In the wake of IRON MAN's success, Marvel Studios execs Kevin Feige and David Maisel are reaping the benefits. According to VARIETY, Feige has been upped to president and Maisel has signed on as the chairmen of the film unit through 2010.
Following a huge, $100 million-plus opening weekend for its first film IRON MAN, Marvel Studios has announced their schedule through 2011, per VARIETY.
As rumored, the IRON MAN sequel will bow on April 30, 2010, the first summer weekend of the year. THOR is also headed for a '10 opening on June 4. Matthew Vaughn is set to direct the film about the Norse god who wields a giant hammer.
In a move designed to further strengthen the company's presence in the animation and home entertainment markets, Marvel Entertainment has promoted Eric Rollman to President, Marvel Animation.
In his new role, Rollman -- who was most recently Executive Vice President, Home Entertainment & TV Production for Marvel Studios -- will oversee Marvel's animation slate, as well as partnerships with key broadcasters and home entertainment studios. Rollman will report directly to Simon Philips, President of Marvel Entertainment International.
Marvel Studios, in its first major TV deal since going independent in 2005, has pre-sold the cable rights to IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK to FX, VARIETY reports.
The deal also includes three yet-to-be determined superhero movies, none of which has debuted in theaters.
"This is a watershed deal for the company," said David Maisel, chairman of Marvel to VARIETY. "It's a real vote of confidence" in the viability of the Marvel superheros.
Geoffrey Ammer, former Sony and Disney marketing head, will now oversee advertising, publicity and promotional campaigns for Marvel Studio's self-produced flicks.
He'll start with IRON MAN (opening May 2) and THE INCREDIBLE HULK (opening June 13), working with studios issuing those releases; Paramount for IRON MAN and Universal for HULK.
Ammer will handle marketing for the home video releases as well, including direct to DVD titles and will report to David Maisel, chairman of Marvel.
Three high-profile promotional partners have joined with Paramount Pictures and previously announced partner LG Electronics to publicize Marvel Studio's upcoming IRON MAN, reports KIDSCREEN. Audi will have a sports car featured in the movie, Burger King will mount a QSR promo at locations worldwide, and 7-Eleven will offer IRON MAN Slurpee cups at its 6,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada. More than 100 licensees worldwide have been signed by Marvel. The film is scheduled for release in the U.S. on May 2.
Marvel Ent., Inc. announced today that it has named Segal Licensing as its new licensing representative in Canada. Segal will oversee all sales, retail, merchandising and marketing of the Marvel brand in the strategically important market.
For the first time ever, Marvel Comics is making its comic book vault available via its new online subscription service Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
Marvel Ent. today reported operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2007. Marvel also raised its 2007 financial guidance for net sales, net income and diluted EPS and initiated financial guidance for 2008.
In its second quarter report, Marvel Ent. announced the production of a new animated direct-to-DVD feature entitled HULK SMASH. No plot details were announced, but it will be released via Lionsgate in Oct. 2008.
Alan Fine has been appointed to the newly created position of evp/chief marketing officer of Marvel Characters Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvel Ent., which owns and licenses Marvel's intellectual property library. Fine will be responsible for directing and coordinating Marvel's efforts to support and strengthen its brands.
Fine, who joined Marvel in 1996, will retain his current title of ceo of Marvel's publishing and toy divisions.
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 Ent. Inc.reported operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007. For Q1 2007, Marvel reported that net sales rose to $151.4 million and net income increased to $46.8 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net sales of $90.1 million and net income of $17.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in Q1 2006.
Marvel Ent. is making its move to Broadway with a musical based on SPIDER-MAN, reports various news sources. Marvel has tapped U2's Bono and the Edge to create the music and lyrics while Tony-winning, LION KING director Julie Taymor will helm the stage production.
Auditions are under way, but no opening date has been set.
Hello Ent.'s David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel and Sony Pictures Ent. will all produce with Hello securing the funding.
Marvel Ent. Inc., SEGA Europe Ltd and SEGA of America Inc. have expanded their relationship to include the rights to develop and distribute games inspired by Marvel's franchises -- CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE INCREDIBLE HULK and THOR. Through the exclusive, multi-year global licensing agreement, SEGA will create titles for console, handheld and PC platforms based upon both the classic comicbooks and planned feature film adaptations of these superheroes.
