California, U.S.A. – Lionsgate a leading diversified global entertainment company, announced that The Hunger Games, which has already grossed nearly $620 million at the worldwide box office, has been approved for release in China in the first half of June.

The film will be released nationwide in China with both dubbed and subtitled prints by The China Film Group in conjunction with Lionsgate’s promotional partner, Talent International.  The Hunger Games will be one of the first Hollywood studio films to be released in China under the new blockbuster revenue sharing agreement announced in February that allows Western distributors to collect up to 25% of a film’s receipts in China.

“The Hunger Games juggernaut continues to gain momentum around the world, and we’re thrilled that we can now share the exciting first installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise with Chinese moviegoers in June,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.  “China is already one of the leading territories at the international box office, and the launch of The Hunger Games in this key market is another sign of the franchise’s continuing emergence as a truly global phenomenon.”

The Hunger Games has already grossed more than $380 million at the North American box office where it ranks 13th among the highest-grossing films of all time.  It has grossed nearly $620 million worldwide with upcoming launches in China and Japan.

“We view China as an increasingly important market for our content in Asia,” said Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President of Content Sales & Distribution for Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), Lionsgate’s venture with Saban Capital Group and Astro’s Celestial Pictures in Asia.  “The Chinese box office grew by more than 30% last year to over $2 billion, and The Hunger Games’ approval for nationwide release in China is a major step in translating the enormous commercial potential of this huge market into reality.”

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Following Lionsgate’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company has named Summit’s Erik Feig, President, Production of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Reporting to Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, Feig will oversee all aspects of development and production of films from both the Lionsgate and Summit labels.  Feig will work closely with Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for Lionsgate, on co-productions and acquisitions that are intended for theatrical release.

In a joint statement, Friedman and Wachsberger said, “Erik has been instrumental to Summit’s success over the past decade and we look forward to continuing our relationship with him in this new chapter.  With his incredible eye for films with global appeal and his ever growing list of accomplishments, we are fortunate to have such a talented individual working on our team.”

“I am very excited to join Lionsgate, one of the most vibrant, entrepreneurial media companies in the business, at this dynamic time of growth,” said Feig.  “Jon Feltheimer and Michael Burns and the Lionsgate team have found enormous success in taking smart creative and business bets that support unique filmmaker voices and make financial sense as well.

With our combined slates, powerful franchises and innovative cultures, we are poised for even more success across a broad spectrum of audiences and genres.  I am also extremely happy to be continuing my tenure with Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman, both of whom have been so influential to me as mentors and role models.”

Feig most recently served as President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions at Summit where he oversaw all of Summit’s in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions, as well as the company’s involvement with films of its client companies. The films and franchises developed and produced under his tenure include RED, KNOWING, SOURCE CODE, LETTERS TO JULIET, and each of the films in THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchise.

Critically hailed films developed, produced, or acquired by Feig include the multiple Academy Award winner THE HURT LOCKER, including Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow and Best Picture for Summit Entertainment, the recent Jonathan Levine film 50/50, and A BETTER LIFE starring Demian Bichir who is nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Actor for his performance in the film.

Feig began his career by packaging and producing the hit I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER films. He then went on to produce the teen comedy SLACKERS for Sony. During the late 1990s, he continued to develop projects for many of the major studios and networks, while operating under an overall producing deal with Artisan Entertainment, a then client of Summit.

Feig ran Summit’s production banner since 2007 and also became a partner in the company as it grew into a worldwide studio, earning executive producer and producer credits along the way on films as varied as MR. & MRS. SMITH; Paul Haggis’s IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH; and the films in the STEP UP series.

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