Miley Cyrus took a giant step away from her Disney Hannah Montana persona to adult actress two years ago when she filmed Lionsgate’s PG-13 rated LOL with Demi Moore. A coming of age tale based on a 2008 hit French film of the same name, LOL doesn’t shy away from sex or mature subject matter. It had the potential to springboard Cyrus’ career to a new level of maturity and respect.
These days when Lionsgate comes up in conversation, it’s about The Hunger Games success and not about LOL or Miley Cyrus’ first starring adult role. Rather, her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth is getting more attention for co-starring in one of the biggest movie openings of all time.
Sometime between the end of LOL production and now, Lionsgate lost faith in the film. Box office bombs like Conan the Barbarian and Abduction were released in its place. Demi Moore’s personal life spiraled out of control making her a much less attractive box office draw. No one at Lionsgate seemed to be laughing about the prospect of LOL.
To further rub salt in the wound, Lionsgate has finally moved LOL onto their theatrical release calendar for May 4, but only in an extremely limited manner. According to the LA Times, distribution is being handled by the home entertainment division that usually manages Blu-ray and DVD releases. There’s zero publicity backing the release. It is destined to be consumed by The Avengers.
Apparently LOL is lucky to be getting any kind of theatrical release. It would have gone straight to video and VOD had production company Mandate, a subsidiary of Lionsgate, not signed a deal with foreign distributors that it had to run in at least 100 domestic theaters. Lionsgate is now finally fulfilling that deal.
Since the odds are not in favor of finding LOL in a theater near you, look for the Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore flick to hit Blu-ray and DVD this summer.
Source: LA Times
