Lionsgate today announced the first slate of feature films from its digital content business, recently branded Studio L. The studio’s initial slate is scheduled for release this spring, with a deep roster of additional feature and episodic projects already in the development pipeline. Each project reflects Studio L’s focus on content targeting millennial audiences in partnership with leading brands and digital platforms as well as distinctive creative voices.
The announcement was made by Studio L Executive Vice President Seth Laderman, who runs Lionsgate’s digital studio content initiatives under the oversight of Lionsgate Television Group COO Laura Kennedy. Studio L develops, finances, produces, and distributes premium and targeted feature film and episodic content, primarily in the digital space.
“In today’s fast-changing media landscape, Lionsgate is committed to creating and distributing various types of content for next generation audiences with some of the most exciting creative voices and innovative partners in our industry,” said Laderman. “The projects announced today signal our commitment to finding stand-out material, incubating new talent, and delivering authentic storytelling. We will also continue to cultivate and foster fresh opportunities with existing Lionsgate properties, all built around Studio L’s low-risk, high-reward distribution model.”
Studio L’s slate includes the coming-of-age female-driven drama The Honor List, with a stellar cast of rising young talent who also have massive social media followings. The film stars Meghan Rienks (Freakish, Mr. Student Body President), Sasha Pieterse (Pretty Little Liars, Inherent Vice), Karrueche Tran (Claws, The Bay), and Arden Cho (Teen Wolf). Helmed by Australian award-winning director Elissa Down (The Black Balloon, Confess) and produced by Liz Destro, Zoe, Cisely and Mariel Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures, and written by Marilyn Fu. The Honor List is the debut release of newly-launched Popsugar Films, the film unit of Popsugar, whose loyal audience generates over three billion content views monthly. It will be released May 11.
The slate is also highlighted by Most Likely to Murder, a feature film premiering at South by Southwest, starring Adam Pally (Happy Endings, The Mindy Project), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men) in a home-for-the-holidays noir-comedy. Releasing May 1, Most Likely to Murder is the brainchild of the writing-producing team of Dan Gregor who directs the film in his feature debut; and Doug Mand, who plays the supporting character, Duane. This will be their first feature film following much success in television including writing for the hit shows Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and How I Met Your Mother.
Studio L has inked another ground-breaking content partnership with new media network Brat, and will distribute their first full-length feature film, Chicken Girls: The Movie, a feature film-scaled extension of the wildly popular YouTube sensation, The Chicken Girls series that has generated nearly 100 million views. Brat features rising talent in coming-of-age productions. Chicken Girls: The Movie will be released later in the spring.
Other Studio L projects include a second Blue Mountain State film, following the success of Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland, based on the popular Lionsgate television series; a series based on Lionsgate’s blockbuster film, The Blair Witch Project, a series based on the Lionsgate comedy hit Waiting, and film production partnerships with BuzzFeed and The Onion targeted to their large and passionate audiences.
