Weinstein Co Acquires U.S. Distribution On 'Blood Sisters: Vampire Academy'

Berlin ' February 10, 2013 ' The Weinstein Company (TWC) has acquired the U.S. Distribution rights to BLOOD SISTERS, the first feature film installment of the highly successful VAMPIRE ACADEMY series of young adult books from financiers Reliance Entertainment and IM Global.

BLOOD SISTERS, to be directed by Mark Waters ('Mean Girls', 'Spiderwick Chronicles'), is based on the first book in author Richelle Mead's hugely successful series of books, with the screenplay written by Dan Waters ('Batman Returns', 'Heathers'). The VAMPIRE ACADEMY book series is a worldwide phenomenon, with over 8 million copies in print across 35 countries. To date there are 6 books in the series, with the last 4 on the NY Times Best Sellers list.

The deal was negotiated over the past few days at the Berlin Film Festival by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, COO David Glasser and Acquisitions President, Mark Gooder with IM Global CEO Stuart Ford and attorney Craig Emmanuel of Loeb and Loeb.

BLOOD SISTERS will be produced by Don Murphy and Susan Montford ('Transformers, 'Real Steel') of Angry Films, Michael Preger ('Day of the Triffids') and Deepak Nayar of Kintop/Reliance ('Walking With Dinosaurs', 'Bend It Like Beckham'). IM Global CEO Stuart Ford will executive produce.'

The Kintop Reliance partnership/IM Global film will go into production in early summer and last week announced Zooey Deutch, Lucy Fry and Danila Kozlovsky as principal cast.

The mini-major will release the film on a nationwide level on February 14, 2014, a date that combines both Valentine's Day and the Presidents Day long weekend.'' ''

The picture represents Academy Awards guru Weinstein's first foray into the world of young adult franchises. The company is currently riding high at the box office with Oscar contenders 'Django Unchained' and 'Silver Linings Playbook'.

'I am thrilled to be working on the first feature for VAMPIRE ACADEMY. This series is fantastic and I am excited to bring it to the screen for diehard fans and introduce the stories to a whole new audience,' said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein.

Said producer Don Murphy, 'The addition of Harvey and the TWC distribution and marketing team gives us the opportunity to present this wonderful franchise to the world in a bold, unique fashion and only adds to VAMPIRE ACADEMY's considerable momentum.'

In BLOOD SISTERS Rose Hathaway develops a mental and spiritual bond with her BVFF (best vampire friend forever) Princess Lissa. The two girls attend a strict school for vampires designed to retain their humanity where it is Rose's task to protect the Princess. Among the everyday issues faced by teenage vampires Rose falls for Dimitri, their dreamy guardian, and together the three battle the mysterious forces of the evil Moroi who are set on destroying the Princess's bloodline.'