The bombshell was reportedly dropped by Jon Feltheimer, the chief executive officer of Lionsgate Entertainment, which acquired Twilight studio Summit Entertainment for $412.5 million on Friday.

“I’m anticipating Breaking Dawn – Part 2 being $700 million-plus in worldwide box office,” said Feltheimer of the final (planned) installment in the hit vampire franchise.

According to the Los Angeles Times, when asked whether Lionsgate could envision more Twilight past next fall’s fifth film, Feltheimer left the door open.

“It’s hard for me to imagine a movie that does $700 million-plus doesn’t have ongoing value,” he said. “It’s an amazing franchise that they have done a great job of maintaining with absolutely no deterioration.”

He added, “So the simple answer is, ‘Boy, I hope so.’”

It’s not clear whether a potential continuation would involve future films or a television series.

Would you want to see post-Breaking Dawn projects for Twilight?

LIONSGATE ACQUIRES SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT FOR $412.5 MILLION
Unites Two Leading Independent Media Companies
Transaction Expected to be Significantly Accretive to Lionsgate Shareholders
Brings Together Hunger Games and Twilight Young Adult Movie Franchises

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/—Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) (”the Company”) and Summit Entertainment today announced that Lionsgate has completed a transaction to acquire Summit for a combination of cash and stock valued at $412.5 million.

The transaction unites two leading studios with powerful brands and complementary assets, solidifying Lionsgate’s position as the world’s largest and most diversified independent entertainment company. By acquiring Summit, Lionsgate enhances its feature film and home entertainment offerings and further broadens its 13,000 title filmed entertainment library to include such titles as The Twilight Saga, The Hurt Locker and Red. The integration of both Summit’s domestic and international theatrical film operations will significantly enhance Lionsgate’s production and distribution capacity, while also extending the Company’s worldwide reach and creating a dominant international sales organization.

The transaction brings together Summit’s Twilight Saga feature film franchise, which has already grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and Lionsgate’s highly anticipated Hunger Games franchise, which opens on March 23, 2012. Lionsgate will also continue to benefit from its premier television production and distribution business, its array of branded film and television properties, its suite of branded channels and its success as an innovator in creating and distributing content for digital platforms. Both the Lionsgate and Summit labels are expected to continue and be active in the production and distribution of films, although the combined company expects to realize significant synergies through the consolidation of administrative and other costs.

“This transaction continues Lionsgate’s long-term growth strategy of building a diversified worldwide media company through a combination of disciplined, accretive strategic acquisitions and organic growth while maintaining a solid balance sheet,” said Lionsgate Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns. “We are uniting two powerful entertainment brands, bringing together two world-class feature film franchises to establish a commanding position in the young adult market, strengthening our global distribution infrastructure and creating a scalable platform that will result in significant and accretive financial benefits to Lionsgate shareholders. Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger have built a remarkable organization, and we’re pleased to welcome Summit’s talented team to the Lionsgate family. Lionsgate’s growth has been built over the years in part by the successful acquisition and integration of companies like Trimark, Artisan, Redbus, Debmar-Mercury, Mandate and TV Guide Network and, in each case, Lionsgate has emerged stronger and the Company’s brand has become more resonant.”

“Jon Feltheimer, Michael Burns and the rest of the Lionsgate team have built an exciting and entrepreneurial content leader over the past 12 years, and we’re delighted to join together these two great companies,” said Summit Entertainment’s Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. “We believe that the combined entity will be even greater than the sum of its parts and our dramatically enlarged media platform will create tremendous opportunities for all of us within the Summit and Lionsgate families. We want to thank our employees, whose hard work and creativity have led to the successful evolution of Summit into a leading worldwide studio, and the combination of Lionsgate and Summit will be the next chapter in creating a true global media powerhouse.”

