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**EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY 13TH OCTOBER AT 00.01AM**

THORPE PARK TO LAUNCH “SAW – THE RIDE”, THE FIRST-EVER HORROR FILM ROLLERCOASTER – THE WORLD’S SCARIEST RIDE

Rollercoaster Based On Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ Megahit ‘Saw’ Franchise

The UK’s thrill-capital, THORPE PARK, leading next generation film studio LIONSGATE (NYSE: LGF) and TWISTED PICTURES today announced that they will launch SAW – The Ride, the world’s first ever horror movie-themed rollercoaster, in Spring 2009. Based on Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ ‘Saw’ franchise, the most profitable horror franchise in movie history, SAW – The Ride is the scariest ride in the world. The latest installment in the series, ‘Saw V,’ premieres on Friday 24th October, and THORPE PARK will be inviting visitors to ‘Face Your Fears’ on their new terrifying attraction next year.

Like the films, THORPE PARK’s new rollercoaster will test the nerve of all who dare ride it and visitors will be at the mercy of the series’ master manipulator, Jigsaw. The ultimate test of SAW – The Ride will be a ‘beyond vertical’ drop of 100º from a height of 100ft, making it the steepest freefall drop in the world. Riders will also endure three inversions that will add another dimension to a whole new experience of adrenaline-fuelled fun for thrill seekers.

SAW – The Ride continues the growth of the ‘Saw’ franchise as an international cultural touchstone. The original 2004 ‘Saw’ launched a new wave in horror films and introduced a bona fide icon of terror: Jigsaw, the philosophically inclined psychopath with an exacting moral agenda and a genius for gruesome games of survival, ‘played’ with those he believes have ceased to value and appreciate the gift of life. Ratcheting up tension and invention with each successive film, the ‘Saw’ franchise has become a part of the zeitgeist while jangling nerves around the world. To date, the four ‘Saw’ titles have taken in over $550 million in worldwide theatrical box office and their combined gross DVD sales are nearly 24 million units. Candy Holland, Creative Director for Merlin Entertainments Resort Theme Parks, is the woman behind the ride and arguably has Britain’s scariest and most exciting job. She is an extreme thrill enthusiast and will draw on her extensive background in theme park and theatre set design, working with the project team to make it the scariest ride in the world. Candy was also responsible for the creative development of THORPE PARK’s Stealth ride, Se7en maze, and Oblivion and Air at Alton Towers Resort.

Candy Holland comments, “I’m a huge fan of horror films and am utterly relishing creating the scariest ride in the world. Anybody who has sat through a ‘Saw’ film scared and terrified beyond belief will have some idea of what’s in store for them at THORPE PARK. SAW – The Ride is going to be shocking and intense…both physically and psychologically…and is sure to give you nightmares.

“We have worked in close collaboration with Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures on this project to ensure total accuracy of the key elements of the ‘Saw’ films, which when combined with the latest rollercoaster technology will create a phenomenal ride experience.”

Marketing Director of THORPE PARK Carolyn London says, “SAW – The Ride is definitely only for the brave, and will add an element of edge to an already adrenaline packed breadth of thrills on offer. We’re certain the ‘Saw’ theme will set pulses racing and will satisfy the appetite of those in search of the ultimate exhilarating experience.”

‘Saw’ producers and Twisted Pictures principals Mark Burg and Oren Koules remark, “We love scaring people, and SAW – The Ride is a whole new way to do it. The team at THORPE PARK have really impressed us with their grasp of the ‘Saw’ universe and with their dedication to creating a truly edgy attraction.”

Guy Avshalom, Lionsgate COO, and Aubrey McClure, Lionsgate Vice President of Promotions, Licensing & Merchandising, add, “SAW – The Ride is a reflection of how thoroughly the ‘Saw’ franchise has crossed over into pop culture at large. We are delighted to be working with THORPE PARK to continue that expansion with the scariest ride in the world.”

