DVD/Blu-ray Release Slated for Summer 2010

Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today the acquisition of the psychological thriller Abandoned for North American distribution through its Anchor Bay Films label. Directed by Michael Feifer (A Christmas Proposal, Soda Springs), the film is written by Peter Sullivan (Eve’s Christmas, Termination Point), from a story by Jeffrey Schenck and Peter Sullivan and is the last screen appearance by the late actress Brittany Murphy.

Produced by Jeffrey Schenck (Boy Next Door, American Bandits, “The Dog Who Saved Christmas”) and Barry Barnholtz (“The Dog Who Saved Christmas”, Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas) for Hybrid, Abandoned is slated to be released in summer 2010.

“Anchor Bay established its reputation by releasing some of the most thrilling films on the market, and Abandoned is a movie that delivers,” states Kevin Kasha, senior vice president, acquisitions, Anchor Bay Films. “Abandoned has the kind of twists and turns that will have the audience guessing until the end; and keep them talking after.”

Producer Barnholtz says, “Anchor Bay understands the horror and thriller genres, the entire team is unbelievably talented, and I think Abandoned fits in perfectly with the company’s outstanding catalog.”

Abandoned is, sadly, the final film role for the talented actress Brittany Murphy (Sin City, 8 Mile, Girl Interrupted, Clueless), who passed away in December. Producers Barnholtz and Schenck have released this joint statement: “Brittany will be deeply missed by everyone who worked on Abandoned. The film is a taut thriller which portrays Brittany’s character as smart and tough – and that’s how we all want to remember her.”

Anchor Bay Entertainment President Bill Clark adds, “Releasing this young actress’s last film is both an honor and bittersweet. It was important to Anchor Bay that the timing of this release be right, because we’re sensitive to such a tragic loss. However, we also recognize that Brittany’s fans will want to see her amazing work.”

Abandoned follows Mary Walsh (Murphy) as she delivers boyfriend Kevin (Dean Cain, TV’s “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”) to a hospital for routine outpatient surgery. But when Mary returns to take him home, he’s mysteriously vanished. An administrator (Mimi Rogers, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, TV’s “The X Files”) can’t find any record of him, and a police search turns up nothing. Increasingly frantic, Mary is taken to staff psychiatrist Dr. Bensley (Peter Bogdanovich, TV’s “The Sopranos,” directed Mask, Paper Moon, The Last Picture Show), who pronounces her unstable. Now she must not only find her missing boyfriend, but prove her own sanity. A stranger informs Mary he knows Kevin’s whereabouts, but demands a $10 million ransom, this forces Mary to save herself and the man she loves … by any means necessary.

Anchor Bay Films is unique in that it offers the creative community a fully integrated distribution capability and an international solution extending beyond the U.S. Anchor Bay Films, a division of Anchor Bay Entertainment, is on the ground providing quality distribution with operations in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, as well as distribution capabilities in other key territories. The company focuses on a platform release strategy for its films with an eye toward maximizing their potential across all ancillary distribution platforms. Recent releases include Spread starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche, The Open Road starring Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake, Broken Lizard’s The Slammin’ Salmon starring Michael Clarke Duncan, and After.Life starring Liam Neeson and Christina Ricci. Its current theatrical release Frozen premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and it will release City Island, starring Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies, in March 2010.

The L.A. County coroner’s office says actress Brittany Murphy died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

Coroner officials said Murphy had gone into sudden cardiac arrest because of “drug intake,” and the Dec. 20 death was classified as an accident. They said an autopsy report would be available in two weeks.

Murphy, 32, went into cardiac arrest at her home in the Hollywood Hills. L.A. firefighters responded to a medical call at about 8 a.m. at the home she shared with husband Simon Monjack in the 1800 block of Rising Glen Road.

Firefighters tried unsuccessfully to revive Murphy on the way to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead about two hours later.

Born Nov. 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy moved to Burbank with her mother when she was 13. Her film break came in the movie “Clueless” (1995), in which she starred opposite Alicia Silverstone.

Murphy made many other film appearances, including in “Girl Interrupted” (1999), “8 Mile” (2002), “The Dead Girl” (2006), and “Across the Hall” (2009). She also was featured as the voice of Luanne Platter in the Fox TV show “King of the Hill.”

From the Los Angeles Times

CNN’s Larry King has lined up interviews with the husband and mother of the late actress Brittany Murphy.

British screenwriter Simon Monjack, the actress’ husband, and Sharon Murphy, the actress’ mom, will have an hour interview on “Larry King Live” at 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 20th.

CNN is billing the chat as Monjack and Murphy’s first in-depth TV interview since the actress died Dec. 20. Brittany Murphy, who was 32, had collapsed at her Hollywood Hills home. The coroner’s office is waiting on a toxicology report before ruling on what killed her.

Brittany Murphy’s friends and family gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills cemetery on Christmas Eve as the actress was laid to rest.

“Today a wife, a daughter, a niece, a cousin, a family member and dear friend to thousands was laid to rest,” the family said in a statement released to Access Hollywood following the service. “Brittany was an incredibly loving and passionate person and an artist to her core — she loved acting, singing, dancing, and performing. There are no words that can truly express the devastation felt by Brittany’s husband, mother, and everyone who attended the intimate service.”

Both a rabbi and a pastor were present at the co-denominational funeral service, which was attended by 20-25 mourners at Forest Lawn’s Church of The Hills, Radar Online reported.

Among those who gathered at the service were Brittany’s widower, Simon Monjack, and actor and a former bandmate of Brittany’s – Eric Balfour. Eric’s brother Simon also served as a pallbearer, the Web site reported.

According to the family’s statement to Access, a passage from one of Brittany’s favorite books was read at the funeral.

“Several of Brittany’s closest friends and her cousin also recalled their favorite memories, concluding with an excerpt from ‘The Little Prince,’ one of her favorite books,” the family shared in their statement.

Simon Monjack also spoke at the service.

“At the funeral, Simon described his loving relationship with Brittany and how she was his best friend and soul mate. He went on to say that mystery is the nature of love, and you never know when or where it will strike or how quickly it will be taken from you. He also said that he knows the closeness and beauty of their love will live on forever,” the family’s statement continued.

The burial service for Brittany, who tragically passed away at the age of 32 after collapsing at her Los Angeles home on Sunday, was held at twilight “with a reading of the Kaddish and the singing of ‘Amazing Grace,” according to the family’s statement.

“A bright light that lit the world is forever dimmed, but will live on in the hearts of those that Brittany touched,” the statement read.

According to the family, Christmas was Brittany’s favorite holiday. The family has asked that those wishing to honor the late actress “light a candle and remember the beautiful angel that entertained, enlightened, and made the world a better place.”

In related news, Dean Cain, Murphy’s co-star from “Abandoned,” one of the actress’ final films, released a statement on her sad passing to Access Hollywood.

“Tragic. She was so talented and so young, and had so much more to offer this world. Heartbreaking. My thoughts are with her loved ones this holiday season,” he said in his statement.

From Access Hollywood

The body of actress Brittany Murphy has been released to a storied Hollywood memorial park where a private service is reportedly scheduled for Christmas Eve.

A coroner source told the Daily News that Murphy’s body was released to Forest Lawn after Monday’s autopsy – the same memorial park where Bette Davis, Lucille Ball and John Ritter are buried.

Tomorrow’s daytime memorial service will be “strictly private,” RadarOnline.com reported.

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