Two-time Academy Award nominee Edward Norton has signed on to play Bruce Banner, who when angry transforms into The Hulk in Marvel Studios' new big screen adaptation of THE INCREDIBLE HULK. The film, which is being directed by Louis Leterrier (TRANSPORTER 2, UNLEASHED) and distributed by Universal Pictures, is scheduled to smash into theaters on June 13, 2008.
It's now official: Rhythm & Hues is the lead vfx house on THE INCREDIBLE HULK, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, with the Marvel superhero reportedly getting a more cartoony makeover in keeping with the popular comic than the CG version supplied by Industrial Light & Magic for the 2003 Ang Lee-directed HULK. Marvel Studios, which now has its own financing, will start production in June in Toronto.
Louis Leterrier will direct from a script by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Zak Penn. Lee also will serve as an exec producer.
Having just emerged from bankruptcy protection on Dec. 6, 2006, Stan Lee Media, today (March 15, 2007), filed suit against Marvel Ent. worth $5 billion. In the suit, Stan Lee Media is claiming co-ownership of all Stan Lee's co-creations for Marvel, including Spider-Man, X-Men and the Incredible Hulk. Stan Lee Media requests half of Marvel's earnings derived from those creations, in addition to damages and legal fees.
Mort Handel, chairman, Marvel Ent., announced that David Maisel has been named chairman, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige has been named president of production.
Maisel joined Marvel in Dec. 2003. He was responsible for the conception and execution of the company's new film production initiative, including the establishment of the $525 million non-recourse loan facility to finance that strategy.
Marvel Ent. Inc. announced that it has satisfied all funding requirements under the company's previously announced $525 million non-recourse credit facility and has begun borrowing from the facility to finance its first self-produced and financed feature film, IRON MAN. Additionally, Marvel has finalized distribution deals for IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK in the international territories for which it controls distribution rights. Paramount Pictures will distribute IRON MAN and Universal Pictures will distribute THE INCREDIBLE HULK in North America and all other international territories.
Marvel Studios announced that it has signed Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow to join the cast of the summer 2008 tentpole, IRON MAN. Paltrow will take on the role of Virginia "Pepper" Potts, personal secretary and confidant to Tony Stark aka Iron Man, who is being played by Robert Downey Jr. The film is slated to hit theaters May 2, 2008.
Paltrow joins Downey Jr. and Terrence Howard as Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes, Stark's best friend. Jon Favreau is set to direct.
Marvel has announced that the soundtracks for ULTIMATE AVENGERS, ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2 and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN are now available on iTunes. Each soundtrack is performed by a live orchestra and composed by Emmy Award-winning composer Guy Michelmore
For ULTIMATE AVENGERS, Michelmore conducts Seattle's Northwest Sinfonia orchestra, highlighted by the sounds of a choir singing Old Norse lyrics describing Thor's mighty battles.
For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.
Marvel Ent. initiated financial guidance for 2007 and revised its financial guidance for 2006. The financial guidance was provided in conjunction with the reporting of operating results for the third quarter and nine-month periods ended Sept. 30, 2006.
For Q3 2006, Marvel reported net income of $13.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, net of a $0.7 million charge for FAS 123R share-based payments. This compares to net income of $23.4 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the year-ago third quarter period, which did not include any stock option expense.
Marvel Studios and Vancouver-based production company, No Equal Ent., have entered into an agreement to develop a live-action television series based on Marvel's cult favorite MOON KNIGHT.
First introduced by Marvel Comics in the mid-1970s, MOON KNIGHT presents the story of soldier of fortune Marc Spector. After an encounter with the Egyptian god of vengeance and the moon deity Konshu, he becomes Moon Knight, a superhero who hunts criminals in the night, bringing them to justice.
At Comic-Con, the Oscars of the comicbook industry the Will Eisner Aewards were handed out. BUFFY creator Joss Whedon took home one of the top prizes for his work on ASTONISHING X-MEN in the Best Continuing Series award.
The full list of winners include:
Best Short StoryTEENAGE SIDEKICK, by Paul Pope, in SOLO #3 (DC)
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)SOLO #5, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Best Serialized Story
