American Ultra: Liongate Buys US Rights Distribution & Shooting to Take Place April - June in NOLA

Update: Lionsgate Buys US Distribution Rights for American Ultra

Deadline The appetite for scripts and partially finished films is soaring. Lionsgate is tying up a deal today to pay $7 million to pre-buy U.S. distribution rights to American Ultra, the action comedy that begins shooting in New Orleans in five weeks with Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart starring for Project X director Nima Nourizadeh. In the script by Chronicle writer Max Landis, Eisenberg plays a stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend (Stewart) is upended when his past catches up with him, putting him the crosshairs of a government operation bent on wiping him out. It’s a co-production between A Likely Story and Circle Of Confusion, with Anthony Bregman, David Alpert and Britton Rizzio producing, and Kevin Scott Frakes of Palmstar Media Capital and Raj Brinder Singh of Merced Media Partners exec producing.

American Ultra Shooting April through June in NOLA

Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg are headed back to New Orleans, this time for the indie action-comedy "American Ultra." The film, directed by Nima Nourizadeh ("Project X") and written by Max Landis ("Chronicle"), is scheduled to shoot from April 14 to June 10 in New Orleans, according to the state film office.

The film will reportedly see Eisenberg play a stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend (Stewart) is upended when his past catches up with him, putting him the crosshairs of a government operation bent on wiping him out.

"Simply put, 'American Ultra' will be the most fun you can possibly have in a movie theater without the use of drugs, fireworks or canola oil," producer Anthony Bregman was quoted as saying in November when he announced the project. Bregman is producing "American Ultra" with David Alpert and Britton Rizzio.

The film will mark a return to town for both actors. Stewart has shot a number of films in Southern Louisiana over the past few years, including "Welcome to the Rileys," "On the Road," "The Yellow Handkerchief" and both installments of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn." Eisenberg shot the magic-themed heist film "Now You See Me" in town in 2012.

"American Ultra" will also mark a reunion for Stewart and Eisenberg, who worked together previously on the 2009 dramatic comedy "Adventureland."

The film is just one of a number of film and TV projects that are shooting, or preparing to shoot, in state. Below, find the latest Louisiana production listings -- including contact information for prospective crewmembers -- courtesy of the state-run Louisiana Entertainment.

Pre-production

American Ultra" -- The independent feature film American Ultra starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart will shoot April 14th through June 10th in New Orleans

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