Good news, everyone! After twelve years of activating their Wonder Twin powers, Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment Group have announced that they're inking a new multiyear deal! As per the arrangement, Grindstone President and CEO Barry Brooker and principal Stan Wertlieb have shared a slate of star-studded features that include everything from a new action vehicle starring Mel Gibson to a comedy starring Pauly Shore. That's right, I said Pauly Shore, the Weasel himself!
Let's run down the list of upcoming projects, shall we?
First on the block is the aforementioned Mel Gibson action thriller, titled FORCE OF NATURE, which also stars Emile Hirsch and Kate Bosworth. Next up we have the thriller ROGUE, which finds JENNIFER'S BODY star Megan Fox taking center stage. Also included on the slate is a comedy called GUEST HOUSE, which sees Pauly Shore starring alongside Aimee Teagarden, Mike Castle and Steve O. Yup, Steve O of JACKASS fame! Last but certainly not least, we have OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN frontman Gerard Butler gearing up for a thriller titled HAIR OF THE DOG.
“This extension continues a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship for both our companies,” said Lionsgate Worldwide Home Entertainment President Ron Schwartz. “Barry and Stan are the best in the business and have built Grindstone into a home for great talent, exciting properties and a source of consistent profitability. We look forward to expanding our partnership with one of the most innovative and recognizable brands in the multiplatform streaming space.”
“Lionsgate provides an amazing global content platform for our films, and we look forward to extending and expanding our long and successful collaboration with Ron and his world-class team,” said Brooker and Wertlieb. “Our relationships with leading producers, filmmakers and stars continues to drive our ability to distinguish ourselves as innovators in the current streaming environment, and we will continue to pivot to take advantage of the marketplace. We will also continue to pursue a more global approach to our business as we work strategically with top content creators around the world.”
If you're all like, who's Grindhouse, and what have they produced as a part of their longtime partnership with Lionsgate? Well, are you familiar with the ESCAPE PLAN franchise? You know, the Stallone-fronted prison break films? Grindhouse helped bring the last two chapters of the franchise, ESCAPE PLAN 2: HADES and ESCAPE PLAN 3: THE EXTRACTORS, to screen. They're also responsible for THE POISON ROSE, a 2019 thriller starring John Travolta and Morgan Freeman, which is inspired by the classic film noir genre. Are any of these films box office barn burners? Hell no. But there's still plenty of fun to be had with each one. I say bring em on!