Tyler Perry‘s 34th Street Films has ended its production deal with Lionsgate, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.
However, the studio will continue to be associated with Perry, the creative force between the Madea franchise. His upcoming film, “The Single Moms Club,” hit theaters on March 14 and will be distributed by Lionsgate.
In addition, the studio still plans to collaborate on future Madea films with Perry and has other projects with the impresario in various stages of production and development. Since the 2005 release of “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” Lionsgate has distributed one to two Perry vehicles annually.
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The studio signed a first-look deal with Perry in 2008 and renewed it one additional time.
In addition, the Los Angeles office of the production company has shut down, according to an email that Senior Vice President Poppy Hanks sent out on Friday.
“While I am terribly sad to no longer be working with this fantastic group of people, I am also looking forward to what the change may bring,” Hanks wrote.
A spokesman for Lionsgate declined to comment and a spokesman for Perry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the end of Perry’s production deal.