Latest in Joe Drake

Lionsgate’s Hunger Games prequel film based on Susan Collins’ novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is aiming to start production in the first half of 2022. That update came from Lionsgate motion picture group chairman Joe Drake during the company’s quarterly earnings call with Wall Street analysts. The tentpole…

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate prevailed in an auction for worldwide rights to make Fascinating Rhythm, the John Carney-directed musical drama based inspired by the life of American composer George Gershwin. Carney co-wrote the script with Chris Cluess (SCTV and Night Court). The deal was locked down by Joe Drake, Chairman of…

Lionsgate said Friday that it has finalized a reorganization of its Motion Picture Group, with chairman Joe Drake aligning the division into four key verticals — Marketing, Distribution, Strategy and Innovation, and Content — and setting the executives to oversee each. The newly solidified teams will oversee each…

On the day of its earnings call, Lionsgate has made the tough decision to cut 15% of its Global Motion Picture Group workforce. Joe Drake, chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, just revealed the bad news to employees and you can read his memo below. The cuts announced Thursday follow those that hit marketing and…

Lionsgate film chief Joe Drake said the decision to skip theaters and make horror movie Antebellum a premium video-on-demand release does not mean exhibitors are fading from the scene. “I would love to see every one of our movies released theatrically,” the motion picture group chairman said during Lionsgate’s…

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Joe Drake continued to emphasize the studio’s commitment to theatrical today, telling analysts on today’s 4Q earnings call that “we believe that people are anxious to get out of the house and do things” following the nationwide sheltering-in from COVID-19. Drake also emphasized…

EXCLUSIVE: Chad Stahelski, the former stuntman who debuted as co-director on John Wick and has subsequently helmed three Keanu Reeves hits with a fourth coming along with film and TV spinoffs, is ramping up 87eleven Entertainment, a new offshoot of the overall company 87eleven Action Design that he formed years back…

2nd Update: Part of the Lionsgate reconfiguration means the ending of Lionsgate’s partnership with Jeff Clanagan in Codeblack, the division that generated Kevin Hart’s Let Me Explain, Addicted, and other projects geared toward an urban audience. Said a spokesman: “Codeback has brought us tremendous films and…

Speaking to a crowd of investors this morning, Lionsgate CFO Jimmy Barge predicted a “nice rebound” for the company’s film operation in fiscal 2020, but cautioned, “I’m not doubling down on the film business.” In an appearance at a Deutsche Bank investor conference, Barge said film is a “tough business and it’s…

EXCLUSIVE: Damon Wolf has been set to become president of worldwide marketing for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. Wolf is the current co-head of marketing at TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions. He will make the move January 1, and will replace Tim Palen. Palen, the longtime…

At an elegant soirée on the terraces of the Hotel du Cap on Friday night, Lionsgate bid farewell to its Motion Picture Group co-chairman Patrick Wachsberger, even bagging chanteuse Jane Birkin to provide a melancholy musical send-off. Industry executives and talent poured in to the particularly hot ticket to show…

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate Co-COO and Motion Picture Group Co-President Steve Beeks, who has been at the company for two decades and has been a key strategist in its growth, is exiting at year’s end. However, he will remain as a consultant. With Beeks leaving, there will be one COO with Brian Goldsmith and one Motion…