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  • Disney reveals major projects and surprises at the D23 showcase

    Disney reveals major projects and surprises at the D23 showcase

    Mumbai: The world-class storytelling engines of The Walt Disney Company took center stage at the Honda Center during the Disney Entertainment showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney fan event presented by Visa. Surprise celebrity appearances, new film and series titles, and major musical performances enthralled the audience of Disney fans from around the world, demonstrating the unmatched strength of the company’s creative studios, as well as the unique connection that generations of passionate fans of all ages have forged with its stories and characters over the past century.

    Walt Disney Company chief executive officer Bob Iger kicked off the evening to thank fans for their enduring passion, and to highlight what sets Disney apart as a global leader in creative storytelling and innovation. “Our deep bond with fans, forged over a century of storytelling, is stronger today than ever before,” he said, “driven by the unmatched strength of our creative studios, the wide appeal of our brands and franchises, and the innovative ways that we bring our stories to life in our theme parks and experiences.”

    Hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, the event featured several of Disney’s outstanding creative leaders, including Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, Pixar Animation Studios’ chief creative officer Pete Docter, Disney Animation’s chief creative officer Jennifer Lee, and Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige were on stage to introduce the stars and storytellers behind new and beloved titles.

    Here are the major highlights from the D23 showcase, where The Walt Disney Studios made several exciting announcements:

    Disney Animation: Three new feature films are on the way. Moana 2 kicked off the event with a performance by Auli‘i Cravalho and introduced new songs, with the film set for release on 29 November 2024. Zootopia 2, featuring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on a new adventure, is scheduled for 20 November 2025. Additionally, Frozen 3 was teased for a 2027 release.

    Avatar: James Cameron revealed the title of the third Avatar film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, set for a 19 December 2025 release, with stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña returning.

    Pixar: Upcoming films include Elio (13 June 2025), Hoppers (2026), Toy Story 5 (19 June 2026), and Incredibles 3, which is currently in development.

    Lucasfilm: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni gave a sneak peek of the new Mandalorian and Grogu film, slated for 22 May 2026.

    Marvel Studios: Kevin Feige shared updates on Captain America: Brave New World (14 February 2025) and introduced the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which premieres on 25 July 2025.

    Disney live-action: Announcements included Mufasa: The Lion King (20 December 2024), Disney’s Snow White (21 March 2025), a live-action Lilo & Stitch (Summer 2025), TRON: Ares (10 October 2025), and the sequel Freakier Friday (2025).

    New projects: Dwayne Johnson revealed a new movie centered around monster trucks, celebrating the popularity of monster jam truck rallies.

  • Paytm’s brings UI innovation for booking tickets

    Paytm’s brings UI innovation for booking tickets

    Mumbai: Celebrating the release of the much awaited action entertainer DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, Paytm has created a dynamic movie booking experience with a UI innovation, bringing their favourite superheroes to reserve seats of the film.

    On booking tickets of the film on the Paytm app, users can witness their preferred seats being displayed by logos of Deadpool & Wolverine while the seats already booked would be showcased with the iron claws of Wolverine. This enthralling innovation has certainly added to the buzz and hype of the film leaving no stone unturned to resonate with audiences across the country.

    Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine in theatres from today  in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

  • D23 Expo 2022: Disney theme parks announces new additions to Avengers Campus, including ‘King Thanos’ & ‘A Multiverse Battle’

    D23 Expo 2022: Disney theme parks announces new additions to Avengers Campus, including ‘King Thanos’ & ‘A Multiverse Battle’

    Mumbai: At the recently concluded Disney fan convention, D23 Expo, presented by Visa in Anaheim, California, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a look into the future for Disney theme parks and beyond. Highlights included the expansion of Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort with a third attraction; a first look at the Disney Treasure, the next ship joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet; a closer look at Frozen-themed lands coming to three park destinations around the world; and a behind-the-scenes look at the blue-sky brainstorming of Walt Disney Imagineers.

    “There’s no limit to where we are going. When I look back over our first 100 years, what jumps out at me is how we are just constantly reinventing ourselves, telling new stories for brand-new generations. You all know this: We need those stories more than ever. And that’s a lesson we take straight from Walt. He believed in the power of storytelling,” D’Amaro said.

