rights for Machine Gun Preacher, a fact-based thriller starring Gerard Butler and directed by Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace). According to Relativity's press release, the film features a "tour de force" performance from Butler, and has thus been slapped with a September 23, 2011 release date -- prime awards-season territory. The effusive praise for Butler sounds a tad dubious, if only because the actor's recent oeuvre includes such Oscar kryptonite as The Bounty Hunter and The Awful Truth, but who am I to doubt a studio press release?

Machine Gun Preacher had been slated to languish on Lionsgate's shelf for the foreseeable future, with an approximate release date of "whenever we get around to it," as the studio focused on rolling out its glut of titles. In addition to Butler, the film stars Michelle Monaghan (Due Date), Kathy Baker (Cold Mountain), Michael Shannon (Superman: Man of Steel), Madeline Carroll (The Spy Next Door) and newcomer Souleymane Sy Savane (Goodbye Solo). It chronicles the true-life tale of Sam Childers, an American biker-gang member who found God, traveled to Sudan, and started an organization to aid victims of the Lord's Resistance Army, a para-military force infamous for its use of child soldiers.

Source: Relativity Media

Dallas wrote:

... such Oscar kryptonite as The Bounty Hunter and The Awful Truth ...

The last couple of paragraphs are interesting.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/07/machine-gun-preacher-leaves-lionsgate-for-relativity.html



'Machine Gun Preacher' gets new distributor, and Sept. 23 release date


Marc Forster may have brought Lionsgate an Academy Award with “Monster’s Ball,” but the studio says it can’t make room for the director’s new movie, “Machine Gun Preacher,” and has sold it to Relativity Media.

Lionsgate and Relativity said Thursday that Forster’s new film will switch studios, with Relativity scheduling the fact-based drama starring Gerard Butler for a limited release starting Sept. 23 in the hopes it might attract some awards attention.

Lionsgate, which released 2001’s “Monster’s Ball” (which won star Halle Berry the best actress Oscar), acquired the independently produced “Machine Gun Preacher” from financier Gary Safady last summer, with tentative plans for a fall 2011 release. The film stars Butler as Sam Childers, a former drug dealer who becomes a minister to refugee children in Sudan.

“We didn’t feel we could give it the attention it needed,” Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate’s president of motion picture production and development, said in explaining why it was selling the film to Relativity. “The slate was just packed." At least one other distributor looked at "Machine Gun Preacher" but did not buy it from Lionsgate.

Lionsgate does not currently have a film scheduled for release between Oct. 29 and the end of the year. But the studio is set to release six films in the next few months, including the mixed martial arts drama “Warrior” on Sept. 9. The studio also has several films set to debut in early 2012. Relativity's fall slate includes "Immortals" on Nov. 11.

Lionsgate will continue to handle “Machine Gun Preacher’s” international release. Said Paseornek: "We love the movie."

Hmm...we love the movie...we are not releasing any movie in November or December but our schedules are too full to release MGP in the US even then...we will release MGP internationally because it takes very little advertising to get foreign countries to buy American movies...

So Lionsgate is going to reap all the international money, and let someone else suffer the loss of US release. Smart. Rotten, but smart.

It also means they highly believe MGP will flop badly in the US.

Those of you in-the-know please tell how to make this happen:

I plan, have been planning for the longest, to attend MGP movie premiere. First, if it's released 9/23 when do you think the premiere will happen? That weekend or a week or so before?

Second, would you guys keep me apprised of the actual date and location if you get wind of it as I've asked for sometime off work but would love to know where I'm going and when.

Does anyone plan on attending?

Plus - and this is stalker talk - how might one get into an after-party? I'm really excited. Sorta hoping for more than a quick scribble and snap - a five min. conversation at least! Yeah...ha ha...yeah...

Any advice, anectdotes are appreciated!! Thanks:)

I only got into an after party because a friend of mine happened to have tix given to her for her and a "guest". Trust me, it wasn't anything to write home about. I'm glad I went simply to say I got to go to one, but in all honesty it was MUCH less fun than hanging out with normal folks who aren't trying to put on fake airs simply to impress people into getting something from them. That's what you see at these events...a lot of lip service, but it's shallow.

If you get into an after party, don't expect much face time with Gerry. When I went, he had a bodyguard with him at all times...even when he went to the bathroom. Not only that, but there were women all around him wanting pictures, autographs, facetime, whatever. To be honest, I think you'd probably have a better chance standing outside. Still, it is an experience if you get it. But don't go in with any expectations, because if you do you'll be disappointed. I did get to briefly share a table with Allen, though...

That being said, I wouldn't mind going to MGP premiere. I have some friends who were telling me about it, but they haven't told me a definite date/location yet. I have some time off, but I'll have to see how my finances are doing. I really wish they'd do that premiere in Philly, but I doubt that would happen.