Done Deal: Lionsgate Buys Summit for $412.5 M +'Twilight' saga may continue after fifth film, Lions Gate CEO says

From GossipCop

There’s a chance The Twilight Sagacould continue after the fifth film opens in November.

The bombshell was reportedly dropped by Jon Feltheimer, the chief executive officer of Lionsgate Entertainment, which acquired Twilight studio Summit Entertainment for $412.5 million on Friday.

“I’m anticipating Breaking Dawn – Part 2 being $700 million-plus in worldwide box office,” said Feltheimer of the final (planned) installment in the hit vampire franchise.

According to the Los Angeles Times, when asked whether Lionsgate could envision more Twilight past next fall’s fifth film, Feltheimer left the door open.

“It’s hard for me to imagine a movie that does $700 million-plus doesn’t have ongoing value,” he said. “It’s an amazing franchise that they have done a great job of maintaining with absolutely no deterioration.”

He added, “So the simple answer is, ‘Boy, I hope so.’”

It’s not clear whether a potential continuation would involve future films or a television series.

Would you want to see post-Breaking Dawn projects for Twilight?

From LA Times

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" may not be the end of Bella, Edward and Jacob's on-screen journey, according to the head of the franchise's new Hollywood home.

The chief executive of Lions Gate Entertainment, which on Friday acquired "Twilight" film studio Summit Entertainment for $412.5 mil..., said he believes the film franchise will continue to have value to his company,even after the Nov. 16 release of the fifth movie completes the adaptation of author Stephenie Meyer's four books.

"I'm anticipating 'Breaking Dawn Part 2' being $700 million-plus in worldwide box office," said Jon Feltheimer, predicting the next film would slightly outdo the $697 million global take of "Breaking Dawn Part 1."

Asked whether the franchise would continue in some form for Lions Gate, he added, "It's hard for me to imagine a movie that does $700 million-plus doesn't have ongoing value. It's an amazing franchise that they have done a great job of maintaining with absolutely no deterioration. So the simple answer is 'Boy I hope so.'"

One person close to the acquisition deal but not authorized to speak publicly suggested that because Lions Gate, unlike Summit, has a television production unit, it could adapt "Twilight" for the small screen.

Asked whether there was a possibility of bringing "Twilight" to television, Feltheimer answered, "I would certainly hope so."

From The Wrap

Done Deal: Lionsgate Buys Summit for $412.5 M

Lionsgate has purchased Summit for $412.5 million, the companies announced on Friday.

The two independent studios have been circling each other for months. The deal is being structured as a leveraged buyout, in the form of cash and stock.

"We are uniting two powerful entertainment brands, bringing together two world-class feature film franchises to establish a commanding position in the young adult market, strengthening our global distribution infrastructure and creating a scalable platform that will result in significant and accretive financial benefits to Lionsgate shareholders," Lionsgate Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns said in a statement.

"Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger have built a remarkable organization, and we're pleased to welcome Summit's talented team to the Lionsgate family," the pair added..

Read more here

From Variety.com

Lionsgate buys Summit for $412.5 million

Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate have agreed to walk down the aisle, combining the town's leading minimajors in a complex cash and stock deal worth $412.5 million.

The completed deal, which has been expected to close for the past week, was announced at the close of the market Friday. Lionsgate co-chairman and CEO Jon Feltheimer and vice chairman Michael Burns told Variety that final details were worked out at 3 a.m. PST on Friday. The deal is structured as a leveraged buyout with the majority of the purchase price funded with cash on the balance sheet at Summit.

"This transaction continues Lionsgate's long-term growth strategy of building a diversified worldwide media company through a combination of disciplined, accretive strategic acquisitions and organic growth while maintaining a solid balance sheet," said Feltheimer and Burns in a joint statement. "We are uniting two powerful entertainment brands, bringing together two world-class feature film franchises to establish a commanding position in the young adult market, strengthening our global distribution infrastructure and creating a scalable platform that will result in significant and accretive financial benefits to Lionsgate shareholders."....

Read more here

Tags: 'Twilight', CEO, Gate, Lions, after, continue, fifth, film, may, saga, More…says

Comment by Pennybug Cullen on January 14, 2012 at 1:02am: No no no! It should only continue if SM approves & writes the story. I don't want them trying to milk more $$ out of us fans. I would rather SM finish Midnight Sun first.

Comment by Robertfanxxxx on January 14, 2012 at 1:22am: I also don't feel it's the end of the Twilight Saga as I feel SM did leave Breaking Dawn wide open, but like @Pennybug Cullen has said only is SM writes another Book. Bring on Midnight Sun!! I wish Robsten a long, healthy and happy life and successful career. I will love you Robsten forever and always!! Xxxxxxxx

Comment by robsten42 on January 14, 2012 at 1:44am: I only want to see a continuation of this if Stephenie writes another book. I really want to read the finished midnight sun; maybe Stephenie will feel up to writing it for us soon. Twilight is very special fans like me and I really don't want to see it ruined by people just trying to make more money; making some kind of continuation I think would ruin the original feeling of it. there will never be anything like Twilight, it is it's own entity. Hope that doesn't sound too weird. I just love it the way it is and am very excited to see BD part 2.

Comment by kady_cullen on January 14, 2012 at 2:08am: Ugh! Twilight money will be used by the hunger games franchise... Bleh..

Comment by Stacey Volturi Cullen on January 14, 2012 at 2:39am: I agree with you all about only if Stephanie Meyer writes it, their just after the money it can make them.

A tv series sounds like a terrible idea, talk about cheapening Twilight :/

Comment by BB Cullen on January 14, 2012 at 2:49am: No. Only SM Writes. Finish Midnight Sun. can't wait for BD 2. !!. :).

Comment by Raquel on January 14, 2012 at 3:03am: That's so dissapointing... something that starts as wonderfuly as it did.. you know, Catherine wanting to bring to live a book. Ok, 1 movie successes, ok, then let's do the 2nd one, and still goes great, ok, then the 3rd and the 4/5th, one. But really (and this says a someone who's OBSESSED WITH THE TWILIGHT WORLD...) I think making up another whole movie it's just too much. I'd love too see it, on one hand, but in the other... I think they just (well, I KNOW) they just want to make more and more money as If they hadn't make enought so far... So sad... :( At first this was genuine and pure... now it's gonna turn out to be another Hollywood millionaire plan.. :(

Hope they don't do any stupidity.. PLEASEEE!!! :(

Comment by Lacey on January 14, 2012 at 3:19am: I would only want it to continue if Stephanie wrote another book and they made that into a movie.

I would also want the main cast back, it just wouldn't be the same without them and honestly I think they have all moved on with their careers and want to do new and different projects.

Plus aren't we already getting The Host as a movie? I would rather see that as the new SM movie than another Twilight.

Comment by Marie-Cullen-PR on January 14, 2012 at 3:55am: As much as i love Twilight that is a big NO for me. Besides what else are they going to do when there's no onther book. And a tv series? HELL NO! O say leave it as it is,why ruin a good thing. This are really greedy people. Besides you really think the cast is willing to do it again? They have moved on to bigger and better things? I don't think so, if they would that would be like selling out. I for one thing wouldn't watch anything else after BD pt 2.