MUMBAI: Lionsgate has acquired the US distribution rights from Lakeshore Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment to the upcoming legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer, based on the best-selling Michael Connelly novel of the same name.

Lakeshore Entertainment is handling international distribution.

The movie stars Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei. The supporting cast includes Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo, Michael Pena, Trace Adkins, and Katherine Moennig. Brad Furman will direct from the adapted screenplay by John Romano. Production is slated to begin in Los Angeles in July.

Lakeshore Entertainment chairman and CEO Tom Rosenberg said, "I have long admired and respected Sidney Kimmel and it’s exciting to have found such a great project for our first collaboration."

Lakeshore secured rights to the Connelly novel prior to its publication date in 2005 and developed the project.