    New stories coming to Disneyland Resort: D’Amaro was joined on stage by executive producer and Disney Legend Jon Favreau, who shared a first look at the Mandalorian and Grogu, two new characters whom guests will encounter at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, starting in mid-November.

    Then, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige shared how the Avengers Campus at Disney California’s adventure park will expand the multiverse with a third attraction, along with the debut of the Incredible Hulk, who will appear in his Quantum Suit at Avengers Campus in California beginning next week for a limited time. The new attraction will allow guests to join in battle with the Avengers, which means facing foes from anywhere and everywhere, including a new threat, King Thanos, a multiverse variant designed specifically for Avengers Campus.

    “The fun thing about Marvel is [seeing] all of the characters, all of the time—and with the multiverse at Avengers Campus, you’re going to be able to do that,” Feige shared, before showing a rendering of King Thanos. “This is a new version of Thanos for the very first time coming into the MCU via this attraction. He’s got a cool white beard, too, and a crown. This is Thanos that won, and the Avengers aren’t too happy about that. And you have to help them,” he explained.

    Just around the corner from Avengers Campus, Pacific Wharf will be re-imagined as San Fransokyo from the Oscar-winning Disney Animation film “Big Hero 6,” complete with a place to meet Baymax as well as new spots to eat and shop.

    Meanwhile, over at Disneyland Park, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will invite guests into a cartoon world where toon rules apply, and Mickey’s Toontown will step into a new era of inclusive experiences for families of all ages when it opens in early 2023.

    “We are going to celebrate Mickey, Minnie, and their best pals in a whole new way in ToonTown at Disneyland Park,” D’Amaro said before sharing concept art with the audience.

    D’Amaro also said progress continued on the reimagining of the Paradise Pier Hotel into Pixar Place Hotel, where guests will feel as though they’ve stepped into a Pixar art gallery featuring new interpretations of favourite Pixar pals. Over at the Downtown Disney District, more than a dozen new and reimagined locations will open, including Porto’s Bakery and Café. For running fans, runDisney races will return to the resort in 2024 for the first time since 2017.

    Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort: Imagineers joined D’Amaro onstage to discuss new story details for the attraction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and showcase stunning new concept art of the attraction at night. It was revealed that several members of the original film cast will return to lend their voices to the attraction, coming to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in late 2024, including Disney Legend Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Bruno Campos as Naveen, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie.

    Walt Disney World Resort and the transformation of Epcot: In terms of Disneyworld Florida, the next major milestone in Epcot’s multi-year transformation will include the completion of the World Celebration neighbourhood in late 2023. The Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will also open in late 2023, inviting guests to follow the story of water on the planet, inspired by Moana’s connection to the ocean. By the end of 2023, fans’ favourite character Figment will also appear live to park guests.

    Over at Magic Kingdom, Tron: Lightcycle Run will invite guests to enter the grid in spring 2023. Popular anthem “Happily Ever After” will play again when an updated nighttime spectacular returns to light up the skies over Cinderella Castle in 2023. At the Haunted Mansion, the Hatbox Ghost will materialise in 2023.

    Three frozen-themed lands highlight expansions at Disney Parks around the world: Inspired by Disney Animation’s stunning films, World of Frozen will open in the second half of 2023 at Hong Kong Disneyland—the first of three Frozen-themed areas coming to international Disney parks. It will blend Arendelle with the park’s natural landscape on Lantau Island.

    At Disneyland Paris, the Frozen-themed land will be the next major milestone in the ongoing transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park. This land will offer a gorgeous lakeside promenade and will immerse guests in the same magical wintry setting from the films. A new Tangled-themed family attraction will join the new gardens leading into the land. Frozen will also be part of the transformation of the Disneyland Hotel, reopening in 2024. As part of the grand finale of the 30th anniversary celebration underway, a new stage show, “Pixar: We Belong Together,” will debut in 2023 in the Walt Disney Studios park.

    At Tokyo Disney Resort, Frozen is one of the stories coming to life as part of the Fantasy Springs expansion at Tokyo DisneySea, joining two other Disney Animation stories, Peter Pan and Tangled, plus a brand-new hotel integrated right into the park. Fantasy Springs will feature several new audio-animatronics figures, including Elsa, who sings in Japanese and whose movements sync with the rhythms of the language.

