West Palm Beach, Fla. –
said it has reached a five-year, first-look deal with Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment Group for television, DVD and digital rights in the U.S. and in
select foreign territories.
Under the agreement, the first of the AMG films released by
(WHV) will be the animated
3D feature “The Lion of Judah.” It is slated to hit 1,000 domestic theaters
this spring through a distribution agreement with Rocky Mountain Pictures.
Voice actors in the film include Scott Eastwood (“Invictus,” “Gran
Torino,” “Pride,” “Flags of Our Fathers”); Michael Madsen (“Donnie Brasco,” “Kill
Bill” [Vols. 1 & 2,], “Reservoir Dogs”); and Ernest Borgnine (“Red,” “The
Wild Bunch,” “The Dirty Dozen,” “Marty,” “From Here to Eternity,” TV’s “McHale’s
Navy”).
The film tells the Easter story through the eyes of stable
animals, and was produced by Animated Family Films, the animation arm of AMG
Holdings.
The film has amassed strong support and anticipation from
churches and faith-based organizations.
Tim Warren, AMG Films president, said: “This is a significant
milestone in our young company’s history. We are excited to be partnering with
Warner Home Entertainment Group for the release of “The Lion of Judah” and on
our entire slate of animated and live-action films.”
Other 2D and 3D animated and live-action features in
development/production at AMG include:
• “An African Tale,” a $30 million-budget, animated, family
feature about the offspring of jungle and plains animals overcoming decades of
mistrust and enmity.
• “Bethlehem or Bust,”
the $12 million-budget prequel to “The Lion of Judah,” starring Borgnine, Omar Miller (“The
Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “8 Mile”) Alphonso McAuley (“Pride,” “Glory Road”) and
world-renowned gospel singer Sandi Patti (“The Lion of Judah”), to be released in
2D and 3D.
• “Perfect Wave,” a
live-action film with a $10 million budget based on the true story of surfer
Ian McCormack who travels to Bali in a quest to catch “the perfect wave,” but
dies when stung by a jellyfish. Experiencing both heaven and hell, he does
indeed encounter the ideal ride before returning to life.
• “Heart of a Man,” a
$65 million-budgeted live-action feature from AMG’s Prelude Pictures arm about the
real-life story of John Newton — famed 18th century, Caucasian seaman who was
“gifted” to a West African princess as a slave — and the prequel to “Amazing
Grace.”
• “Our Father,” a
dramatic comedy written by John Candy and Gene Quintano (in which Candy was
slated to star prior to his death). The
$15 million-budget film will feature numerous celebrity cameos by friends of
Candy.
