Lionsgate and motion picture group chair Joe Drake have signed a new long-term contract as the studio lines up tentpoles John Wick: Chapter Four, Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes, and Ballerina.
The slate of upcoming films assembled by Drake and his team includes Now You See Me 3, Expendables 4, and a reimagining of Dirty Dancing starring and produced by Jennifer Grey.
Among the roster are Ballerina, a female-led action thriller John Wick spin-off starring Ana de Armas, and a Michael Jackson event film produced by Graham King.
In addition to the wide release tentpoles, Drake leadership team has built on Lionsgate’s multiplatform business and launched a direct-to-streamer film division.
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer called Drake an ”entrepreneur with strong talent relationships and a firm grasp of the global theatrical marketplace”.
Drake returned to Lionsgate in October 2017 when the company acquired Good Universe, the production and distribution entity he co-founded and ran with Nathan Kahane. In 2019, Lionsgate achieved one of its best years at the box office led by John Wick: Chapter 3 and Knives Out.
During his previous tenure as head of the Lionsgate motion picture group from 2007-2012, Drake and his team launched the Hunger Games franchise, the Expendables films, and Oscar winner Precious.
At Good Universe, Drake shepherded the company’s overall business and was responsible for building financial, creative and strategic partnerships. He partnered with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver’s Point Grey Pictures on comedy hits including Neighbors and The Night Before as part of a collaboration that he has continued at Lionsgate.
As head of Mandate Pictures from 2004-2007, Drake produced Oscar-winning hit Juno, Hope Springs, 50/50, and the Seth Rogen comedy This Is The End.
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