MUMBAI: US film studio Warner Bros. and sports entertainment company WWE Studios, the film division of WWE, will co-produce a Scooby-Doo animated feature that will find Scooby and the gang solving a mystery at WrestleMania.
WWE Superstars and Divas, including Triple H, John Cena, Kane and The Miz, will appear in animated form and lend their voices to the project. WWE chairman, CEO Vince McMahon will also lend his voice and appear in animated form.
WWE Studios president Michael Luisi said, “We are excited to partner with Warner Bros. on this wonderful animated film. Kids and adults are going to enjoy seeing their favorite WWE Superstars in animated form join forces with an icon like Scooby-Doo to solve a mystery at the biggest pop-culture event of the year – WrestleMania.”
When Shaggy and Scooby win tickets to WrestleMania, the entire gang travels in the Mystery Machine to WWE City to attend the epic event. However, when a mysterious ghostly bear appears and threatens to ruin the show, Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred work with WWE Superstars to solve the case.
Warner Home Video executive VP, GM, TV Jeff Brown said, “Warner Bros. is thrilled to get into the ring with WWE Studios to bring fans an unprecedented animated adventure. We’re excited to leverage the WWE’s family-friendly brand and passionate fan base and integrate some of the most popular WWE Superstars and Divas within the Scooby-Doo gang.”
Tag: Warner Bros.
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Warner Bros. WWE Studios form tag team for Scooby Doo film
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Warner Bros to give helping hand to victims of Colorado shootings
MUMBAI: Warner Bros has decided to donate a ‘substantial‘ amount of money to help victims of the Colorado shooting.
The studio issued a statement soon after hearing about the Colorado incident. “Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.”
Having collected $160.9 million on the film‘s debut weekend in North America alone, the studio is giving a helping hand to the Aurora community following the tragic shooting incident that killed 12 moviegoers and injured more than 50 others last Friday.
Warner Bros. got in touch with Colorado governor John Hickenlooper‘s office and announced they would deliver the charity through givingfirst.org. Also, WB CEO Barry Meyer would send an email to the employees, encouraging them to make personal donations for the cause.
Director Christopher Nolan, composer Hans Zimmer along with actors Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway have expressed their deep grief as well. -
The Dark Knight makes $23.8 mn from Imax screens in opening weekend
MUMBAI: The Dark Knight Rises generated an opening weekend box office of $23.8 million in 396 Imax theaters worldwide, a statement of the giant screen exhibitor reported.
Toronto-based Imax said that the Warner Bros. Pictures film grossed $19 million domestically from 332 Imax screens, for a per-screen average of $57,200.
The global per-screen average was $60,100. Internationally, The Dark Knight Rises earned $4.8 million in 64 Imax theatres, for a per-screen average of $75,000.
Warner Bros. had earlier said on Monday that Imax grossed $1.57 million on 19 screens in the UK, and another $758,000 from 10 screens in Korea. The film grossed $659,000 from 5 Imax screens in Australia, and $55,000 from two screens in Spain.
Imax has another 89 of its theatres that are set to start screening The Dark Knight Rising this week, with China yet to screen the action film. -
Warner Bros partners Bournville to promote ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
Mumbai: Warner Bros has partnered with Cadbury Bournville, the dark chocolate brand from Cadbury, for the release of its soon-to-be released Hollywood movie ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ (TDKR).
Cadbury Bournville will pull out all stops for the cinema release through an integrated marketing campaign. According to the company, the association will delight the Indian youth who await the release of the movie on 20 July, and for whom the love for the ‘Dark‘ will come together with this union.
The Cadbury Bournville – TDKR integration comes to life with special brand packaging, in-store branding, on-ground activities, and television and cinema campaigns. The campaign has been designed and created to ensure engagement across all touch points to reach out to fans of the movie franchise as well as Bournville loyalists.
