LOS ANGELES & PAWTUCKET, R.I., Jul 23, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with
Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), will develop a live-action, motion picture
based on the globally popular TRANSFORMERS franchise. Steven Spielberg
will executive produce. The film is slated for release in the summer
of 2006. Lorenzo di Bonaventura ("Constantine"), Don Murphy ("The
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") and Tom DeSanto ("X-Men" and "X2:
X-Men United") are attached to produce.
DreamWorks Head of Production Adam Goodman stated, "Steven and
everyone at DreamWorks are very excited about the prospect of
expanding the world of TRANSFORMERS into the live-action feature film
arena. The possibilities for a thrilling action adventure are
virtually endless, and a film holds the definite promise of expanding
an already worldwide fan base to new audiences."
"This is a tremendous franchise that offers us the opportunity to
create an inventive and thrilling action-adventure film," said Donald
De Line, Vice Chairman, Motion Picture Group and President of
Paramount Pictures. "We're happy to work with our colleagues at
DreamWorks to develop this project with Hasbro. There couldn't be a
better team to bring the TRANSFORMERS to the big screen."
"We are truly fortunate to have the best talent in the
entertainment industry on board for the TRANSFORMERS movie and are
excited at the opportunities this powerful collaboration will bring to
the property," said Brian Goldner, President of Hasbro's toys segment.
"The TRANSFORMERS franchise has been successful in many entertainment
arenas and we are thrilled to give millions of fans an extraordinary
experience that's never been done in the history of the brand."
Hasbro will work with the production team, DreamWorks and
Paramount on all aspects of the film's creative development,
marketing, promotions and will manage merchandising in conjunction
with the release of the film. Hasbro will also team up with Takara,
who has been the co-developer of the TRANSFORMERS brand since its
beginning in the early 1980s.
"The TRANSFORMERS brand has always struck a chord with fans around
the world and remains one of our strongest franchises since it was
introduced 20 years ago," said Keita Satoh, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Takara. "Together with Hasbro, DreamWorks and
Paramount, we will bring the property to a new level for fans in the
Japanese market, as well as around the world."
DreamWorks will distribute the film domestically, while Paramount
will distribute internationally.
In 1984, the TRANSFORMERS brand took the world by storm with its
compelling saga of the ROBOTS IN DISGUISE, and quickly became a
childhood rite of passage with a tremendously successful toy line from
Hasbro and Takara, comic book series, television program and animated
feature film. Twenty years later, a new generation of kids has
discovered the excitement of the TRANSFORMERS brand and the legendary
characters, such as OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON, that truly are "more
than meets the eye." Today, the franchise features a popular toy line,
an animated series on Cartoon Network and a chart-topping comic book
series from Dreamwave Productions, which sold two million TRANSFORMERS
comic books last year.
Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family
leisure time entertainment products and services, including the
design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys, such as MONOPOLY
and G.I. JOE, ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both
internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY,
PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products
provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in
the world.
DreamWorks SKG was formed in October, 1994, by its three principal
partners--Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen--to
produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network
and cable television programming; home video entertainment; books;
toys; and consumer products.
Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of
Viacom, Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media
companies and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution
of entertainment, news, sports and music.
Creative Artists Agency represents Hasbro and Steven Spielberg.
Creative Artists Agency is a talent and literary agency with
offices in Beverly Hills, Nashville and New York City. CAA represents
the most creative and successful artists working in film, television,
music, theatre, and video games, and provides a range of strategic
marketing services to corporate clients. The agency serves as the
access point through which artists, consumers and global brands
intersect to create, acquire and sell entertainment properties, and to
enrich entertainment and brand experiences. CAA has an equity
relationship with Shepardson, Stern and Kaminsky, a strategic
communications consulting firm. Youth Intelligence, a youth market
research and trend forecasting company, is a division of CAA.
SOURCE: Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro, Inc.
Audrey DeSimone, 401-727-5857
or
DreamWorks Pictures
Susan Bennett, 818-695-9812
or
Creative Artists Agency
Kelly Kimball, 310-288-4545 ext. 5017