    D’Amaro then shared a first look at the transformation of space mountain at Tokyo Disneyland, showcasing how the attraction will transition from day to night. “With a nod to the original architecture, this reimagined space mountain will anchor a new plaza and will be completed by 2027,” he said.

    Shanghai Disney Resort will be the first Disney resort to bring the world of the Oscar-winning Disney Animation film Zootopia to life. At Zootopia Central Station, guests will find animals going about their daily lives. At the Zootopia Police Department, which doubles as the entrance to the land’s new family attraction, guests will be greeted by an Audio-Animatronics figure of fan-favorite Officer Clawhauser.

    Mickey’s favourite teddy bear, Duffy, is a fan favourite in all three Disney resorts in Asia. D’Amaro shared that Duffy & Friends will star in their very own six-episode, stop-motion animated series on Disney+ next year.

    New Horizons for Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Treasure: The sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Treasure, will set sail in 2024. The Imagineers have dreamt up a new design concept inspired by the theme of adventure, celebrating Walt Disney’s lifelong love of exploration. The Grand Hall—the magnificent three-deck-tall atrium that welcomes guests on board—is inspired by the grandeur and mystery of a gilded palace, drawing on real-world influences from Asia and Africa and paying homage to the far-off land of Agrabah. At the center, the signature statue will feature Aladdin, Jasmine, and their Magic Carpet.

    For the first time, Disney Cruise Line will bring the magic of a Disney vacation to families and fans in Australia and New Zealand during limited-time cruises that immerse guests in Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars stories beginning in late October 2023. Additionally, repositioning cruises for the Disney Wonder will be the first South Pacific voyages for Disney Cruise Line, giving guests the chance to experience destinations like Fiji and Samoa.

    In the Bahamas, progress continues on a new island destination at Lighthouse Point, which will bring the natural beauty and rich culture of the Bahamas to life for Disney Cruise Line guests and be powered 90 percent by solar energy.

    What’s Next: A highlight of the morning included a look at what’s possible when Walt Disney Imagineers and their collaborators dream big. Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee, the Academy Award-winning writer and director of “Frozen” and “Frozen 2,” shared how the studio is working with Walt Disney Imagineering on concept explorations for Dinoland USA at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park and potential expansion opportunities at Magic Kingdom park, both at Walt Disney World.

    WDI creative portfolio executive Chris Beatty offered a glimpse of what could lie “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” through concept art, citing two recent Disney Animation hits, as well as “what if” renderings of a land of Disney Villains. “Imagine what if we could pass over those fires in Big Thunder Mountain? Maybe there’s a little valley in front of us with the little town of Santa Cecilia [from Coco] and celebrate Encanto. And what if we could… fly into the land of the dead with our friend Miguel, just like the Riveras [from Coco]?  That’s what could be out there,” Beatty said.

    Disney 100 Years of Wonder: D’Amaro concluded the presentation with a first look at how Disney Parks, Experiences and Products will mark Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100). This is the biggest celebration in the history of the company. New décor, specialty food and beverages, character experiences, and more will come to parks around the world, with the heart of the celebration rooted at Disneyland Resort.

    Two new nighttime shows, World of Colour—One and the new fireworks show Wondrous Journeys, will debut at Disneyland Resort in late January. World of Colour—One at Disney California Adventure will celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt a century ago. It’s going to be World of Colour like guests have never seen it before, with an all-new inspiring story told through characters. Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland Park will ignite the wonder in everyone and feature nods to all 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios films to date, taking viewers on a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling, and heart. Special entertainment moments will also pop up across the resort, including the long-awaited return of the Magic Happens parade this spring.

    A brand-new nighttime spectacular will come to the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot in late 2023 as part of the Disney100 Celebration. Hong Kong Disneyland will also unveil a new statue of Walt and Mickey near Cinderella’s Carousel as part of the Disney100 Celebration. Fans were given a keepsake rendering at the presentation’s conclusion.

  • Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi’ strikes gold in theatres

    Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi’ strikes gold in theatres

    Mumbai: The global release of Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” has grossed $127.6 million over three days. This includes domestic box office earnings of $71.4 million and international earnings of $56.2 million including the countries Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia/CIS, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom, according to data by Box Office Mojo.

