Lionsgate Play has announced a second season of ‘Heated Rivals’ in 2027, along with a theatrical first release model for select premium Hollywood titles and over 100 premieres scheduled for India in 2026.
The theatrical drive, scheduled to begin in September, will see 10 to 12 titles premiere in Indian cinemas before hitting the platform. Films in this slot include Russell Crowe’s The Billion Dollar Spy, Gerard Butler’s Empire City, Robert Pattinson’s Primetime, Mark Wahlberg’s By Any Means, and the snake creature Titan.
The extensive 2026 lineup also includes many of Hollywood’s biggest talents. Butler returns in Greenland 2: Migration, and co-stars Jason Statham in Mutiny, Angelina Jolie in Couture, Zac Efron in Famous, and Matthew McConaughey in The Rival of the King. The third seasons of “Apollo Has Fallen” and “Vigil” further increased momentum on the franchise side.
“Over the past few years, we have built Lionsgate Play as a destination for bold and impactful storytelling,” said Rohit Jain, who acquired the platform from Lionsgate earlier this year after eight years as president of Asia. “In 2026, we will realize that vision at full scale, bringing more than 100 premieres, franchise revivals, and now the big screen itself under one roof.”
Lionsgate Play operates in eight markets in Asia and reaches over 40 million viewers in India, primarily through a B2B2C model through partners such as JioHotstar, Airtel Xstream and Amazon Prime Video channels. The platform focuses on Hollywood content along with regional originals and operates under a multi-year licensing agreement with Lionsgate that covers branding and content.
