American Film Market Dailies

Los Angeles based Le Vision Pictures USA announced today that they have acquired the rights to Jayson Rothwell’s (POLAR, 40 THIEVES) ZODIAC: THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE which Bernie Goldmann (THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, 300 Series) will produce under his banner Goldmann Pictures, alongside Le Vision Pictures CEO Zhang Zhao. ZODIAC is a high-octane action feature film that follows a group of international peace keepers, who are inspired by the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

The move marks a significant step in Le Vision’s mission to be the world’s first “connected studio,” by establishing long-term global partnerships between China and Hollywood, with a focus on wide-release action, sci-fi, adventure/fantasy, tent pole films with franchise potential.

Le Vision’s Chairman and CEO Zhang Zhao said: “ZODIAC is the perfect addition to our slate as it encompasses everything we look for in our projects – four quadrant global tent poles with franchise potential. We look forward to collaborating with Bernie and advancing our relationship with future partnerships.”

Goldmann is the producer behind the worldwide box office sensations 300 and the sequel 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE. In addition, he produced the gritty action-fantasy thriller THE LAST WITCH HUNTER starring Vin Diesel, which recently opened from Lionsgate.

“I’m thrilled to be working with the team at Le Vision Pictures, as they have a unique and forward-thinking approach to connecting the world with their content,” says Goldmann.

The deal was negotiated by Steve Saltzman of Loeb & Loeb and EVP Simon Sun. The LeVP USA development team includes Jason Steyaert and Dan Scheinkman, who together with Simon Sun will oversee development.

Le Vision Pictures USA is the Los Angeles arm of China’s Le Vision Pictures, which is the third largest non-government owned film studio in China by total box office. The studio produced the country’s all-time highest grossing film franchise, TINY TIMES and co-financed and distributed THE EXPENDABLES 2 and 3 in China. They are currently in production on the highest-budget U.S.-China co-production to date, Zhang Yimou’s THE GREAT WALL starring Matt Damon with Legendary East and Universal Pictures. Le Vision Pictures (LeVP) is owned by Letv, the world’s first technology company to have its video streaming business publicly listed.

Vice Chairman of Letv and LeVP CEO Zhang Zhao has had a long and storied career in U.S.-China co-production, founding two of China’s biggest private film studios in Enlight Pictures and Le Vision Pictures. LeVP’s creative team is headlined by China’s most prominent director Zhang Yimou, who is the artistic director.

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