George Lopez Inks TV and Film Deal With Lionsgate and Televisa's Pantelion Films, South Shore

The first project under the new pact is Pantelion Films’ English-language feature "La Vida Robot," starring and produced by Lopez.

Following up on his Lionsgate-produced  Saint George sitcom in the works at FX, the Latino actor-comedian has inked an overall film and TV deal with Pantelion Films and South Shore, the film and TV ventures between Lionsgate and Mexican media giant Televisa.

“We’re thrilled to be in the George Lopez business,” said Pantelion Films CEO and Televisa USA managing director Paul Presburger in a statement announcing the news on Wednesday. “George is a comic superstar and brand name in the Latino community, and he reflects the kind of A-list Latino film and TV talent we’re recruiting for our Pantelion and South Shore partnerships. As our breakout hit  Instructions Not Included recently demonstrated, Latino audiences are hungry for mainstream commercial entertainment that incorporates Latino characters and themes, and George’s broad appeal and cross-cultural humor is tailor-made to meet this demand.”

Added Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs : “We’re delighted to expand our relationship with George Lopez, a Latino icon and one of the leading comic actors in America. George is already starring in one of our 10+90 sitcoms for FX, and his impressive slate of projects reflects his versatile talents and the synergy between our film and TV operations at its best.”

As part of the pact, Lopez will star in and produce Pantelion Films’ English-language feature  La Vida Robot, which will begin principal photography in New Mexico in mid-October. The film is based on a real-life David and Goliath story about four undocumented Mexican-American teenagers from Phoenix who form a robotics team. With $800, some used car parts and a dream, they build an underwater robot that wins the national robotics competition, taking down reigning champion MIT. The film, based on Joshua Davis ’ Wired magazine story, will be directed by Sean McNamara ( Soul Surfer ), with Lopez (Travieso Productions), David Alpert (Circle of Confusion), Rick Jacobs, Leslie Kolins Small and Ben Odell on board as producers.

The first batch of Lopez TV projects from South Shore, a TV studio venture between Televisa’s U.S. studio division, Televisa USA, and Lionsgate, includes a collection of comedies and an action drama in development with Stan Lee.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-...81