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Film News: Horror pic produced by Eli Roth, StudioCanal, Strike — Lionsgate has grabbed U.S. distribution rights to “The Last Exorcism,” a verite-style horror pic produced by Strike Entertainment, StudioCanal and genre maven Eli Roth.

Film News: Investment fund in talks with Sony, Lionsgate — Investment fund Pacificor is in talks with Sony and Lionsgate for the rights to the “Terminator” franchise.

Film News: Buyers taking longer to finalize distribution deals — Lionsgate has acquired North American domestic distribution rights to Ryan Reynolds thriller “Buried,” about a private contractor who is kidnapped in Iraq and buried alive.

Film News: Fest filled with interesting twists to the usual routine — In the first major feature pickup of the Sundance Film Festival, Lionsgate has acquired North American rights to Ryan Reynolds’ thriller “Buried,” about a private contractor who is kidnapped in Iraq and buried alive.

Film News: Studio acquires rights to bestseller from Phoenix Pictures — Lionsgate is coming on board “What To Expect When You’re Expecting,” acquiring feature rights to Heidi Murkoff’s bestseller from Phoenix Pictures and signing Heather Hach to adapt it as a romantic comedy.

Film News: Studio is the leading bidder for franchise — Lionsgate has stepped up as the leading bidder for the rights to the “Terminator” franchise with an offer of $15 million and a 5% cut of future gross receipts.

Film News: Chan, kid co-stars attend premiere — Lionsgate may have taken a lesson from its latest release, “The Spy Next Door,” with the Saturday premiere at the Grove feeling a lot like afternoon day care.

Film News: Peter Cornwell will direct thriller from Craig Rosenberg’s script — Lionsgate has reunited with its “The Haunting in Connecticut” director Peter Cornwell on “The Panopticon,” a sci-fi thriller mystery script by Craig Rosenberg.