Blake Lively is keeping her cinematic aspirations alive and kicking, partnering with renowned 'Wicked' producer Marc Platt to initiate a fresh feature venture under the Lionsgate banner. This studio, which previously housed Lively's hit film 'A Simple Favor,' has now secured 'The Survival List,' an intriguing spec script penned by Tom Melia, with Lively set to take both the leading role and producer's chair.
'The Survival List,' a blend of action and romantic comedy, narrates the tale of Annie, a sophisticated reality TV producer who, much to her dismay, is tasked with overseeing a new show hosted by Chopper Lane, a celebrity survival expert. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when a shipwreck strands them on a desolate island. Annie soon uncovers Chopper's true colors – a charlatan with no survival skills whatsoever – leaving her in charge of devising a plan to keep them both alive. Forced into an uneasy alliance, they gradually uncover a surprising spark between them.
Scott O’Brien will serve as the project's overseer for Lionsgate. Recently, Lively has been in the limelight more for her legal skirmishes with director Justin Baldoni than for her on-screen endeavors. Nevertheless, the actress-producer-entrepreneur is determined to steer the spotlight back to her career and source material that resonates with her. Her most recent appearance was in 'Another Simple Favor,' a Lionsgate production released by Amazon's Prime Video, where she reunited with director Paul Feig and co-star Anna Kendrick.
Platt, a seasoned producer in both film and Broadway, is not only the driving force behind the long-running stage production of 'Wicked' but also its cinematic adaptations, with the second part slated for release on November 21. Additionally, Platt produced the live-action adaptation of 'How to Train Your Dragon,' which soared to a global box office tally of $626.4 million.
Melia, a talented British screenwriter, co-wrote the comedy 'Rye Lane,' starring David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film garnered a nomination for Outstanding British Film at the 2024 BAFTAs and amassed 16 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards, including Best British Independent Film and Best Screenplay. Melia has also contributed to the Sky drama series 'Brassic' and the Sky comedy series 'Bloods.'
Lively is represented by WME, Entertainment 360, and Sloane Offer, while Melia is represented by WME and Kaplan/Perrone.
