Lionsgate Inks First-Look Deal With Vertigo Entertainment

September 24, 2020

After partnering with the studio on past films including Blair Witch, Flight 7500 and the forthcoming Cobweb, Lionsgate has signed a first-look motion picture deal with Vertigo Entertainment, recently known for producing hits including the It and The Lego Movie franchises.

The new pact will include motion pictures, stage, location-based entertainment, podcasts (except those intended to be developed for television series), and video games. With this wide-ranging deal, Vertigo becomes a prime provider to the studio’s slate. Vertigo’s television deal remains in place with Sony Pictures Television.

“Roy was one of our first friends in this business – ever since Nathan and Roy served as assistants together over 25 years ago,” Joe Drake, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman, said in a statement. “He’s now one of the most respected producers of big, branded IP and genre movies – bringing together filmmakers with distinct voices to the biggest titles and raising genre titles to event status. We’re thrilled to have him as a member of the extended Lionsgate team.”

Vertigo’s team consists of the producers Roy Lee and Miri Yoon, vice-president Andrew Childs, director of development Aengus McLoone with Robin Jones running the television side. Vertigo and Lionsgate are currently collaborating on the upcoming film Cobweb, soon to enter production, after previously teaming on the films The Eye, Abduction, and Blair Witch; in addition, Lee previously teamed with Drake and Kahane in their previous capacities as producers of the hit Grudge franchise and The Strangers, among other films.

“I’m grateful to be reuniting with Joe and Nathan,” Lee said in a statement. “This was an exciting opportunity not just because we get to work in every aspect of entertainment, but to do it with people I’ve admired and respected my whole career. I’m a big believer in everything Joe is doing to create a new Lionsgate and it’s exciting to be a part of it.”

Since returning to the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group in 2018, Drake has focused the studio’s content strategy in key genres that are natural extensions into Vertigo’s key strengths as producers.