WWE® and Warner Bros. Head to Bedrock
WWE®and Warner Bros. Head to Bedrock
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Warner Bros. and WWE Studios (NYS: WWE) today announced they are once again teaming up; this time to co-produce a Flintstones animated movie to be released in early 2015.
Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang join up with Vince McMagma (Vince McMahon), and WWE Superstars and Divas including John Cenastone (John Cena®) and CM Punkrock (CM Punk®) as part of the very first WWE main event.
"WWE is family-friendly entertainment, so partnering with Warner Bros. on a Flintstones/WWE project was a natural extension of our Scooby Doo deal," said Michael Luisi, President, WWE Studios. "This new, animated feature allows us to showcase our brand with young fans and loyal Flintstones enthusiasts alike."
"Warner Bros. is thrilled to continue our partnership with WWE Studios as we begin production of the latest Flintstones animated feature," said Jeff Brown. "Our recent production collaborations have proven successful and we have the utmost confidence that the latest tag team between the WWE Superstars and The Flintstones will deliver the same results."
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will handle worldwide distribution on Blu-ray, DVD, VOD and digital download. The film will be co-produced by Warner Bros. Animation and WWE Studios. WWE will utilize its extensive global reach through its television, digital media and print assets to market the release of the film.
Bradley Buchanan, SVP of Business and Legal Affairs negotiated on behalf of WWE Studios.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com.
About Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers, producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces series such as The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Teen Titans Go! and the forthcoming Beware The Batman and The Tom and Jerry Show for Cartoon Network, as well as the upcoming Mike Tyson Mysteries for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. WBA also produces original content — including animated shorts — for Cartoon Network's multiplatform branded DC Nation programming block. WBA also creates the highly successful series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the Studio's rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has won six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents' Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).
About WWE Studios
WWE Studios continues to strategically diversify its slate of films, which includes theatrical releases and direct to home premieres, under the guidance of President Michael Luisi. Most recent films produced by the studio include The Call with Halle Berry and David Otunga, Dead Man Down with Colin Farrell and WWE Superstar Wade Barrett™, and Marine 3Homefront with WWE Superstar The Miz™. Upcoming films for WWE Studios include: 12 Rounds 2 Reloaded, the 2nd installment in the action franchise, which stars WWE Superstar Randy Orton™ and will be released direct to home on June 4th by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Christmas Bounty, an action comedy starring WWE Superstar The Miz™ and Francia Raisa, which will premiere on ABC Family's highly rated "25 Days of Christmas" programming event in December 2013; an animated feature that will find Scooby Doo and the gang teaming up with WWE Superstars to solve a mystery at WrestleMania and will be released direct to home in March 2014 by Warner Bros. Animation; a reboot of the Leprechaun franchise which will be directed by Zach Lipovsky and will be distributed by Lionsgate in 2014, and The Flintstones another animated feature to be released in early 2015 by Warner Bros. Animation which joins Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas.
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYS: WWE) , is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYS: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.
Media:
WWE Studios:
FRANK PR
Lina Plath, 646-861-0843
lina@frankpublicity.com
or
Warner Bros:
Melissa Hufjay, 818-977-7310
melissa.hufjay@warnerbros.com
or
Investor:
Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642
Michael.Weitz@wwecorp.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
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