I’ve never read Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game,” but from all accounts it’s one of the seminal pieces of science fiction written in the past century. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1986, and a film version has been in the works for years. Now, director Gavin Hood is one month away from production on a movie starring Hugo‘s Asa Butterfield as the lead character, and a few more names have jumped on board.

Sir Ben Kingsley will play the role of Mazer Rackham, a former war hero who trains Ender in Command School. Brandon Soo Hoo (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) joins as Fly Molo, one of Ender’s fellow soldiers. Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), and Abigail Breslin are also aboard the project.

Like I said, I’m totally unfamiliar with everything about this book. A cursory glance over the details gives me the impression that the book had a great deal of influence on the Halo video game franchise, but I don’t want to read too deeply into the synopsis if I’m going to see a movie version in just over a year. So I’ll throw it to the people who actually know what they’re talking about with this one: fans of the book, are you looking forward to the movie version? Knowing these characters, do Kingsley and Soo Hoo sound like good fits? I’m depending on your comments to either build or deflate my excitement for this film, which hits theaters March 15, 2013.

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Back in November we heard that Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment were in talks about a possible merger which, if successful, would make The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games part of the same family. Talks appeared to slow down towards the end of 2011, but now it has been announced that Lionsgate will acquire Summit Entertainment.

You can read the press release from Deadline below:

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 13, 2012 – Lionsgate (“the Company”) and Summit Entertainment today announced that Lionsgate has completed a transaction to acquire Summit for a combination of cash and stock valued at $412.5 million.

The transaction unites two leading studios with powerful brands and complementary assets, solidifying Lionsgate’s position as the world’s largest and most diversified independent entertainment company. By acquiring Summit, Lionsgate enhances its feature film and home entertainment offerings and further broadens its 13,000 title filmed entertainment library to include such titles as The Twilight Saga, The Hurt Locker and Red. The integration of both Summit’s domestic and international theatrical film operations will significantly enhance Lionsgate’s production and distribution capacity, while also extending the Company’s worldwide reach and creating a dominant international sales organization.

The transaction brings together Summit’s Twilight Saga feature film franchise, which has already grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and Lionsgate’s highly anticipated Hunger Games franchise, which opens on March 23, 2012. Lionsgate will also continue to benefit from its premier television production and distribution business, its array of branded film and television properties, its suite of branded channels and its success as an innovator in creating and distributing content for digital platforms. Both the Lionsgate and Summit labels are expected to continue and be active in the production and distribution of films, although the combined company expects to realize significant synergies through the consolidation of administrative and other costs.

“This transaction continues Lionsgate’s long-term growth strategy of building a diversified worldwide media company through a combination of disciplined, accretive strategic acquisitions and organic growth while maintaining a solid balance sheet,” said Lionsgate Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns. “We are uniting two powerful entertainment brands, bringing together two world-class feature film franchises to establish a commanding position in the young adult market, strengthening our global distribution infrastructure and creating a scalable platform that will result in significant and accretive financial benefits to Lionsgate shareholders. Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger have built a remarkable organization, and we’re pleased to welcome Summit’s talented team to the Lionsgate family. Lionsgate’s growth has been built over the years in part by the successful acquisition and integration of companies like Trimark, Artisan, Redbus, Debmar-Mercury, Mandate and TV Guide Network and, in each case, Lionsgate has emerged stronger and the Company’s brand has become more resonant.”

“Jon Feltheimer, Michael Burns and the rest of the Lionsgate team have built an exciting and entrepreneurial content leader over the past 12 years, and we’re delighted to join together these two great companies,” said Summit Entertainment’s Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. “We believe that the combined entity will be even greater than the sum of its parts and our dramatically enlarged media platform will create tremendous opportunities for all of us within the Summit and Lionsgate families. We want to thank our employees, whose hard work and creativity have led to the successful evolution of Summit into a leading worldwide studio, and the combination of Lionsgate and Summit will be the next chapter in creating a true global media powerhouse.”

“As demonstrated by this acquisition, Lionsgate remains focused on preserving a strong balance sheet while pursuing its long-term growth strategy,” said Dr. Mark H. Rachesky, Co-Chairman of the Lionsgate Board of Directors. “We are big believers in the increasing value of content and this transaction strengthens Lionsgate’s asset base while providing significant financial benefits, including highly visible cash flow and revenue. We are looking forward to realizing the value of a Lionsgate-Summit combination for all Lionsgate shareholders.”

The majority of the purchase price was funded with cash on the balance sheet at Summit. The remainder was funded with $55 million of existing Lionsgate cash, $45 million of cash received from a newly issued series of Lionsgate convertible notes, $50 million of Lionsgate common stock and an additional $20 million of cash or stock to be issued at Lionsgate’s option within 60 days. At closing, Summit’s existing term loan was refinanced with a $500 million debt facility, secured by the collateral of the Summit assets. Although the term loan matures in 2016, the Company anticipates repaying the loan well before the maturity date, due to the significant cash flow the business is expected to generate. In addition, this expected cash flow will facilitate the Company’s financial objective of further deleveraging Lionsgate’s balance sheet. The transaction is expected to be significantly accretive in Lionsgate’s 2013 fiscal year beginning
April 1, 2012.