“As demonstrated by this acquisition, Lionsgate remains focused on preserving a strong balance sheet while pursuing its long-term growth strategy,” said Dr. Mark H. Rachesky, Co-Chairman of the Lionsgate Board of Directors. “We are big believers in the increasing value of content and this transaction strengthens Lionsgate’s asset base while providing significant financial benefits, including highly visible cash flow and revenue. We are looking forward to realizing the value of a Lionsgate-Summit combination for all Lionsgate shareholders.”

The majority of the purchase price was funded with cash on the balance sheet at Summit. The remainder was funded with $55 million of existing Lionsgate cash, $45 million of cash received from a newly issued series of Lionsgate convertible notes, $50 million of Lionsgate common stock and an additional $20 million of cash or stock to be issued at Lionsgate’s option within 60 days. At closing, Summit’s existing term loan was refinanced with a $500 million debt facility, secured by the collateral of the Summit assets. Although the term loan matures in 2016, the Company anticipates repaying the loan well before the maturity date, due to the significant cash flow the business is expected to generate. In addition, this expected cash flow will facilitate the Company’s financial objective of further deleveraging Lionsgate’s balance sheet. The transaction is expected to be significantly accretive in Lionsgate’s 2013 fiscal year beginning April 1, 2012.

JP Morgan, Barclays Capital, and Jefferies served as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners on financing the acquisition for Lionsgate. JP Morgan, Barclays Capital, and Jefferies also served as financial advisors to the Company. Barclays Capital provided a fairness opinion to Lionsgate. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as outside legal counsel for Lionsgate. Liner Grode Stein LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as outside legal counsel for Summit.

LAUTNER VS R-PATTZ

WHO WILL ECLIPSE WHO WHEN MADAME TUSSAUDS LONDON
ASKS FANS TO CROWN THEIR KING OF HEARTS?

When teen heartthrob Taylor Lautner’s new wax figure joins fellow Twilight actor Robert Pattinson at Madame Tussauds this January, the world famous attraction will be asking fans to crown one of them “King of Hearts” with the right to reside in his very own VIP area.

When Taylor joins the Madame Tussauds line up his figure will stand alongside his co-star in a special VIP area in the attraction’s A-list party—BUT only until fans make their choice. Guests will be invited to cast their vote at the attraction from 26^th January – 3^rd February by visiting the dashing duo and using the simple colour coded system. Whoever is elected will take up sole residence to greet his fans in VIP style for the rest of the year.

“Both Taylor and Robert are hugely successful young A-list actors with loyal and very vocal fans who are fond of debating their respective merits,” explains Madame Tussauds PR Manager, Liz Edwards. “We wanted to do something fun to celebrate Taylor’s arrival and what better way than try and answer the ultimate question that occupies his and R-Pattz fans – who is the ultimate “King of Hearts”? When his figure enters the attraction it will be to them to decide and whoever wins the crown will take up pride of place in the A-list VIP area.”

Lautner was one of the most requested personalities in 2011 and his figure will be dressed in jeans and leather jacket combo. Pattinson’s figure joined the Madame Tussauds cast in 2010 and is one of the most popular in the attraction.

On the other side of the movie spectrum, Stewart is also appearing in the relatively shoestring budgeted “On the Road.” I know I wrote about this film in last year’s preview, but it actually seems like it’s coming this year. Principal photography wrapped in 2010, so they’ve been in post over a year. Here’s hoping the Jack Kerouac classic will finally see the silver screen in 2012.

Taylor Lautner
After the bomb known as “Abduction” dropped and sent Lautner’s camp scurrying for the bunkers, he and his team seem to be keeping things on the DL this year. Other than “Breaking Dawn—Part 2,” Lautner doesn’t have any movies coming out in 2012. However, looking further on the horizon, he is planning a comeback in 2013 with the fantasy film “Incarceron,” alongside actress Kavinda Dissanayake. Lautner is also rumored to star alongside Dwayne Johnson in the action film “Goliath” next year. Do you think he’ll play The Rock’s son?