    The film was released exclusively in theatres on 3 September unlike its predecessor “Black Widow”, which had a hybrid release and was available on Disney+ Hotstar. “Shang-Chi” premiered in six languages including English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu. According to a statement by Star and Disney India, the film “struck gold at the box office in the opening weekend”.

    “The amazing response for Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings is a testament to the fandom Marvel and its characters enjoy in the country. Shang-Chi is a special film that truly celebrates the uniqueness and ingenuity of Marvel films. We are thrilled with the love the film has received across India,” said Star and Disney India, vice president and head of studios, Bikram Duggal.

    Helmed by Destin Daniel Cretton, “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” features Simu Liu, Benedict Wong, Toby Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, and Awkwafina in pivotal roles.

    The studio is gearing up for its upcoming releases including “Eternals” which is going to hit theatres during Diwali. The film directed by Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao, stars Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kit Harrington, and Don Lee.

  • Should You Invest In The Entertainment Industry?

    Should You Invest In The Entertainment Industry?

    The entertainment industry: a worthy investment?

    As a species, there are three things we cannot do without – food, water, and entertainment. Entertainment is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world and it’s multifaceted too.  Films, music, books and video games, these are the pillars, the building blocks, the cornerstones of the entertainment industry. Everything is contained within these four defining attributes. Our fascination with being entertained is as old as we are as a species. Oral tradition became print, print transitioned to reels and reels are now digital. There’s a common argument that in today’s digital world economy, that print is dead. This is not true, print has simply adapted and evolved. There’s an argument to be made that music is dead. Also untrue. Like print, it’s simply had to adapt and also evolve to the technology of the times.  In fact, music is still in a transitional phase with regards to artist royalties, something that remains murky in these digital times.  Cinema it could be argued is dead, and right now it is, but that’s out of everyone’s hand. Once we return to normalcy, it will come back with a vengeance. However,  cinema is part of filmed entertainment and on the whole, filmed entertainment has been swallowed up by the streaming giants. The point is that the entertainment industry is evolving and as usual, there’s profit to be had. 

    Why should you invest?

    There’s no way to sugar-coat this; investing is risky, regardless. You can do your research, follow the latest entertainment trend reports by CityIndex, and yes, a product or service can showcase incredible potential, but you won’t know until the dust has settled and this is especially true in the entertainment industry – one that is almost entirely reliant on the taste of the consumer.  Hollywood is littered with the corpses of box office bombs, but it’s also filled to the brim with box office gold. If you’re going to invest in entertainment, you’ll have to run the gauntlet of an unpredictable public, critical reviews and of course, studio interference. A prime example would be the extent to which Warner Bros. hacked up major DC movies such as Justice League and paid the price. However, if the film or the intellectual property becomes a hit such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven with constant returns, then the risk of investing almost completely and utterly fades away. The same is true for music, theatre, books and video games. If the public positively receives these ventures, then you’re going to profit from the good reception. 

    Range and sustained returns.

    It’s easy to buy into the idea that only large investors can be a party to the entertainment industry. With massive budgets and lots at stake, it’s easy to see yourself as a bit player.  However, you don’t have to invest in something big. You could take a stab at an independent film production, a small theatre production, or you could invest in a musical artist who’s just starting their career.  In addition to this, you could also opt for online trading. Brokers in this industry allow you to partake in speculation or spread betting. For instance, if you wanted to invest in Warner Bros., whose parent company is AT&T, then you could simply bet and estimate on the movement of AT&T’s share price without buying the actual stock.  And then of course there are the ones that offer sustained returns. Imagine you had invested in Marvel Studios back in the early 2000s? Whether it’s a film franchise, a book that spawns a series like Harry Potter, a music artist who churns out hit after hit or a play that becomes a staple on Broadway, there’s always the chance you might be investing in something with sustained returns. 

  • Bob Chapek realigns roles at Disney Studios Content

    Bob Chapek realigns roles at Disney Studios Content

    MUMBAI: The shuffling is continuing at the Walt Disney Co as CEO Bob Chapek works on creating an organisation that can prosper going forward. In Disney’s latest announcement, Chapek named Alan Bergman as chairman of Disney Studios Content, with Alan Horn who was earlier co-chairman serving as its chief creative officer from 1 January 2021.

    “Our studios are unmatched in their ability to create incredible cinematic experiences, and with this new structure, we are ensuring a vital continuity of leadership,” said Chapek.