JP Morgan, Barclays Capital, and Jefferies served as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners on financing the acquisition for Lionsgate. JP Morgan, Barclays Capital, and Jefferies also served as financial advisors to the Company. Barclays Capital provided a fairness opinion to Lionsgate. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as outside legal counsel for Lionsgate. Liner Grode Stein LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as outside legal counsel for Summit.

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According to sources at Bloomberg Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment are currently in talks about a possible merger which, if successful, could make The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games part of the same family.

Lionsgate and Summit have entered numerous merger talks over the years but they’ve all broken down due to issues of money and control. While Lionsgate has about $550 million in debt the company has 13,000 movie and TV titles in its library, including Mad Men and the Saw franchise, and The Hunger Games could develop into a 4 movie franchise and generate $700 million in box office sales if it’s a hit next March.

Summit Entertainment, meanwhile, has raised $750 million this year to finance future movies, and once The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 ends its run next year the box office sales for the franchise will total over $3 billion. While that will keep Summit in business for the foreseeable future the company has yet to find a property to replace Twilight, so joining forces with Lionsgate may ensure stability and allow the mini-studios to compete with the likes of Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal and 20th Century Fox.

There’s talk of other companies being interested in a deal with Summit or Lionsgate either separately or in some kind of combination, so a straight Lionsgate/Summit merger may not happen and talks could still break down again, but a Lionsgate/Summit pairing does make a lot of sense.

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There’s no question about it. Audiences love comic book movies, with fan anticipation levels boiling over for next summer’s Avengers movie and, of course, The Dark Knight Rises. Coincidentally, Hollywood loves them just as much as the fans, but what reason could that be? Well yea I suppose it would have a little to do with the amount of money they make, but with as the box office’s history as evidence with movies like The Dark Knight or even the Spider-Man, they don’t make that much. *sarcasm* *sarcasm*

Yes of course they make tons of money because audiences just can’t get enough of them! It’s become almost a proficiency that any movie adapted from a mainstream comic book is destined to become a success at the box office (well sometimes anyway). So in response to that unconventional love, Summit Entertainment has decided they want in on the comic book scene and have acquired the film rights for. Wait for it. Area 52! Wait, you’ve never heard of it?

Well here’s a quick synopsis, as well as more info, thanks to Collider:

The story centers on a top-secret warehouse in Antarctica named Area 52 where countless otherworldly discoveries are stored. An alien killing machine is accidentally hatched in the lab, and the ragtag group of misfits tasked with manning the facility must use the stored mythological weapons and artifacts to stop the creature before it destroys the world.

On paper, it seems to throw off a Alien/The Thing meets Thor vibe, with the whole mythological weapons and all. Now, though the story seems pretty solid, will that prove to be enough for audiences to flock to the theaters for a movie based on a comic that’s almost virtually unheard of? Well if this past summer’s Cowboys and Aliens is any proof, which completely bombed at the box office despite a surprisingly great movie filled with thrilling moments and interesting characters, it seems that Area 52 will have it’s work cut out for it. Only time will tell once production actually begins.

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Nicholas Hoult is keeping himself busy. Last month the actor, who will be seen as Beast in X-Men: First Class, landed the role of Jack in Bryan Singer’s Jack the Giant Killer. Now Hoult has joined Summit Entertainment’s adaptation of Isaac Marion’s novel Warm Bodies which has been described as ‘Twilight meets Shaun of the Dead‘.

The book follows an existentially-tormented zombie named R that begins an unlikely friendship with the human girlfriend of one of his victims. The blossoming relationship starts a chain reaction that will transform him, his fellow zombies and maybe the whole lifeless world.

Jonathan Levin (The Wackness) is directing and Summit aim to shoot later this year, after Hoult completes Jack the Giant Killer. Nicholas Hoult is quickly becoming a leading man, although he is still relatively unknown to most. He began his acting career opposite Hugh Grant in About a Boy and following the success of UK TV drama Skins he landed roles in Clash of the Titans and A Single Man with Colin Firth.

Hoult also has work booked for 2012, as he is attached to star in Fury Road alongside Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy.

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Earlier this month we heard that Oscar winning director Bill Condon was in talks to direct the final Twilight film, Breaking Dawn. Now it has been made official. The man behind Gods and Monsters, Dreamgirls, and the Chicago screenplay will be taking his first steps into the world of movie franchises via Twilight.

From EW:

“I’m very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life on-screen. As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book – and we’re hoping to create an equally unique cinematic experience.”

