Lions Gate Films Secures

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Lions Gate Films, the motion picture acquisition, production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment, has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the horror thriller "Saw" from Evolution Management, it was announced today by Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate Films Releasing, and Peter Block, president of Lions Gate Home Entertainment, Acquisitions and New Media. A 2004 release is planned.

"I am a huge fan of the locked in a room thriller, and 'Saw' delivers and more," said Block. "James Wan has crafted a cool and unique concept and Evolution Management has a keen eye for the kind of new talent with whom we are thrilled to be working. We are excited to debut this terrific film in the Sundance 'Park City at Midnight' section, continuing to build our leadership in the horror/thriller genre."

"This movie is the perfect fit for Lions Gate and Evolution Management," said Oren Koules of Evolution Management. "Lions Gate is the most daring and ingenious distributor of genre material in the business. Their success with films such as 'Cabin Fever' and 'House of 1000 Corpses' and the Toronto acquisition 'Haute Tension,' plus their dedication and resolve to this picture, sold us from day one. We are honored to be working with such a respected and knowledgeable team."

"Saw" revolves around a series of gruesome deaths (in the style of "Seven") orchestrated by a psychopath the police have nicknamed Jigsaw because his calling card is a bloody brand in the shape of a jigsaw puzzle piece left on his victims. Waking up in a mysterious room, Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell) find they are chained to the wall and have no idea how they got there. They find themselves the trapped victims of a serial killer's twisted game in this stylish thriller about escape, survival and the furious race against time.

The film stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter and Leigh Whannell in his first starring role. It is directed by James Wan, from a screenplay by Leigh Whannell, produced by Gregg Hoffman, Oren Koules and Mark Burg and executive produced by Stacey Testro, with cinematography by David A. Armstrong.

Lions Gate Entertainment is the leading, diversified independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, home entertainment, family entertainment, television programming and video-on-demand content, and its prolific and prestigious library of more than 8000 titles is the largest in the indie world. The distinctive Lions Gate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

Source: Lions Gate Films

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