Additionally, there is a Bournville‘s digital campaign especially created for the TDKR association. The digital campaign has been brought to life with an online contest that aims to add to the wave of anticipation and excitement with the legion of movie buffs and dark chocolate fans.
Cadbury India director – snacking and strategy Chandramouli Venkatesan said, “As the fans await the movie of the year to be released in India, we plan to take the ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ release to greater heights and even greater excitement among Bournville consumers. The movie characterises strong feeling of emotions among youth, something that Bournville lovers are known for. The Bournville brand fit with the Dark Knight franchise cannot be any better than this. It‘s like the Dark Knight really has a “Dark” companion in India.”
The Dark Knight has taken centre stage on Cadbury Bournville‘s Facebook page, with contests and gave 100 “lucky” fans prizes.
The digital campaign also features a 30-second commercial viewed on Cadbury Bournville‘s official YouTube channel. The video is interactive in nature as daily trivia around the Batman franchise will be posted on it with prizes for winners. Those with the right answers will win passes to the pre-screenings of TDKR which will be organised in cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai.
Promoting Cadbury Bournville-TDKR association, a 30-second TVC will be rolled out in the second week of July. It will be aired on television channels and cinema theaters.
The TDKR packs of Bournville will run an online contest for customers where one lucky winner will stand a chance to win a free trip for two to Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia. The contest will be available on all packs of Bournville – Rich Cocoa, Hazelnut, Almond, Raisin and Nut.
The association will be promoted in-stores through heavy trade activations in traditional and modern trade throughout the month of July. The campaign will continue to be driven through direct marketing and promotional activity.
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Warner Bros to release Cloud Atlas on 26 October
MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Pictures will release Cloud Atlas, the star-studded adaptation of David Mitchell‘s novel on 26 October.
Talking on the film‘s release Warner Bros co-distribution chief Dan Fellman said, “Audiences who have seen an early screening of Cloud Atlas have been elated by its powerful and inspiring story, as well as its breathtaking visuals.”
Bioth Fellman, Warhner Bros. president of domestic distribution and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of international distribution disclosed that the studio has acquired rights to distribute the film the UK, France, Spain, Australia and Japan where it will be released early next year.The film, that stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Keith David, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D‘Arcy and Zhou Xun, got a positive reception when it was shown to foreign buyers at the recent Cannes Film Festival.
Atlas will be released in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland by X-Filme-Verleih; in China by Dreams of the Dragon Pictures; in Hong Kong by Media Asia Group; in Singapore and Malaysia by Ascension Pictures; in Korea by Bloomage Co.; in Taiwan by Long Shong Group; in Russia and Eastern Europe by A Company; and in other territories through Focus Features International. -
Warner Bros, Fox to jointly operate in Brazil
MUMBAI: The international arms of two of Hollywood major studios Fox and Warner Bros. have decided to jointly operate in Brazil to distribute and market their respective film slates.
Though the two entities will remain separate legal entities in Brazil, they will share their resources through the joint operation called Fox-Warner that will start functioning immediately.
Patricia Kamitsuji, currently general manager of Fox Brazil, will serve as managing director of Fox-Warner.
The jv was announced by Warner Bros. Pictures president, international distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg and Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus, co-presidents of Fox International.
“Warner Bros. Pictures is thrilled to be entering this new chapter at this exciting time in Brazil,” Kwan Vandenberg said. “We have enjoyed our successful partnership with Fox in various other countries and look forward to expanding upon it to further develop the business and meet the demands of the rapidly growing Brazilian market.”“Brazil‘s strong economy and growing demand for quality entertainment offers us a fantastic opportunity to take the local entertainment industry to new heights,” Hanneman and Jegeus said in a statement.
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Warner Bros to release Horrible Bosses on 25 May
MUMBAI: After a year-long wait, when the film ran into the nitty-gritty’s of the Censor Board, Warner Bros is set to release Horrible Bosses across India on 25 May, eleven months after its international release.
