Lionsgate picks up 'Package'

Disc Announcements, News

Lionsgate, the studio that’s built its horror rep with the successful Saw franchise, has acquired the Duane Swierczynski novel “Severance Package” – another blood-letting project of sorts.

Attached to helm the project is Brett Simon (who’s “Assassination of a High School President” will be released later this fall). Simon and Swierczynski will co-write the script.

In Severance Package, the protagonist is a media relations director of a financial company who learns that the firm was a front for a covert intelligence agency that is being shut down immediately, with every manager scheduled to be terminated–literally. The novel is a recipe for a Tarantino-esque, stylistically violent film, and it was discovered by Marc Platt Prods. prexy Siegel and Lionsgate veep Jim Miller. Novel was published May 27 by St. Martin’s Minotaur.

Writer’s note: Having met with author Swierczynski last Saturday at Murder By the Book in Houston, he only hinted at what studio was picking up the rights, letting me and other mystery fans know that it was a studio that “didn’t have issues when it came to blood.” To me this meant either Lionsgate (because of Saw) or Fox (because of Aja’s The Hills Have Eyes remake and the upcoming Mirrors). Besides Severance Package, Swierczynski is the author of crime fiction novels The Wheelman and The Blonde (which was optioned by actress Michelle Monaghan and her producing partners). In the realm of comic books, Swierczynski writes for Marvel, working on a Cable series, and has also done a Punisher one-shot and Iron Fist special. Be sure to check out his Secret Dead Blog.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!