1270881 luc besson

Lionsgate has entered a co-production and distribution deal for the action film Anna, written and directed by Luc Besson, and produced by his company EuropaCorp.

Anna features Helen Mirren, Welsh actor Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy, and introduces Besson’s newest discovery, Russian model Sasha Luss, as Anna. The film starts production this November and will be released in the US via Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment. Marc Shmuger will produce on behalf of EuropaCorp. 

Besson, coming off the flop Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets, directed the Scarlett Johansson sci-fi smash Lucy, as well as The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and La Femme Nikita. He also co-wrote and produced the hit action franchise Taken

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by president of acquisitions and co-productions Jason Constantine; Eda Kowan, executive vice-president of acquisitions and co-productions; John Biondo, executive vice-president of business and legal affairs and acquisitions and co-productions; and Elizabeth Hopkins, senior vice-president of business and legal affairs and acquisitions and co-productions. Shmuger and Aaron Michiel, executive vice-president of business and legal affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of EuropaCorp.

Peter Nichols of Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler & Feldman negotiated the deal for Besson and also represents Luss.

“We are delighted to be reunited with Luc and his EuropaCorp team on another exciting, action-packed film featuring an A-list cast,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Patrick Wachsberger and Constantine said.  “Luc is a visionary filmmaker with whom we are proud to extend our longstanding relationship.”