Lionsgate acquires The Survival List; Lively to star and produce

Lionsgate has acquired The Survival List, a spec action romantic comedy written by Tom Melia, to star Blake Lively and have her also serve as a producer. Oscar-nominated producer Marc Platt is in talks to join as a producer, with Scott O’Brien overseeing the project for Lionsgate. The film follows a highbrow reality TV producer who, when paired with a famous survival expert on a new show, is stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck. She discovers the survival host is a fraud and must figure out how to keep them alive, forcing an uneasy partnership that blooms into an unlikely chemistry. The project arrives as Lively seeks material to keep her film career moving amid ongoing legal battles with director Justin Baldoni, with her recent work concentrating on projects associated with Lionsgate.

The Survival List marks a notable return to a theatrical project for Lively, who has been juggling a high-profile legal dispute with Baldoni while continuing to pursue screen roles. Her most recent film work includes a collaboration with Lionsgate on Another Simple Favor and the release of It Ends With Us, a project that helped define her recent career arc. The new movie positions...