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Lionsgate has renewed a three-year, first-look deal with Kingdom Story Company.

The announcement extends the partnership to 10 years and follows the theatrical release of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which opened to $11 million over the weekend. Already this year, Lionsgate and Kingdom have collaborated on the faith-based “Ordinary Angels” starring Hilary Swank and musical biopic “Unsung Hero” about Grammy winner Joel Smallbone. “Ordinary Angels” earned $20 million at the global box office while “Unsung Hero” generated $21 million worldwide. All three 2024 releases will be profitable for the studio, according to Lionsgate.

“Over the past decade, Kingdom films have established a unique ability to connect with their audiences in the faith community and beyond through high quality storytelling and exceptional productions,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson.

Kevin Downes, co-founder and chief executive officer of Kingdom Story Company, added, “2024 has been Kingdom Story Company’s biggest year ever with a slate of three films.

Fresh off success with their holiday family comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Lionsgate and the faith-based Kingdom Story Company have agreed to renew their three-year first-look deal, extending the studios’ total collaboration to 10 years.

The deal puts a capstone on Kingdom Story Company’s biggest slate yet, which comprised three films with Lionsgate in 2024: Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson; Unsung Hero, from Grammy-winning faith-based artist Joel Smallbone; and the aforementioned Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which exceeded tracking by opening with $11.1 million at the domestic box office this past weekend ($12.2 M/4-day) and is positioned to continue playing through the holiday period.

Dallas Jenkins (of The Chosen fame) directed the latter film, starring Judy Greer and Pete Holmes, which adapts the children’s book by Barbara Robinson. Each of the Kingdom-developed and produced films released this year is expected to turn a profit for the studio.

South African born SAG Award nominee Stelio Savante, also known as ‘Ajax’ in the Call Of Duty video game series and ‘Moses’ in the historical world-wide hit biblical series The Chosen, is starring in key roles in three upcoming films, all based on true stories. Sarah’s Oil, Between Borders, and Hazel.

Sarah’s Oil, is an Amazon MGM drama starring Zachary Levi, Naya Desir Johnson, Sonequa Martin Green, Garret Dillahunt, Bridget Regan, Kenric Green, Adyan Copes, Stelio Savante and Mel Rodriguez. Sarah’s Oil is inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, and tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American born in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. Filmed in Oklahoma, the drama chronicles Sarah’s journey to becoming the first African American teenage millionaire. Cyrus Nowrasteh (who also directed Savante in the action thriller Infidel) directed Sarah’s Oil from...

Exclusive: Zachary Levi (Hotel Tehran) and Naya Desir-Johnson (The Equalizer) are toplining Sarah’s Oil, a new theatrical drama from Amazon MGM Studios that has wrapped production.

Others in the cast include Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery), Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope), Bridget Regan (Jane the Virgin), Kenric Green (The Walking Dead), Adyan Copes (Who Is Christmas Eve?), Stelio Savante (The Cleaning Lady) and Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth).

Inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, Sarah’s Oil tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming one...

Exclusive: Parenthood and Gilmore Girls actress Lauren Graham has boarded Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company’s upcoming holiday theatrical release, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

The feature take of Barbara Robinson’s classic book, under the direction of Dallas Jenkins, recently wrapped production. The pic hits theaters on Nov. 15.

In addition, some cast members from Jenkins’ The Chosen series also joined the film, including Kirk B.R. Woller, Vanessa Benavente, and Elizabeth Tabish.

Graham will play the pic’s the narrator in addition to making a key on-screen cameo. Woller, Benavente and Tabish respectively play Reverend Hopkins, a first-grade teacher, and church lady Mrs. Grady. Peru native Benavente played Mother Mary in The Chosen, while Tabish portrayed Mary Magdalene.

The family comedy also stars Judy Greer as Grace, the director of the pageant, and Pete Holmes as her husband, Bob.

Screenplay is from Darin McDaniel & Platte Clark and Ryan Swanson and Jenkins.

Exclusive: Kingdom Story Company, the production shingle behind Lionsgate’s cash cow Jesus Revolution among other hits, has appointed Kevin Downes as CEO and Andrew Erwin as Chief Creative Officer ahead of its 2024 theatrical film slate with the studio.