    Bergman’s responsibilities will expand to oversee creative, production, marketing, and operations for Disney Studios Content, which encompasses the world-renowned production studios Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Blue Sky Studios, as well as Disney Theatrical Productions. Horn, on the other hand, will focus on the creative aspects of the studios’ content pipeline, working in partnership with Bergman on its creative approach. Both will report to Chapek.

    The leads of each production studio will continue to dual report to Bergman and Horn on creative matters, including Twentieth Century Studios president Steve Asbell; Blue Sky Studios co-president Robert Baird; Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey; Pixar Animation Studios chief creative officer Pete Docter; Marvel Studios and Marvel president and chief creative officer Kevin Feige; Searchlight Pictures chairman Stephen Gilula; Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy; Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer  Jennifer Lee;  Searchlight Pictures chairman Nancy Utley and and Disney Theatrical Productions president  Thomas Schumacher.

    Bergman is a 24-year veteran of Disney. Prior to being named co-chairman in 2019, he served as president of The Walt Disney Studios from 2005 to 2019. He played a leading role in the integrations of Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and the Twenty-First Century Fox film studios. His tenure at Studios has included the release of 25 films that have earned at least $1 billion at the global box office.

    Horn joined Disney in 2012 when he was named chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, becoming co-chairman and chief creative officer in 2019. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Horn is one of the industry’s most influential and respected executives. He served as president and chief operating officer of Warner Bros. from 1999 to 2011, during which it was the top-performing studio at the global box office seven times and released numerous critically acclaimed films and box office hits including the Harry Potter series, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Departed, Million Dollar Baby, and the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy. He co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, where as chairman from 1987 to 1999 he oversaw a diverse collection of popular, acclaimed film and TV properties including A Few Good Men, The Shawshank Redemption, When Harry Met Sally, and Seinfeld. He also served as president and chief operating officer of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp from 1985 to 1986 after getting his start in the media business in 1973 at Norman Lear and Jerry Perenchio’s Embassy Communications, where he ultimately held the role of chairman & chief executive officer.

    Together, Horn and Bergman have presided over a time of significant growth at The Walt Disney Studios, including the 2012 integration of Lucasfilm and the 2019 integration of the Fox film studios, as well as the studios’ expansion into the production of content for Disney’s streaming services. During their tenure, The Walt Disney Studios set numerous records at the box office, surpassing $7 billion globally in 2016 and 2018 and $11 billion in 2019, the only studio ever to have reached these thresholds.

    Among the Studios’ recent successes are Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King; Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen, Zootopia, and Frozen 2;  Pixar’s Coco, Incredibles 2,  and Toy Story 4; Lucasfilm’s  Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; and Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, the latter of which is the highest grossing global release of all time.

  • Hooq partners Disney to bring Marvel series to South-East Asia

    Hooq partners Disney to bring Marvel series to South-East Asia

    MUMBAI: Hooq – a Video on Demand service in South-East Asia, has now got exclusive SVOD rights to bring three of Marvel’s latest series – Marvel’s Inhumans, Marvel’s Runaways and Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger – on the same day as the US telecast on their platform for the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, via a newly inked deal with The Walt Disney Company South-East Asia.

    While the first chapter of Marvel’s Inhumans has been released last week worldwide in IMAX theatres, the following episodes will then be available on Hooq from the end of September with additional exclusive content, not seen in IMAX  theatres.  Next up will be Marvel’s Runaways which debuts on digital on November 21st, 2017.  Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger will be released later on in 2018.  All these will have all episodes screened same day as the US telecast.

    These 3 new series will join the collection of Marvel movies and series already on the Hooq platform – the recent Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Agent Carter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Captain America – The First Avenger.

    This exclusive deal comes shortly after Hooq announced their collaboration with Disney, earlier this year to bring their latest movies onto the platform via Transactional VOD (TVOD).

    “Hooq is always looking for new ways and partnerships to bring exciting and quality content to our viewers.  This tie-up with Disney, which now allows our viewers to catch their favourite series Inhumans, Runaways and Cloak and Dagger on the same day as the US telecast is something we are very proud of and brings the world of Marvel’s superheroes closer to Asia.  Marvel’s series’ now available on Hooq is the first of many things to come with this tie-up and we will continue to push boundaries, to evolve and stay committed to delivering unique, compelling and edgy stories to millions of our customers in the region,” said Hooq CEO Peter Bithos.