Initially, the film was to release on 8 July last year but since the Censors raised several issues in terms of content it took over a year for the makers to solve. The film has since been certified with a ‘A’ certificate.
The plot follows three friends, played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis who decide to murder their respective abusive bosses.
When it released in June last year, Horrible Bosses exceeded financial expectations and accrued over $28 million in the first three days to make it the number two film in the US in its opening weekend and later went on to become the highest grossing black comedy film of all time by grossing over $209 million worldwide.
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Avengers pulls steam off Battleship with intake of $1.18 bn
MUMBAI: Disney and Marvel Studios‘ Avengers became the fourth film of all time with an intake of $1.18 billion while Universal and Hasbro Entertainment‘s Battleship lost steam midway grossing $25.3 million.
Battleship‘s international gross of $226.8 million provided some cushion, but it needed a strong domestic performance to end up in the black. There‘s already speculation that Battleship will follow the same course as Disney‘s John Carter that debuted at $30.2 million in March and topped out at $71.8 million domestically. Overseas, the Disney film earned $200.6 million. The results finally showed a $200 million write-down for Disney.
The continuing strength of Disney and Marvel Studios‘ The Avengers has undoubtedly made life difficult for Battleship and Warner Bros.‘ Dark Shadows that opened last weekend.
The alien-invasion actioner — based on the classic board game not well known by younger generations — played notably older Friday, with 66 per cent of the audience over the age of 25. Battleship ended up competing with Sacha Baron Cohen‘s new R-rated comedy for males, who made up 57 per cent of Battleship‘s audience.
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3D helps Warner Bros cross $1 bn in overseas markets
MUMBAI: Setting a new studio record and marking the 12th straight year, Warner Bros. has surpassed $1 billion at the overseas box office in less than five months, the biggest contributor being Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, that amassed $257 million of its $357 million overseas haul in 2012.
Also passing the $200 million mark this year were films like Journey 2: The Mysterious Island and Wrath of the Titans. The studio has made over $1 billion internationally 15 times, crossing the $2 billion mark four times.
“Our success thus far this year would not be possible without the ingenuity of our filmmakers, and the hard work and dedication of our teams around the world,” said Warner Bros., president of international distribution Veronika Kwan Vanderberg. “These remarkable results demonstrate the continued strength of the international business, particularly in rapidly expanding overseas markets and in 3D.”
The studios’ 3D revenues have go far garnered $324 million, a third of the overall sum.
In its release, Warner Bros. has also claimed that its international division has been the market leader six times in the last 11 years.
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The Avengers amasses $95.4 million in 3rd week
MUMBAI: Continuing its onward victorious march, Disney and Marvel‘s The Avengers garnered a weekend tally of $95.4 million from 54 territories in its third week.
Avengers‘ weekend action was down by 39 per cent from the last weekend‘s gross. In just 12 days, the film has out grossed such Marvel titles as Captain America ($192 million offshore), Iron Man ($266.7 million), Thor ($268.3 million) and Iron Man 2 ($311.5 million).
Besides setting industry opening records in a dozen offshore markets including Brazil and Mexico, the Joss Whedon-directed film rolled up mighty market cumes in the UK ($65.7 million), China ($52.3 million), Mexico ($49.6 million), Korea ($41.3 million), Australia ($40.5 million), Russia ($36 million), France ($33.4 million) and Germany ($24.1 million).
Slightly eating into Avengers‘ gross intake was Warner Bros.‘ Dark Shadows that opened offshore at 5,664 sites in 42 territories for an estimated $36.7 million. It finished No. 2 on the weekend.
The Johnny Depp film drew 93 per cent of what 2005‘s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory grossed in the same markets at “the same point in release,” said Warner Bros. (Factory went on to take in $268 million offshore.)
The biggest market for Shadows was Russia, where the film playing at 977 situations grossed $5.3 million. A No. 1 France opening generated $4.6 million at 474 situations, and in the UK, the film collected $4 million from 515 venues.