Sony-based production and management company Circle of Confusion have announced a new movie development deal with Backbone Ent. for its upcoming game, DEATH, JR. The agreement also includes a comic book. The film is being developed as a potential directing vehicle for director Larry Guterman (CATS & DOGS, SON OF THE MASK) under his producing shingle Orange Grove Ent. Guterman's partner Holly Rawlinson will co-produce the feature with Circle of Confusion.
"Death Jr. is an exciting property that will easily integrate across many platforms," said Circle of Confusion partner David Alpert.
DEATH JR., whose title character is the scythe-wielding son of the Grim Reaper and friend of Pandora, is in development as a launch title for Sony's forthcoming PSP handheld videogame platform. Originally created as a character and world to show off Backbone's cross-platform 3D engine technology, Death, Jr. and its images have quickly become an underground phenomenon, with t-shirts showing up on movie sets and images making their way onto desktops.
"We are excited about our partnership with Circle of Confusion," said Andrew Ayre, president of Backbone. Added Jon Goldman, Backbone ceo, "We feel DEATH, JR. exemplifies our interest in bringing cutting edge properties to the forefront of the Hollywood mainstream and other mediums."
Circle of Confusion, a feature film management and production company, was founded in 1990 by Lawrence Mattis, expanded into production in 2001 adding partners David Alpert, David Engel and Jason Lust, and signing a "first-look" producing deal with Sony's Columbia Pictures in June of 2002. For more information, contact tel.: (212) 969-0653 or fax: (212) 572-8304.
Backbone Ent. is one of the largest independent videogame developers in North America with studios and offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Boston, and Honolulu. For more information, visit www.backboneentertainment.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
