Mumbai: Lionsgate has acquired the US and Canadian distribution rights to Transporter 3. Jason Statham returns as iconic action hero Frank Martin in the third installment of the EuropaCorp-produced series. The announcement was made by Lionsgate head of acquisitions and co-productions Jason Constantine, and Theatrical Films president Tom Ortenberg.
Olivier Megaton directs from a script written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. The movie is produced by EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Productions, Grive Productions and Apipoulai Production, in association with Current Entertainment. Besson produces for EuropaCorp. Lionsgate will release the film at Thanksgiving, on 26 November. The film will be distributed in Canada by Maple Pictures.
Constantine expressed the studio’s excitement about the project, stating, "We are thrilled to be in business with EuropaCorp and to also partner with Jason Statham. We are delighted to add another film in the exciting Transporter action franchise to stand alongside such other iconic Lionsgate franchises as Saw, Tyler Perry and The Punisher."
Besson said, "We are thrilled to be sharing this experience with Lionsgate, and happy to get along with a great marketing and distribution team." EuropaCorp COO Pierre-Ange Le Pogam concurred, "Lionsgate is a dynamic group, who we know will more than do justice to our dearest Transporter opus 3. Everyone here is working hard to get ready to provoke and inflame the market for Thanksgiving."
The film, starring Robert Knepper (Prison Break) alongside Statham and returning cast member Francois Berleand (Place Vendome), wrapped principal photography in early May and is currently in post-production.