In addition, Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate have entered into a partnership on the follow-up to Wonder, White Bird from filmmaker Marc Forster based on the book by Rj Palacio. The studios will leverage Kingdom’s incredible faith-based reach to promote the movie, which will now release on Oct. 4, 2024.

Other movies on the Kingdom Story-Lionsgate slate include 2x Oscar winner Hilary Swank’s Ordinary Angels on Feb. 23, the April dated Unsung Hero and The Unbreakable Boy, and the year-end holiday title The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, directed by Dallas Jenkins, creator of the TV series The Chosen.

Downes and Erwin are both partners in the Nashville-based Kingdom Story Company, along with...

Exclusive: Judy Greer (White House Plumbers) and Pete Holmes (Crashing) have entered production in Winnipeg on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, an inspirational comedy that The Chosen‘s Dallas Jenkins is helming for Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company.

Co-starring in the pic, based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, is Molly Belle Wright (Deep Water).

The film centers on the Herdman kids, who are the absolute worst. They lie, they steal, they bully… and they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. As the rowdy and raucous siblings force themselves into all of the lead roles, they drive the pageant’s director, Grace (Judy Greer), and other members of her family, including husband Bob (Holmes), up the wall. But through their misfit mischief, these unlikely messengers might turn out to be the ones to deliver the town’s sensational and moving portrayal of the true meaning of Christmas.

Script was...

Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have won a competitive bidding war for an adaptation of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The film, to be based on Barbara Robinson’s popular book, will be penned and directed by Dallas Jenkins, the creator, director and producer of “The Chosen.”

“The Best Christmas Pageant,” which has sold over seven million copies since its publication in 1972, centers on the Herdmans – apparently the very worst kids in the history of the world. However, they end up taking over their town’s local Christmas pageant. Possible spoilers – it just might accidentally teach the community the true meaning of Christmas.

Kingdom Story’s Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin will produce alongside McDaniel and Thomas. Jenkins will executive produce alongside Molen, Mark Kendell, and Tony Young. Production begins next month in Canada. The film will debut theatrically over the 2024 holiday season.

Jenkins today released...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have nabbed The Best Christmas Pageant ever which The Chosen creator/producer/director Dallas Jenkins will direct and adapt from Barbara Robinson’s comedic family book and play. Cameras roll next month in Canada for a 2024 holiday theatrical release.

Jenkins pursued a 15-year journey to secure the rights to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, rights which have been stewarded by Darin McDaniel, Chet Thomas, and Gerald R. Molen. The book has sold over 7M copies since it was published in 1972.

Dallas Jenkins

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever centers on the Herdmans – absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. But this Christmas, they’re taking over their local church Pageant – and they just might unwittingly teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.

The pic will be produced by Kingdom Story’s Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Andrew Erwin...

Exclusive: Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) and Reacher breakout Alan Ritchson have signed on to star in the film Ordinary Angels from Kingdom Story Company, which Lionsgate will distribute.

Set against the backdrop of the worst snowstorm in Kentucky history, pic is inspired by the incredible true story of a struggling hairdresser (Swank) who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father (Ritchson) save the life of his critically ill young daughter.

Jon Gunn (The Unbreakable Boy) is directing, having written the most recent draft of the script with Jon Erwin. Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig penned an earlier draft. Kingdom Story Company’s Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin and Andrew Erwin are producing alongside Stampede Ventures’ Jon Berg, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee, Stolen Sky Productions’ Dave Matthews and Johnathan Dorfman, and Green Hummingbird Entertainment’s David Beal and Sarah Johnson. Chelsea Kujawa...

In the first trailer for "American Underdog," Kurt Warner (played by Zachary Levi) is called into the office of St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz and is grilled about why he should get the chance to be the team's starting quarterback.

"Go ahead then, tell me," Martz, as played by Chance Kelly, says. "Why a team worth $800 million and with the most complex offense ever built should put you in the driver's seat? You're too old to be a rookie, too green to be a pro. So why in the world would I give you this shot?"

"American Underdog" is a biopic about Warner and how he went from being a grocery store clerk to becoming a Super Bowl champion and Mvp. The trailer even shows Levi as Warner stocking shelves and looking fondly at a Wheaties box with a picture of Dan Marino on it. When a colleague asks...

