Lions GateFamily Entertainment (LGFE) has announced its second feature film project Sylvester, based on the late William Steig'saward-winning children's book "Sylvester And The Magic Pebble".

LGFE acquiredthe rights from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and will begindevelopment immediately on the story of a donkey that finds a magic pebble.

'To havethis much loved property as our second film under the Lions Gate FamilyEntertainment banner is very exciting, and we are committed to making a filmversion that will be treasured as much as the wonderful book it is basedon,' Lions Gate Films Releasing President Tom Ortenberg and LGFE executivevice president Ken Katsumoto said in a joint statememt.

Lions Gate'sexecutive vice president of business affairs Robert Melnik negotiated the deal withby The Gotham Group on behalf of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

LGFE's firsttitle, the 3-D animated title Foodfight! featuring the voices of Hilary and Haylie Duff, is inproduction and is scheduled for a November 2006 release.

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