The new ride will be the Park’s fourth major rollercoaster, joining an already impressive portfolio of extreme ride experiences, including Stealth – Europe’s fastest rollercoaster, Colossus – the world’s first ten looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno – the 4.5 G-force experience.

THORPE PARK will open for the full 2009 season on Saturday 14th March but to preview the ride visit www.sawtheride.com. For further information please log onto www.thorpepark.com.

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For further information and images please contact the THORPE PARK Press Office on +44 (0) 20 7229 4400 / [email protected] or +44 (0) 1932 577130 / [email protected].

For further information on the release of SAW V please contact: Lorna Mann at Lionsgate UK [email protected] / +44 (0) 20 7299 8800

Notes to the editor:

THORPE PARK is part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the leading name in location based, family entertainment that has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. The world’s No 2 visitor attraction operator, Merlin aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 30 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and 13000 employees. Bigger than Universal and second only to Disney, Merlin Entertainments brings together LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, London Eye, SEA LIFE, Gardaland, Dungeons – as well as national brands such as Alton Towers Resort, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo, Warwick Castle and Heide Park. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

THORPE PARK is open for the full season from 15 March to 9 November 2008. Visit www.thorpepark.com for more information.

Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children under 12) only £78 when booking in advance on the web. (On-the- Gate rate is £88 for a Family Ticket.) Check back regularly for sensational offers!

Advance booking rates: £24 adults, £16 children (under 12). On-the-Gate Rates: £34 adults, £21 children (under 12).

Height restrictions may apply on certain rides.

Fastrack tickets and special offers are available online when booking in advance on www.thorpepark.com.

Please note that THORPE PARK is spelt in capitals.

ABOUT LIONSGATE Lionsgate is a leading next generation filmed entertainment studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company is leveraging its content leadership and marketing expertise through a series of partnerships that include the operation of the highly successful FEARNet branded VOD and Internet horror channel with Sony and Comcast, the recent announcement of the fall 2009 launch of a new premium entertainment channel with partners Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM, investment in the leading young men’s digital distribution platform Break.com, ownership of the premier independent television syndication company Debmar- Mercury LLC and an alliance with independent filmed entertainment production and distribution company Roadside Attractions. Lionsgate also has forged partnerships with leading content creators, owners and distributors in key territories around the world, including Televisa in the U.S. and Latin America, StudioCanal in the UK, Hoyts and Sony in Australia and Eros International in India.

The Company has generated more than $450 million at the North American theatrical box office in the past year and has released a string of hits, including ‘The Forbidden Kingdom,’ ‘Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns,’ ‘The Bank Job,’ ‘Rambo,’ ‘The Eye,’ ‘Saw IV,’ ‘Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?,’ ‘Good Luck Chuck,’ ‘3:10 To Yuma’ and ‘War,’ most of which have opened at #1 or #2 at the box office. The Company has also forged leadership positions in television and home entertainment with the production of such critically-acclaimed television series as “Weeds” and “Mad Men,” the distribution of “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Family Feud,” “South Park,” “Trivial Pursuit” and “The Dead Zone,” among others, and approximately 9% market share and the industry’s leading box office-to-DVD conversion rate in home entertainment. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with entrepreneurial innovation and original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

ABOUT TWISTED PICTURES

Twisted Pictures is helmed by Mark Burg and Oren Koules, and is the horror/thriller division of their company Evolution Entertainment. ‘Saw,’ one of the most profitable films of 2004, was the first picture released under the Twisted banner. The film was distributed by Lionsgate, which entered into a nine-picture distribution deal with Twisted Pictures in November 2004. In 2005, Twisted Pictures produced ‘Saw II,’ which opened at #1 on Halloween weekend and became the year’s highest-grossing horror film. Halloween 2006 saw the release of ‘Saw III,’ which opened at #1 in North America, the U.K. and Australia and became the year’s top-grossing horror film. ‘Saw IV’ opened at #1 in North America, the U.K. and Australia on Halloween 2007. Twisted Pictures’ slate includes the upcoming ‘Catacombs,’ ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ and ‘Chain Letter.’