Summit hasn’t decided whether the film will be split into two parts yet. If they do they will need to sign new deals with Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and the rest of the cast as they are only signed up for 4 movies.

Even if Summit end up paying the cast a bit extra it will be worth it. New Moon made over $700 million worldwide and Eclipse will probably made a similar amount. Whatever they decide it is likely that Breaking Dawn will begin shooting later this year in Vancouver.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will be released on June 30th.

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Bill Condon, the Oscar winning director behind Gods and Monsters, Dreamgirls, and the Chicago screenplay, is in negotiations to direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn for Summit Entertainment.

According to Deadline Summit has had “several strong meetings” with the director and he has emerged as the number one choice. Condon was amongst directors such as Gus Van Sant, Sofia Coppola and Fernando Meirelles who Summit were eying to direct the final Twilight film, which will be split into two parts.

Shooting will begin later this year, and the plan is to shoot the two films back to back. Condon will have to harness all of his Oscar worthy skills when filming as the story is a bit different to the musicals and dramas we’ve seen from him in the past. For instance, [spoilers] Bella (Kristen Stewart) becomes pregnant and the baby ends up breaking most of her bones as it has inherited a vampire’s inhuman strength. Then, after Edward (Robert Pattinson) has given Bella a C-Section with his teeth, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) ‘imprints’ on the baby, which basically means he falls in love with it.

Eclipse will be released in June, and the release schedule for the Breaking Dawn movies has yet to be announced.

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With news that Summit Entertainment were looking at Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) and Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) to direct the final instalment of the Twilight franchise, Breaking Dawn, it was clear they were keen on getting a director of Oscar-calibre onboard. New Moon made over $700 million last year and Eclipse is expected to make an equally stupid amount, so they certainly have the money to tempt whoever they want.

Now comes word from the L.A Times that Summit have reached out to a director who has been nominated for a best directing Oscar for every feature he’s made.

Add this name to the list of high-end auteurs who are being considered for the director’s chair on “Breaking Dawn”: Stephen Daldry.

Yep, that Stephen Daldry, the man who directed such Oscar fare as “Billy Elliot,” “The Reader” and “The Hours.”

Like [the other directors being considered] there are not yet indications Daldry would actually take the gig, but the fact that Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the films, has reached out to him suggests where its intentions lie for the fourth film.

I’m not a ‘Twihard’ but I’ve enjoyed watching the success of Summit Entertainment over recent years. With a mammoth franchise on their hands and a recent Best Picture Oscar win with The Hurt Locker they have cemented themselves as a legitimate movie studio. Although I think the directors they are approaching are a bit ‘above’ the Twilight franchise, I have to give them credit for trying.

Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two films, is scheduled to begin filming towards the end of this year, which gives them a few more months to sign up a director.

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Summit Entertainment will be taking a leaf out of Harry Potter‘s book and will be splitting the final Twilight film, Breaking Dawn, into two films. According to Deadline Hollywood Summit aim to begin filming later this year, and Melissa Rosenberg (who has written the scripts for all the Twilight films) is currently in the process of adapting the book into screenplay form. They also mention that Summit are looking for “high end” directors to take on Breaking Dawn, which will be filmed back-to-back.

Splitting the film makes sense financially as Summit stand to make another $700+ million (yes, New Moon made over $700 million), and as the Twilight franchise is the main breadwinner for Summit they will need to milk it for all it’s worth.

It is also wise for Summit to be looking for ‘high end’ directors, considering the film could come off as laughable with a poor director in charge. For instance, (spoilers) Bella (Kristen Stewart) becomes pregnant and the baby ends up breaking most of her bones as it has inherited a vampire’s inhuman strength. Then, after Edward (Robert Pattinson) as given Bella a C-Section with his teeth, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) ‘imprints’ on the baby, which basically means he falls in love with it. I haven’t seen any of the films so far, but I may see Breaking Dawn simply to see how they handle it.

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Summit Entertainment has announced they are developing a television series based on the 2009 film Push. The film, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning, was essentially a “superheroes vs. government” story, but stood out because of its slick visuals and fantastic production design.

So why would we be interested in another show so similar to Heroes? Because David Hayter, the writer of Bryan Singer’s X-Men and co-writer of X2 and Watchmen, is writing the pilot episode and will be executive producing the series. The program will be “an extension of the film,” and offers “a broad and rich canvas on which to extend the storyline and characters introduced in the feature film.” You can read the press release in full over at Slashfilm.

I’m cautiously optimistic about the potential for this series. I enjoyed the film probably more than I should have (I’m a sucker for superheroes, and McGuigan’s Lucky Number Slevin is one of my favorite films of the past decade), so I’m interested to see if they can separate themselves from similar subject matter on other channels and do so with a degree of success. Let us know what you think in the comments section.

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