First Original Drama Series for YouTube Red to Premiere in
2017
SANTA MONICA and LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 23, 2016 /CNW/ -- YouTube, the world's
leading Internet video platform, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a
premier next generation global content leader, today announced that
YouTube has ordered a full season of Lionsgate's drama series
Step Up, based on the film franchise that grossed
$650 million at the global box
office.
Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot and Meredith Milton, all producers of the original
Step Up films, will executive produce the series,
along with Channing Tatum and
Jenna Dewan Tatum, who both
co-starred in the original Step Up film.
Based on the fan favorite films, the Step Up series is a
heart-pounding, sexy, music-filled drama about dancers in a
contemporary performing arts school. The show will begin production
later this year and will debut exclusively as the first original
scripted series on YouTube Red next year.
The original Step Up (2006) featured Channing Tatum and Jenna
Dewan. Four more films followed in quick succession –
Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up: 3D, Step
Up: Revolution and Step Up: All In – as the franchise
grew into a wildly popular global dance and film phenomenon. The
last two films of the Step Up series were released by
Lionsgate's Summit Entertainment label.
"I've been a fan of the Step Up movies for years and
always believed the films would translate into an awesome original
series," said Susanne Daniels,
Global Head of Original Content, YouTube. "We know that dance is a
hugely successful global category on YouTube, so I'm excited to
have a series rooted in such an enormously popular genre on our
platform."
"Step Up is an incredible property with the global appeal
to launch both a blockbuster film franchise and an exhilarating,
high-energy series," said Lionsgate Television Group Chairman
Kevin Beggs. "After five exciting
and successful movies, we're proud to partner with YouTube Red, a
major new force on the programming landscape, to adapt the films
into an adrenaline-filled original drama series driven by its
non-stop energy, spectacular dancing and A-list creative
talent."
"The Step Up franchise has been a significant and
joy-filled part of all of our lives for over a decade, and
introduced the world to Channing and Jenna, who we are so excited
to be collaborating with on this show," said executive producers
Shankman, Gibgot and Milton. "This original series is a natural
extension of our creative passion, and we cannot wait to inspire a
whole new audience with our partners at YouTube Red, which has
always been an organic online home for many dancers, and a vital
part of the dance community."
YouTube Red is a paid membership that enables the ultimate
YouTube experience. Members get all of YouTube uninterrupted, a
premium YouTube Music experience, and exclusive access to new
original series and movies from top YouTube creators. YouTube Red
is currently available in the United
States, Australia and
New Zealand, with plans for
additional international expansion throughout 2016.
ABOUT YOUTUBE
Launched in May
2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch
and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for
people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and
acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and
advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Google company.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a premier next generation
global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture
production and distribution, television programming and
syndication, home entertainment, international distribution and
sales, branded channel platforms, interactive ventures and games,
and location-based entertainment. The Company has nearly 80
television shows on 40 different networks spanning its primetime
production, distribution and syndication businesses. These include
the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black,
the beloved drama series Nashville, the syndication successes
The Wendy Williams Show and Celebrity Name Game (with
FremantleMedia), the breakout series The Royals and the
Golden Globe-nominated dramedy Casual.
The Company's feature film business spans eight labels and
includes the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, the Now
You See Me, Divergent and John Wick series, Sicario, The Age
of Adaline, Roadside Attractions' Love & Mercy and
Mr. Holmes, Codeblack
Films' Addicted and breakout concert film Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain and Pantelion
Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing
Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in
box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates.
Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of
approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is
an important source of recurring revenue and serves as a foundation
for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and
Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality
entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Michelle Slavich
YouTube / Google
press@google.com
818-749-2017
David Gardner
The Lippin Group for Lionsgate
dgardner@lippingroup.com
323-965-1990
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SOURCE Lionsgate