Exclusive: UTA has signed faith-based writers, producers and directors Andrew and Jon Erwin. The agency will also rep Kingdom Story Company, the production shingle they co-founded alongside Kevin Downes and Tony Young. The Erwins are best known for helming I Can Only Imagine, the $7 million-budget pic that grossed $83 million domestic to become the top-grossing indie film of 2018. They most recently released I Still Believe, a romance following the true-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp, starring K.J. Apa.

The Erwins and Kingdom Story Company have a multi-year film and television deal with Lionsgate. They are next planning to direct American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, about the undrafted quarterback who at one point stocked shelves in a grocery store for $5.50 an hour but didn’t lose faith, and became one of the most prolific passers of his era and an Mvp and Super Bowl champ with the St. Louis Rams.

Kingdom Studios has recruited Mona Garcea to head up its television arm.

Garcea has long worked alongside Chuck Lorre, having served as a producer on “Mike & Molly,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Disjointed.” Garcea will find and develop family entertainment with broad commercial appeal for the studio and will report to co-CEOs Kevin Downes and Jon Erwin, who have an overall deal at Lionsgate.

Kingdom, which specializes in developing and producing inspirational and faith-based entertainment, was founded late last year by Jon and Andrew Erwin, Kevin Downes and Tony Young, the filmmakers behind Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions’ “I Can Only Imagine.” The studio’s first film, “I Still Believe,” will be released in March 2020.

Also Read: 'Disenchantment' Season 2 Trailer: Princess Bean and Luci Have to Go to Hell to Save Elfo (Video)

“Creating entertaining, inspirational and uplifting programming for television is what...

Mona Garcea, a Chuck Lorre protege and producer from Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory to Mike & Molly and Disjointed, has been hired by Kingdom as Head of Television. The studio, which specializes in faith-based and inspirational entertainment, was launched last year by Jon and Andrew Erwin, Kevin Downes and Tony Young after the success of their Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions’ indie hit I Can Only Imagine.

Garcea, who will be tasked with identifying and developing family entertainment with broad commercial appeal, will report to co-CEOs Downes and Jon Erwin at the studio, which has an overall, multi-platform deal at Lionsgate.

Previously, Garcea was a producer on more than 120 episodes of Lorre’s Mike & Molly, starring Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy, was a coordinating producer on The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men and produced all episodes of Netflix’s Disjointed.

“As we launch our television division with Mona,...

Kingdom Films — the banner founded last year by the team behind the box office hit I Can Only Imagine — has set a faith-based slate of films with Lionsgate.

In addition to the upcoming pic I Still Believe, which is scheduled for release March 20, 2020, the banner founded by brothers Jon and Andrew Erwin, Kevin Downes and Tony Young has set three more films to be distributed by Lionsgate.

The newly announced features include Jesus Revolution, which tells the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970’s and its origins within a community of teenaged hippies ...

Kingdom Films — the banner founded last year by the team behind the box office hit I Can Only Imagine — has set a faith-based slate of films with Lionsgate.

In addition to the upcoming pic I Still Believe, which is scheduled for release March 20, 2020, the banner founded by brothers Jon and Andrew Erwin, Kevin Downes and Tony Young has set three more films to be distributed by Lionsgate.

The newly announced features include Jesus Revolution, which tells the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970’s and its origins within a community of teenaged hippies ...

Germany's Explosive Media company has a serious itch for American westerns, and they have a trio of new releases. One is a minor Hollywood classic with major graces, from the late 1950s. A second sees an American producer based in England filming in Italy with a rising international star, and for the third an established American star goes European  to stay in the game. The best thing for Yankee buyers? The discs are Region-free.

Gunman's Walk, Land Raiders, A Man Called Sledge Three Westerns from Explosive Media Blu-ray Separate Releases 1958-1970 / Color Starring Van Heflin, Tab Hunter; George Maharis, Telly Savalas; James Garner

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

The majority of American studios now choose not to market their libraries for digital disc, and license them out instead. Collectors unwilling to settle for whatever's on Netflix or concerned about the permanence of Cloud Cinema, find themselves increasingly tempted by discs from Europe,...