Genius Brands Appoints Consumer Products Partners for Stan Lee's
Mighty 7 Franchise, Set to Debut in 2014
Factory Entertainment Secures Worldwide Toy License; Walmart and
Sam's Club to Exclusively Launch "Stan Lee's Mighty 7: Beginnings"
DVD, Distributed by Cinedigm, in April 2014
BEVERLY HILLS, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 10, 2014) - Genius Brands
International, Inc. ("GBI") (OTCQB: GNUS), the global brand
management company dedicated to providing entertaining and
enriching 'content with a purpose' for toddlers to tweens, has
announced a roster of new licensing partners to create merchandise
based on Stan Lee's Mighty 7 (SLAM 7), the animated film
trilogy created together with Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment and
Archie Comics. The announcement was made today by Genius Brands
International's Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward.
Factory Entertainment, leaders in the production and
distribution of products that enhance fans' experience with their
favorite iconic brands, has secured a worldwide toy license for the
franchise.
Black Lantern, a highly regarded video game developer, has
acquired the worldwide video game rights. Zak Designs has acquired
the right to produce and distribute mealtime and on-the-go products
for the U.S. and Canada, with a plan to introduce products in Fall
2014.
Additional licensees for the comic-book based property include
Fame Jeans, for board shorts, flip flops and headwear in the U.S.
and all apparel for Canada; Greensource for apparel in the United
States; Adtn International Ltd. for board shorts and sleepwear in
the U.S.; and JCorp for all apparel in Canada. These manufacturers
are all targeting product launch for spring 2014.
Further, Cinedigm, the brand's exclusive home entertainment
partner in the U.S., will release the first movie installment,
"Stan Lee's Mighty 7: Beginnings," initially exclusively
at Walmart and Sam's Club in April 2014. The DVD includes an
array of exclusive material featuring Stan Lee.
"Stan Lee has proven his ability to create timeless superheroes
time and time again," said Heyward. "His characters and
storylines are legendary and with an all-star cast bringing
Stan Lee's Mighty 7 to life, the global marketplace is
excited to be aligned with anything Stan touches."
The SLAM 7 trilogy encompasses three 90-minute films,
digital comic books and an animated television series set to debut
in 2015. The Hub Network holds the world premiere rights for all
three movies, starting with the first film installment,
Beginnings, which has multiple airings in February
2014. International distribution of the trilogy and the series
outside of the U.S. is being handled by PGS Entertainment, which
recently secured its first broadcast license deal with ABC
Television Australia.
The all-star cast includes Armie Hammer (The Lone Ranger, J.
Edgar, Social Network) as Strong Arm, the superhero with super
strength; Christian Slater (Breaking In, True Romance) as
Lazer Lord, the superhero who hurls balls of laser energy; Mayim
Bialik (The Big Bang Theory) as Lady Lightning who
possesses super speed; Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives)
as Silver Skylark, the superhero who flies; Flea (Red Hot Chili
Peppers, The Big Lebowski) as Roller Man, who rolls into a big
ball and launches at high speed; Darren Criss (Glee) as
Micro, who shrinks in size; and Sean Austin (The Lord of the
Rings) as Kid Kinergy who's superpower is telekinesis and even
the legend himself appears as a central character in the films.
Additional voices include Jim Belushi as Mr. Cross, the leader of a
covert operations military division assigned to investigate UFO
sightings; and Michael Ironside as Xanar, the leader of the warring
aliens from the planet Taegon who enslave other planets and raid
their natural resources.
For more information on Stan Lee's Mighty 7, visit
www.slam7.com.
About Genius Brands
International Headquartered in Los Angeles, California,
Genius Brands International is a publicly traded multimedia content
and brand management company with the merged assets of A Squared
Entertainment LLC and Genius Brands International, Inc.
Led by industry veterans, Andy Heyward and Amy Moynihan Heyward,
Genius Brands International includes award-winning Baby
Genius, Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club,
Gisele Bundchen's Gisele & the Green Team,
Martha Stewart's Martha & Friends, Thomas Edison's Secret
Lab and Stan Lee Comics, featuring its first movie,
Stan Lee's Mighty 7. The Company provides "content with a
purpose" for kids of all ages, meaning interactive content that is
as entertaining as it is enriching.
About POW!
Entertainment Inc. POW! Entertainment Inc. (OTCQB: POWN) is
a multi-media entertainment company founded by noted comic book
writer Stan Lee together with award-winning producer Gill Champion
and the late intellectual property specialist Arthur
Lieberman. POW!'s principals have extensive backgrounds in the
creation and production of original intellectual properties,
including some of the most successful entertainment franchises of
all time. POW! Is utilizing Stan Lee's historical background
by perpetuating his legacy while creating and developing all new
live-action films, television, digital games, merchandising,
licensing and related ancillary markets, all of which contribute to
global expansion. POW! Partners with third parties and
strategic alliances, including studios and networks, in the
production and distribution of new POW! Character
franchises. For more information, visit
http://www.powentertainment.com.
About Archie Comic
Publishing Inc. The Archie Comics line of comic books is one
of the most successful, longest running brands in the history of
the comic industry. Archie Comics have sold 1.5 billion comics and
are published in a dozen different foreign languages and
distributed all over the world. Archie Comics has spawned
characters whose popularity has spilled over into other media and
who have become part of popular culture. SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH
and JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS are just some of the many legendary
franchises that are part of the Archie Comics Library. For
more information, visit http://www.archiecomics.com/
About the Hub
Network The Hub Network is a multi-platform joint venture
between Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA) (NASDAQ: DISCB)
(NASDAQ: DISCK) and Hasbro Inc., (NASDAQ: HAS) with a goal of
entertaining, enlightening, empowering and educating children and
their families. The cable and satellite television network features
original programming as well as content from Discovery's library of
award-winning children's educational programming; from Hasbro's
rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built
during the past 90 years; and from leading third-party producers
worldwide. The Hub Network's lineup includes animated and
live-action series, as well as specials, game shows, and
family-favorite movies. The network extends its content through a
robust and engaging online presence at www.hubworld.com. The Hub
Network rebranded from Discovery Kids on October 10, 2010, and is
available in nearly 72 million U.S. households. The Hub Network
logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All
rights reserved.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press
release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might,"
"will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate,"
"continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or
similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or
current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the
Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable,
undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking
statements, which are based on information available to us on the
date of this release. These forward looking statements are based
upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various
risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set
forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), not limited to Risk Factors relating to its
patent business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be
materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any
obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Michelle Orsi Carol Holdsworth Three.Sixty
Marketing + Communications Email Contact 310.418.6430 805.252.1848
INVESTORS RELATIONS CONTACT: Victor Roberts RedChip Companies Email
Contact 407.644.4256, ext. 111