Just in case nobody's seen this on Marvel.com Ol' Father Geek is reposting it here for all you superhero fans that read our sight daily.
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT AND MARVEL ENTERPRISES ENTER SPIDER-MAN AGREEMENT
- Pact Sets Stage for Launch of Spider-Man Franchise -
CULVER CITY, Calif., March 1 -- Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) have signed an agreement that sets the stage for launching the long anticipated Spider-Man filmed entertainment franchise. The agreement will enable SPE and Marvel to produce motion pictures and television series based on the Spider-Man character. Additionally, Marvel and SPE have established a joint venture to exploit picture-related and series-related merchandise. The announcement of the agreement was made today by SPE Chairman and CEO John Calley and Marvel Enterprises President and CEO Eric Ellenbogen and Chief Creative Officer Avi Arad.
"This is a great day for the studio," said SPE's Mr. Calley. "I am delighted that we will be able to bring this long sought after comic book hero to the world of Sony film and television entertainment."
"Spider-Man is the crown jewel of Marvel's vast character library," noted Mr. Eric Ellenbogen. "Our pact with Sony is a giant step forward in leveraging Marvel content to the fullest across all media. I can't imagine a more momentous new beginning for our company."
Marvel's Arad added, "In Sony we have a partner who completely understands the unlimited potential of Spider-Man. I couldn't be more pleased with the enthusiasm and direction of Sony's creative team." Along with Marvel chairman emeritus Stan Lee and Mr. Ellenbogen, Mr. Arad will serve as executive producer of all Spider-Man film and television projects.
"We couldn't be happier to bring this popular character to the big screen to the delight of audiences around the world," said Amy Pascal, president of Columbia Pictures.
"Our worldwide marketing and merchandising operation is looking forward to working with Marvel in creating an innovative program for this exciting franchise," said Bob Levin, president of worldwide marketing for SPE.
"We have been working closely with Marvel for some time to develop a framework for a broad based relationship on Marvel's library of characters. We are happy to see this dialogue bear fruit in the form of Spider-Man and look forward to our partnership in the years ahead," said Yair Landau, executive vice president, corporate development and strategic planning.
In making the announcement, Mssrs. Calley and Ellenbogen also noted that the pending lawsuits between the two companies over Spider-Man have ended and all claims have been settled between both parties. In addition, the disputes between Marvel, SPE and MGM on this matter have been resolved.
Sony Pictures Entertainment's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment technologies and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.spe.sony.com.
Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's leading entertainment companies with operations in the licensing, comic book publishing and toy businesses. The company was formed on October 1, 1998 upon the emergence of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. from bankruptcy and its merger with Toy Biz, Inc. Through its ownership of over 3,500 proprietary characters, the company has published comic books for over 60 years in over 70 countries. Marvel licenses the right to use its characters in a wide range of consumer products such as video games, interactive software and apparel, as well as for television series and feature films. For additional company information, visit the company's corporate web site www.marvel.com.
