'Hummingbird' lands at Lionsgate

Lionsgate has acquired U.S. and U.K. distribution rights to IM Global's Jason Statham thriller "Hummingbird," which begins production Monday in London.IM Global announced during the American Film Market that it was fully financing the project, marking the directorial debut of "Easter Promises" screenwriter Steven Knight. Paul Webster is producing with Chris Menges on board as cinematographer.Statham stars as a veteran haunted by a tragic past who assumes the identity of an upper class Londoner. When his girlfriend is found dead, he can no longer hide from his past as he hunts down the perpetrators.Lionsgate's releasing "Safe," IM Global's actioner starring Statham, directed by Boaz Yakin and produced by Lawrence Bender, in the U.S. on April 27. Statham's also starred in Lionsgate's "The Bank Job," "Transporter 3" and the "Crank" films."Lionsgate has a terrific track record with Jason Statham films and I can't think of anyone better to be behind this film in two such important territories,"said IM Global topper Stuart Ford.Lionsgate's President and co-COO Steve Beeks spearheaded the distribution deal on behalf of the studio. "They have assembled an incredibly talented group of filmmakers around a taut story that promises to be a great vehicle for Jason Statham, with whom Lionsgate also has a wonderful relationship," he added.Indie financier/producer IM Global is in production on "Blood," starring Paul Bettany, Mark Strong and Brian Cox with Nick Murphy directing. Sam Mendes' Neal Street Prods. is producing alongside BBC Films; IM Global is co-financing with Quickfire Films and the BFI.IM Global's Automatik production joint venture with Alliance Films is in post-production on thriller "Welcome To The Sun," directed by Eran Creevy, starring James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough and Peter Mullan and exec produced by Ridley Scott. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Watch new Avengers footage in German trailer

The Avengers, or Marvel Avengers Assemble as it'll be known to us UK-based folk, released a full-length trailer to much online fanfare last week.Those of you wishing that that footage featured just a little more of Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man will be pleased to know that he has a few more lines of dialogue in a new German trailer that's arrived online (but, be warned, it is dubbed in German).Watch the German trailer for The Avengers now, thanks to ComingSoon.net: Thanks are also due to ComingSoon.net for providing the translation of those scenes, which are very handy for those of us who flunked high-school Deutsch.Here's what's said during Stark's exchange with Captain America:Stark: "And following orders is obvious not my style."Cap: "And everyone knows that style is all you care about."Stark: "From all the people around here, who wears the most figure-hugging outfit?"And here's the transcription of Stark's closing banter with Bruce Banner (AKA, The Hulk):Stark: "I promise a stress-free environment. No suprises."Banner: "Ow!"Cap: "Hey!"Stark: "You really got it under control, don't you? What's your secret? Relaxing jazz, bongo drums?"Cap: "Is everything like a joke to you?"Stark: "If it's funny!"You'll be able to enjoy that exchange in English when Marvel Avengers Assemble opens in the UK on 27 April 2012.If that's got you hankering to watch the English-language Avengers Assemble trailer, check it out below...

Audible calls start date

Audible.com will launch its audio book series "The A-List Collection" on March 8. Each book will feature the spoken-word talent of Celebrities.Thesps lending their voices towards the first set include Hathaway As Catwoman for "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," Kate Winslet for "Therese Raquin," Samuel L. Jackson for "A Rage in Harlem" and Susan Sarandon for "The Person in the marriage.InchPublications is going to be on products including apple iphone and Android. New Audible people can pick a magazine free of charge having a 30-day trial membership. Current people can access the very first half an hour of every book free of charge.Clear Corporation. is really a subsidiary of Amazon . com.com."The A-List Collection" is going to be offered at world wide web.audible.com/alist. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com