The entertainment service Lionsgate Play has outlined a bold expansion of its programming and distribution approach, confirming more than 100+ premieres during 2026 and the return of the hit series Heated Rivalry for a second season in 2027. The plan introduces a theatrical-first element to the platform’s rollout strategy, signalling an intent to move beyond streaming-only windows and to present a curated group of films in cinemas before they arrive on the service. This development arrives alongside leadership changes at the platform; Rohit Jain, who acquired the service from Lionsgate earlier this year after eight years as its Asia president, is leading the new phase.
Beginning in September 2026, Lionsgate Play will send roughly 10–12 premium Hollywood titles into Indian theatres ahead of their streaming debut, an approach that the company describes as screen-agnostic and designed to give certain films a traditional theatrical run before they migrate to the platform. The slate earmarked for that window includes high-profile projects such as Russell Crowe’s Billion Dollar Spy, Gerard Butler’s Empire City, Robert Pattinson’s Primetime, Mark Wahlberg’s By Any Means, and the creature feature Titan. Those cinema premieres are intended to complement, not replace, the service’s streaming schedule.
A new distribution play
The move reflects a deliberate rethinking of how premium content is delivered to South Asian audiences. By pairing theatrical exposure with an eventual streaming window, Lionsgate Play aims to capture both box office momentum and subsequent platform engagement. Rohit Jain emphasizes that the combination of theatrical runs and exclusive streaming premieres supports the notion that some titles benefit from a cinematic opening to reach their full audience potential. The strategy also positions the service as an intermediary between studios and consumers, offering a staged release strategy that emphasizes event-level launches followed by binge-ready availability.
How the September window works
The curated September lineup will act as a testing ground for the platform’s exclusive streaming window concept: films will be exhibited in cinemas first, then flow to the Lionsgate Play service for subscribers. This model preserves the theatrical experience for titles deemed to require large-format presentation while ensuring that those same films eventually strengthen the platform’s catalogue. The initiative is also framed as a partnership effort with local exhibitors and distribution channels, enabling a seamless transition from multiplex screens to home devices and creating multiple revenue and marketing touchpoints for each title.
Star-driven 2026 slate and franchise growth
Outside the theatrical-first cohort, Lionsgate Play’s wider 2026 calendar continues to lean on recognizable talent and existing franchises. The announced slate includes Gerard Butler returning in Greenland 2: Migration, Jason Statham in Mutiny, Angelina Jolie in Couture, Zac Efron in Famous, and Matthew McConaughey in The Rivals of Amziah King. On the franchise front, the platform will add Apollo Has Fallen to its library while also hosting a third season of the crime-thriller Vigil. This blend of star vehicles and established properties demonstrates a clear emphasis on high-impact, audience-recognizable programming.
Franchises and returning series
Alongside its Hollywood pipeline, Lionsgate Play continues to balance global titles with regional originals and returning shows, reinforcing a content mix that targets both mass-appeal and niche viewers. By leaning into known franchises and commissioning subsequent seasons of successful series, the platform seeks to keep subscriber churn low and engagement high. The programming strategy uses marquee names and familiar intellectual property as anchor points that can drive discovery of smaller, regional projects that sit alongside the Hollywood offerings.
Markets, partnerships and business model
Operationally, Lionsgate Play is active across eight Asian markets and reports more than 40 million viewers in India. The service relies largely on a B2B2C distribution approach, working through partners such as JioHotstar, Airtel Xstream, and Amazon Prime Video Channels to reach customers. A multi-year licensing agreement with Lionsgate secures the platform’s branding and access to a wide catalogue of content produced or distributed under the studio’s umbrella, underpinning the service’s positioning as a destination for premium Hollywood entertainment across the region.
As Lionsgate Play moves into this next chapter, the combined emphasis on theatrical-first releases, a star-heavy 2026 slate, and continued investment in returning franchises outlines an integrated distribution play aimed at maximizing both cinematic and streaming value. The company describes this period as its most ambitious yet, marrying the spectacle of theatre premieres with the convenience of streamed exclusives and expanding the ways audiences can encounter and engage with its content offerings.