SANTA MONICA, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Lionsgate) LIONSGATE (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, has acquired comprehensive rights to XOXO, a script written by Mark Heyman (BLACK SWAN). The announcement was made today jointly by Joe Drake, President of the Motion Picture Group, and Alli Shearmur & Mike Paseornek, Presidents of Motion Picture Development and Production, who will be overseeing the production at the studio.
Michael London (MILK, SIDEWAYS, THE ILLUSIONIST) will be producing with Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin (BLACK SWAN, THE WRESTLER), through their respective production companies Groundswell Productions and Protozoa Pictures. Groundswell's Kelly Mullen ushered the project into the company, and will be involved in a producing capacity.
In a story that can be characterized as FATAL ATTRACTION for the digital age, engaged and on-the-rise young executive Will Campbell clandestinely flirts online and meets an alluring woman on Facebook. He begins a virtual relationship with her, but as the line between online temptations and real life possibilities begins to blur, Will soon discovers that his internet relationship is seeping into his real life… in a deadly way.
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate by Robert Melnik, EVP of Business Affairs, and on behalf of the filmmakers by CAA.
"The script that Mark has written for XOXO has that same winning combination of polish and urgency that made BLACK SWAN so special," said Drake. "XOXO is a high-class, intense thriller, but it also has a strong youth appeal and a distinctly contemporary feel. Michael London and Darren Aronofsky are the perfect producing partners for us on this incredibly tense thriller."
"Lionsgate is the perfect home for XOXO and we're thrilled with the passion they've shown for the project. We set out to make a cautionary tale for the Facebook generation. Lionsgate appreciates both the pop appeal of that concept as well as our ambition to do something smart and thought-provoking," echoed London.
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