Leone Film Group Joins Amblin's THE KIDNAPPING OF EDGARDO MORTARA as Production Partner

The Leone Film Group S.P.A. (LFG) is coming on board as a production partner on Amblin Entertainment's THE KIDNAPPING OF EDGARDO MORTARA. LFG will also distribute the film in Italy, which is an extension of its deal with the former DreamWorks Studios, now Amblin Partners.

Steven Spielberg will direct the film, which has been adapted for the screen by two-time Oscar nominated screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner. Academy Award winner Mark Rylance and Oscar Isaac will star in the historical drama based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Kertzer. The project also reunites the Academy Award nominated "Bridge of Spies" producing team of Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger. The film is targeting a February, 2017 start in Italy and will open in U.S. theaters in the fourth quarter later that same year.

"I am so pleased that Andrea and Raffaella Leone are joining with us to bring this powerful story to the screen," said Steven Spielberg.

Andrea and Raffaella Leone commented, "We are truly honored and proud to announce the opportunity to work with Steven Spielberg who has decided to tell this moving Italian story and we thank him for opening the doors for us to his cinematic world."

Published in 1997, "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara" recounts the story of a young Jewish boy in Bologna, Italy in 1858 who, having been secretly baptized, is forcibly taken from his family to be raised as a Christian. His parents' struggle to free their son becomes part of a larger political battle that pits the Papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification.

About Amblin Entertainment Amblin Entertainment is a production label of Amblin Partners, a content creation company formed by Steven Spielberg, the former DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne). The company develops and produces films using the Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming. The company's first film, "Bridge of Spies," was released to critical acclaim in October 2015. Other projects in various stages of production include: "The Light Between Oceans," which recently opened in theaters; "The Girl on the Train," scheduled for release in October 2016; "Office Christmas Party," scheduled for release in December 2016; "A Dog's Purpose," scheduled for release in January 2017; "Ghost in the Shell," scheduled for release in March 2017; "Thank You For Your Service," scheduled for release in 2017; and "Ready Player One," scheduled for release in March 2018. Upcoming shows from Amblin TV include "Bull" that will air on CBS and returning in the spring, the Emmy-nominated series "The Americans" on FX.

Amblin Entertainment can be found at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmblinEntertainment
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmblinEnt
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amblin

About Leone Film Group Leone Film Group is a production and distribution Italian public company managed by Andrea and Raffaella Leone, children of founder Sergio Leone. Through the fully owned company Lotus Productions and its CEO Marco Belardi, the Group has this year released successful Italian movies like "Perfect Strangers" ("Perfetti Sconosciuti"), directed by Paolo Genovese and "Like Crazy" ("La Pazza Gioia"), directed by Paolo Virzì. Leone Film Group is currently developing international movies with Gabriele Muccino, Paolo Genovese, Paolo Virzì and Academy Award winner Giuseppe Tornatore, together with international TV series like "Beati Paoli" by Giuseppe Tornatore and "Colt" (based on an original idea of Sergio Leone) by Stefano Sollima. Leone Film Group distribution line up 2016-2017 includes, among others, "The Girl On The Train," "The Lights Between Oceans" and "Big Friendly Giant" from Amblin, "Hacksaw Ridge" from IM global, "Valerian" and "Miss Sloane" from Europacorp, "Tulip Fever" from The Weinstein Company and "La La Land" and "Deep Water Horizon" together with all upcoming Lionsgate and Summit productions, thanks to the out-put deal that binds the two labels with the Group. Leone Film Group manages today a library of almost 500 movies.

Leone Film Group can be found at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeonefFilmGroup
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoneFilmGroup
Instagram: www.instagram.com/leonefilmgroup

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