Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) has come on board as the principal visual effects house on the new Marvel Studios production of IRON MAN. Sister company Skywalker Sound, which houses EFILMs northern California outpost, completes the post-production triumvirate. Skywalker Sound will handle sound design and mix duties for the film.
Marvel Studios big screen adaptation of Marvels legendary superhero IRON MAN, will launch into theaters on May 2, 2008. Oscar nominee Robert Downey, Jr. stars as Tony Stark/ Iron Man in the story of a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implication, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. The film also stars Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow and Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges and will be directed by Jon Favreau. Paramount Pictures will distribute the film domestically and in various international territories.
When we first heard the news about Marvel becoming a studio we were very intrigued, explained ILM president Chrissie England. Marvel has a rich library of fantastic storylines and iconic characters and Kevin Feige is the perfect person to lead them to success. When IRON MAN was announced here at ILM the artists started knocking down my door asking to be assigned to the project. We are all thrilled at the opportunity to work on this film and equally excited for our new relationship with Marvel.
This is also a great script, with new and challenging work, which is just the way we like it here, added visual effects supervisor Ben Snow (STAR WARS: EPISODE II, KING KONG) who is heading up the ILM team with Oscar-winning animation supervisor Hal Hickel (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 1, 2, 3). Wayne Billheimer is producing for ILM, with Gretchen Libby as ILMs exec producer on the project.We are thrilled to partner with Industrial Light & Magic on IRON MAN. Their resume speaks for itself, and the visual effects expertise they bring to this project fit perfectly with the high-tech look and feel of this film. Through this collaborative effort, we look forward to providing movie-goers the high-action, visually compelling entertainment they expect from the Marvel brand, said Kevin Feige, president of production, Marvel Studios.Marvels svp of post-production, Charlie Davis elaborated, The post production process on a movie of this scope is always very complex and having ILM create the visual effects, Skywalker Sound design and mix the sound, and E-film digital color time the picture all in close proximity up in San Francisco is the best of all worlds come together.Touting a new relationship with EFILM at the Ranch, Skywalker Sounds vp/gm Glenn Kiser stated, Because of EFILMs DI suite at the Ranch, our clients can now finish sound and picture at the same time under one roof. At Skywalker, weve always coupled the best creative talent with top technology, and were looking forward to showing off our best work on IRON MAN. We cant wait to have Jon Favreau and his team in the house. Multiple Oscar winner Chris Boyes (LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING, TITANIC) will tackle sound design and the mix.
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is a Lucasfilm Ltd. company serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for visual effects. LM has been awarded 15 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and received 19 Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards. ILM is currently working on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLDS END, TRANSFORMERS, EVAN ALMIGHTY and HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX; all 2007 releases.
Skywalker Sound is a Lucasfilm Ltd. company serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for audio post-production. Skywalker Sound has been honored with 18 Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing.
With a library of more than 5,000 characters, Marvel Ent. Inc. (www.marvel.com) is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, videogames, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of moe than 60 years of comicbook publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.
EFILM operates the most advanced digital laboratory in the world serving the motion picture and television industry. Its clients are major film studios, independent filmmakers, advertisers, animators and visual effects companies. EFILM has pioneered numerous breakthroughs in digital imaging for motion pictures and continues to develop new tools for filmmakers. EFILMs team has successfully delivered more quality product than any company in the world. EFILM is a division of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc., an industry leader that adds tremendous value and expertise to EFILMs services. Deluxe is owned by MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., a private diversified holding company with other entertainment interests, including Panavision.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
