Lionsgate's 'The Hunger Games' to Screen in China

TORONTO - Lionsgate's The Hunger Games is not due in theaters until March 2012, however the small-studio has already been ramping up for any global release on numerous fronts, including China.our editor recommendsLionsgate Posts Q2 Loss on Box Office Duds'Hunger Games': 8 New Posters In the Approaching Lionsgate Movie (Photos)Jennifer Lawrence: 'Hunger Games Isn't Twilight' PHOTOS: 'The Hunger Games' Official Posters Lionsgate co-COO Joe Drake on Thursday told entertainment experts throughout a morning call that the distribution deal for that major Asian market is at place. Requested when the Hunger Games will number one of the 20 foreign films okayed every year by Chinese government bodies for motion picture viewing, Drake clarified coyly: "We are launched in China." Simultaneously, the indie studio's first movie within the trilogy of adaptations from Suzanne Collins' books, looking for theatrical release on March 23, 2012, won't screen in Imax theaters. Drake stated other large format theaters possessed and operated by major exhibition chains will screen The Hunger Games, but Imax won't follow because of a pre-existing agreement having a rival studio. The most recent news around the approaching discharge of The Hunger Games came as Lionsgate talked about its latest financial results with experts. PHOTOS: 'The Hunger Games' Start Looking The large profits to become potentially spun-removed from the approaching March 2012 release and future sequels goes a way to shoring up confidence in Lionsgate's theatrical release slate, after it published a $24.six million Q2 2011 loss Wednesday because of poor box office from Conan the Barbarian, Warrior and Abduction. With much hinging how The Hunger Games works in theaters, Lionsgate can also be thinking of getting a hostile retailing program to emerge alongside a lucrative movie franchise in the teen book trilogy. Vancouver-based Lionsgate has arranged Striker Entertainment, exactly the same certification and retailing agency that handles the Twilight franchise for Summit Entertainment. "We have a similar A-team aboard. Using their guidance, we are strong in niche stores, be very present, although not over-push merchandise starting the theatrical release," Drake told experts. The process would be to first establish the theatrical movie brand before evolving strongly into large box merchants using the Hunger Games merchandise. Lionsgate professionals also met with worldwide distribution partners in the American Film Market a week ago, screening a clip for that Hunger Games and talking about a worldwide day-and-date release pattern. Drake was adamant Lionsgate stands to learn handsomely when the approaching March 2012 release lives as much as anticipation and out-works in global theaters. "We could carve very favorable deals. Not just did we sell the title well, to assist mitigate a hazard, but we now have enormous upside," he stated. Related Subjects Worldwide Lionsgate Hunger Games Conan the Barbarian