Tatopolous directs Clive Barker's Midnight Train

Lakeshore Entertainment and Lionsgate, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, plan to begin production this summer on MIDNIGHT TRAIN, a grisly suspense/thriller feature based on Clive Barker's best selling short story, "Midnight Meat Train," it was jointly announced today by Lakeshore Entertainment and Lionsgate. The film will be directed by one of the industry's top production and creature design specialists, Patrick Tatopoulos (UNDERWORLD, GODZILLA, INDEPENDENCE DAY). Lionsgate plans to release the film in the United States next year and will be selling international rights at the Cannes Film Festival.

"'Midnight Meat Train' is one of my most treasured stories. Fans have been clamoring for years to see this film made and now with Lakeshore's and Lionsgate's help, we will deliver this grisly story to the screen," said Barker. Referring to director Patrick Tatopoulos, he continued, "Working with Patrick has been a dream come true. His unique vision is exactly what the terrors in midnight meat train need to come to life. Patrick has an extraordinary eye, both for the gruesome and the sexual." MIDNIGHT TRAIN follows the story of Leon, a Gotham-based photographer whose efforts to track down "the subway butcher" lead to an unholy secret.

Jeff Buhler wrote the screenplay for the film based on Barker's short story from his "Books of Blood" series which are published worldwide in over 25 languages. Barker's writer, producer and directing credits include the HELLRAISER franchise, CANDYMAN and LORD OF ILLUSIONS. MIDNIGHT TRAIN will be the first feature directed by award-winning special effects designer Patrick Tatopolous, whose previous credits for production design, special effects and creation of some of the most notorious creatures in film in recent years also include: SILENT HILL, UNDERWORLD I&II, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, and I ROBOT.

MIDNIGHT TRAIN builds on Lionsgate's continuing leadership in the horror genre. In addition to recent blockbusters such as the SAW franchise, Lionsgate's slate includes SEE NO EVIL, starring WWE superstar Kane, the riveting horror film THE DESCENT (August 2006), SAW III (Halloween 2006), and SKINWALKERS (December 2006).