    “We are excited to extend our collaboration with HOOQ in bringing these iconic Marvel shows day and date with the US telecast to digital audiences across Southeast Asia.  We are pleased to offer our Marvel fans yet another platform to enjoy their favourite TV shows” said The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia VP and GM of media networks Amit Malhotra.

    Marvel’s Inhumans is the latest series from Marvel Studios and its first chapter is shot completely in IMAX® cameras.  After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.

    Marvel’s Runaways will be the first TV adaptation of the Marvel comic of the same name, where a group of teenagers find out not only do they have superpowers, but that their parents are supervillains.  Torn between filial piety and being heroes, they will face adversaries like never before.

    Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, also follows the characters of the Marvel comic of the same name.  Heroes Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen share a symbiotic relationship as a crime fighting duo since they are Light and Darkness incarnate. These series are all set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • Disney India’s Captain America rings in 70 brands; raises Rs 150 crore

    Disney India’s Captain America rings in 70 brands; raises Rs 150 crore

    MUMBAI: You know you are doing something right when you beat your own record and that is exactly what Disney India has done for their chef d’oeuvre — Captain America: Civil War, which is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The studio has gone ahead and signed media and merchandising deals with 70 brands, one upping their previous record of 50 brand associations each for Star Wars: The Force Awakens  and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

    “For the India market, we have a record number of 70 brands collaborating for Captain America: Civil War, which is a testament to its growing popularity. This is by far the highest for any Hollywood or Bollywood movie,” asserted Disney India, consumer products VP and head Abhishek Maheshwari.

    Disney India’s consumer product business has associated with a wide variety of brands in categories such as apparel, toys, FMCG, ecommerce, accessories, finance and more. To make the most of these partnerships, the brands too are leaving no stone unturned in promoting the film.

    When asked why brand association with a movie like Captain America is a good opportunity for an eCommerce brand, Amazon.in category management VP Samir Kumar replied, “In the past, we have  experienced the excitement from  fans who flock to the Amazon.in marketplace and love to shop for their favourite movie merchandise as the movie readies for release. Disney movies has ardent fans, so we look forwards to making their shopping experience delightful this time too.”

    As per a source close to the development, around Rs 150 crore have been raised through these associations, with Rs 35-40 crore coming from  ATL and BTL promotions (across five brands, Lifebuoy, Axe, Nearbuy, Dell and Audi) and Rs 100-110 crore through retail sales value.

    Disney India claims that it is the growing popularity of superhero based Hollywood blockbusters in the country that is attracting brands to pump in huge amount of ATL & BTL spends. The Jungle Book’shumongous success in the Indian box office has also solidified the brands’ faith in the popularity of international movies.

    “Over the years, the Hindi audience for Marvel’s movies has grown rapidly and we are doing a lot of promotions for Marvel fans also,” shared Disney India studios VP Amrita Pandey, adding that to make the movie more relatable to the Indian audience Varun  Dhawan was the voice actor for Captain America in the movie.

    “We build our franchises through our content across Films, Television and Digital. We have a long term vision for our franchises and in the case of Marvel, we have our movie slate chalked out for the next five years, which our partners value,” Maheshwari added.

    Some of these innovative associations include, Jack & Jones’ apparel range inspired by ‘Civil War’, ICICI Bank’s co-branded Civil War Expression debit cards, Funskool’s latest range of action figures, playsets, board games and role-play items of Marvel Super Heroes.

    “Captain America: Civil War is the most anticipated movie of this year, packed with Super Heroes, making it a visual delight for fans. With the immensely strong affinity for Marvel Super Heroes, toy lines across key categories such as collectibles, role-play and construction will be the main drivers to get the excitement going. We have launched a wide range of Hasbro products including figurines and role-play sets, Lego construction sets, as well as board games for kids and young adults”, Funskool sales and marketing SVP R Jeswant quipped on their association with Disney India.

    Apart from this Lifebuoy has released 46 lakhs packs inspired by Captain America: Civil War & Iron Man movie art. Axe too is promoting their variants of Champion and Maverick with Captain America and Iron Man respectively, while Lanmart is carrying out a massive in store promotion for brand Captain America.

