Lionsgate Partners With Universal To Release New Music Collection

LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, together with Universal Republic today announced a sweeping partnership on the soundtrack to the highly anticipated Lionsgate motion picture event THE HUNGER GAMES, which will be in theaters everywhere on March 23, 2012.

Unlike typical soundtracks, this collection will not only include music being recorded by major artists for inclusion in the film, but a series of companion recordings that will feature new songs directly influenced by the themes and subject matter of THE HUNGER GAMES, all recorded by some of music's most successful and acclaimed artists.

Said Lionsgate's Head of Music Tracy McKnight, "We are absolutely thrilled to be joining forces with Universal Republic. There is a tremendous opportunity for us to draw from so many different musical genres with this soundtrack. The setting for THE HUNGER GAMES ranges from what could be perceived as the rural Southern part of the U.S. all the way to the most advanced metropolis imaginable, and it all takes place in a vividly imagined future. The list of artists that could participate, and the opportunities for them to write and record, are really unlimited."
The film's Executive Music Producer and co-composer T Bone Burnett will produce many of these recordings, and will oversee all production. It was previously announced that Burnett will be collaborating with composer Danny Elfman on the film's score, which will also be released by Universal Republic.

"THE HUNGER GAMES is a highly imaginative and thrilling narrative that combines edginess, raw emotion and themes of freedom," stated Monte Lipman, President and CEO of Universal Republic Records. "And these are the same qualities we will be considering as we start building this innovative new music collection. We are not only looking for great music, but a diverse array of music that speaks to the universal themes of the movie."

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Lenny Wohl, EVP Music Business Affairs, and by Universal Republic's head of Business Affairs Michael Seltzer.

About The Hunger Games
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. SuzAnne Collins' best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of novels which have developed a global following.
The film will be released on March 23, 2012.