Screen Media Acquires Crime Thriller ‘9 Bullets’ Starring Lena Heady and Sam Worthington

COS COB, Conn., Feb. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. (“the Company”) (Nasdaq: CSSE), one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, today announced that Screen Media has acquired all North American rights to the crime thriller 9 Bullets. Written and directed by Gigi Gaston (Rip it Off), 9 Bullets stars Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Sam Worthington (Avatar), Dean Scott Vazquez (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), Cam Gigandet (The Magnificent Seven), La La Anthony (Power), Martin Sensmeier (Westworld), and Barbara Hershey (Black Swan). Screen Media is planning a day-and-date release in April. Foresight Unlimited, Screen Media’s international sales division, is handling foreign sales for the picture and has successfully closed deals in many key international territories.

A showgirl (Lena Headey) risks everything when she rescues a young boy after his family is murdered by her ex, the local crime-boss (Sam Worthington). Now on the run, she makes a desperate attempt to get the boy safely to his uncle in South Dakota.

The film is produced by Cassian Elwes, Gary Pearl, Gigi Gaston, Tommy Thompson, Wendy Benge, Paul Robarts, Michael D. Jones, Veronica Radaelli, and Jijo Reed. Executive producers are Peter Graham, Mark Damon, Tamara Birkemoe, Seth Needle and David Nagelberg. The film is financed by 120dB Films.

“I'm thrilled that Screen Media has taken this movie under their wing,” said director Gigi Gaston in a statement. “Their impressive reputation with indies and their multiple affiliates will mean this movie about second chances can find a place in the hearts of viewers and give them the hope that they too can have a second chance. The relationship between Lena Headey and Dean Scott Vazquez is like Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

“What attracted me to the project was the passion of the filmmakers and the unique storyline,” said producer Paul Robarts. “What further impressed me in production and post has been Lena Headey’s level of performance matched to an incredible young talent in Dean Scott Vazquez (In the Heights and Transformers), who I believe is at the start of a fantastic young career.”

“With the strong directorial eye of Gigi Gaston, this team of skilled veteran producers has produced a smart, exciting, and ultimately touching action thriller,” said Screen Media in a statement. “The film’s strong message of retribution and resurrection resonated deeply with us, as we’re sure it will with audiences.”

Seth Needle, EVP of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions, negotiated the deal with Jere Hausfater on behalf of the production.

Screen Media, Foresight Unlimited and Elwes previously collaborated on Lina Roessler’s “Best Sellers,” starring Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza, which was released in September 2021.

Screen Media recently acquired Fast Charlie, starring Pierce Brosnan and directed by Philip Noyce and is set to release Gold starring Zac Efron this Spring. Recent releases include Manny Perez’s La Soga Salvation, Casey Tebo’s Black Friday starring Devon Sawa and Bruce Campbell, James Nunne’s One Shot starring Scott Adkins and Ryan Phillippe, and Brent Wilson’s documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, which was recently shortlisted for Best Original Song by the Academy Awards.

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) (the “Company”) operates streaming video-on-demand networks (VOD). The Company owns Crackle Plus, which owns and operates a variety of ad-supported and subscription-based VOD networks including Crackle, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Truli, Pivotshare, Españolflix and FrightPix. The Company also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media subsidiary and produces original video content through the Chicken Soup for the Soul Television Group. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such assumptions involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to our core strategy, operating income and margin, seasonality, liquidity, including cash flows from operations, available funds, and access to financing sources, free cash flows, revenues, net income, profitability, stock price volatility, future regulatory changes, price changes, the ability of the Company’s content offerings to achieve market acceptance, the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting officers, key employees, or directors, the ability to protect intellectual property, the ability to complete strategic acquisitions, the ability to manage growth and integrate acquired operations, the ability to pay dividends, regulatory or operational risks, and general market conditions impacting demand for the Company’s services. For a more complete description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, and for further information regarding our recent acquisition of the Sonar library and related assets, please see our Current Reports on Form 8-K, as amended, filed with the SEC on May 27, 2021 and July 1, 2021. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

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