    While Marvel fans eagerly await 6 May for the movie’s India release to enjoy their favourite superheroes or to  flock the theaters for the stellar starcast — Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner,  and many more — brands ride high on the ‘Civil War’ wave.

  • Disney India’s Captain America rings in 70 brands; raises Rs 150 crore

    Disney India’s Captain America rings in 70 brands; raises Rs 150 crore

    MUMBAI: You know you are doing something right when you beat your own record and that is exactly what Disney India has done for their chef d’oeuvre — Captain America: Civil War, which is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The studio has gone ahead and signed media and merchandising deals with 70 brands, one upping their previous record of 50 brand associations each for Star Wars: The Force Awakens  and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

    “For the India market, we have a record number of 70 brands collaborating for Captain America: Civil War, which is a testament to its growing popularity. This is by far the highest for any Hollywood or Bollywood movie,” asserted Disney India, consumer products VP and head Abhishek Maheshwari.

    Disney India’s consumer product business has associated with a wide variety of brands in categories such as apparel, toys, FMCG, ecommerce, accessories, finance and more. To make the most of these partnerships, the brands too are leaving no stone unturned in promoting the film.

    When asked why brand association with a movie like Captain America is a good opportunity for an eCommerce brand, Amazon.in category management VP Samir Kumar replied, “In the past, we have  experienced the excitement from  fans who flock to the Amazon.in marketplace and love to shop for their favourite movie merchandise as the movie readies for release. Disney movies has ardent fans, so we look forwards to making their shopping experience delightful this time too.”

    As per a source close to the development, around Rs 150 crore have been raised through these associations, with Rs 35-40 crore coming from  ATL and BTL promotions (across five brands, Lifebuoy, Axe, Nearbuy, Dell and Audi) and Rs 100-110 crore through retail sales value.

    Disney India claims that it is the growing popularity of superhero based Hollywood blockbusters in the country that is attracting brands to pump in huge amount of ATL & BTL spends. The Jungle Book’shumongous success in the Indian box office has also solidified the brands’ faith in the popularity of international movies.

    “Over the years, the Hindi audience for Marvel’s movies has grown rapidly and we are doing a lot of promotions for Marvel fans also,” shared Disney India studios VP Amrita Pandey, adding that to make the movie more relatable to the Indian audience Varun  Dhawan was the voice actor for Captain America in the movie.

    “We build our franchises through our content across Films, Television and Digital. We have a long term vision for our franchises and in the case of Marvel, we have our movie slate chalked out for the next five years, which our partners value,” Maheshwari added.

    Some of these innovative associations include, Jack & Jones’ apparel range inspired by ‘Civil War’, ICICI Bank’s co-branded Civil War Expression debit cards, Funskool’s latest range of action figures, playsets, board games and role-play items of Marvel Super Heroes.

    “Captain America: Civil War is the most anticipated movie of this year, packed with Super Heroes, making it a visual delight for fans. With the immensely strong affinity for Marvel Super Heroes, toy lines across key categories such as collectibles, role-play and construction will be the main drivers to get the excitement going. We have launched a wide range of Hasbro products including figurines and role-play sets, Lego construction sets, as well as board games for kids and young adults”, Funskool sales and marketing SVP R Jeswant quipped on their association with Disney India.

    Apart from this Lifebuoy has released 46 lakhs packs inspired by Captain America: Civil War & Iron Man movie art. Axe too is promoting their variants of Champion and Maverick with Captain America and Iron Man respectively, while Lanmart is carrying out a massive in store promotion for brand Captain America.

    While Marvel fans eagerly await 6 May for the movie’s India release to enjoy their favourite superheroes or to  flock the theaters for the stellar starcast — Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner,  and many more — brands ride high on the ‘Civil War’ wave.

  • ‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

    ‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment is bringing Marvel Studios into the amazing world of Spider-Man.

     

    Under the deal, the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on 28 July, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.

     

    Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.

     

    The new relationship follows a decade of speculation among fans about whether Spider-Man – who has always been an integral and important part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comic books – could become part of the Marvel Universe on the big screen. Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU.

     

    The Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”

     

    “We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man. This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

     

    “Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” added Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group president Doug Belgrad.

     

    “I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie. Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

     

    Spider-Man, embraced all over the world, is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.