Lions Gate Films Finds ëA Good Womaní

Independent Distributor Secures Rights for the Oscar Wilde Adaptation Starring Academy AwardÆ Winner Helen Hunt, Academy Award Nominee Tom Wilkinson and Golden Globe Nominee Scarlett Johansson; Lions Gate Films Plans to Release the Film in 2005

8-Nov-04

Lions Gate Films, the motion picture acquisition, production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment, has acquired North American rights from London and Sydney based sales company Beyond Films to A Good Woman, adapted from the Oscar Wilde play ""Lady Windermere's Fan"" it was jointly announced today by Tom Ortenberg, President of Lions Gate Films Releasing and Hilary Davis, Head of Sales and Acquisitions, Beyond Films. A Good Woman had its world premiere at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival. ""Mike Barker and this cast deliver one of the best Wilde adaptations in years,"" said Ortenberg. ""The audience reaction at the Toronto premiere made me confident that this film has a winning combination of humor and drama played out on screen by some of the best actors working today.""""This film is a real crowd pleaser that tickles your funny bone and tugs at your heart strings. We couldn't be happier with Lions Gate as our distributor for this very relevant and timeless romantic comedy that will appeal to today's young smart film going audience,"" stated writer and producer Howard Himelstein and producer Steven Siebert. Directed by Mike Barker (""To Kill a King"") and written by Howard Himelstein, A Good Woman stars Helen Hunt (Academy Award winner for ""As Good as it Gets""), Scarlett Johansson (BAFTA Award winner and Golden Globe Nominee for ""Lost in Translation"" and ""Girl with a Pearl Earring) and Tom Wilkinson (Academy Award nominee for ""In the Bedroom"" and ""The Full Monty"") is a scandalous yet comic story set in New York and the Italian Riviera during the 1930s. Mrs. Erlynne (Hunt) is an audacious and well-known woman of a certain age with a reputation for entertaining wealthy, married men. Leaving her problems and unpaid bills in New York, she sets sail for Italy to pursue Meg (Johansson) and Robert Windermere (Umbers), one of the most high profile couples in 1930s society. Once in Europe, she becomes embroiled in a family scandal which becomes an intriguing story of seduction, betrayal and, ultimately, surprising loyalty. Also starring Stephen Campbell Moore (""Bright Young Things""), Mark Umbers (""Love is the Devil) and Diana Hardcastle. The film was produced by Alan Greenspan, Jonathan English, Steven Siebert and Howard Himelstein.