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goldenboy
03-15-2008, 08:53 AM
Dark Horse pacts with Uni

Universal Pictures And Dark Horse Entertainment Sign Worldwide Production And Distribution Agreement.

Universal City, CA and Milwaukie, OR – 14 March 2008 – Universal Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment have signed a three-year production and distribution agreement that establishes a studio home for all of Dark Horse's creative properties going forward. The agreement was jointly announced by Marc Shmuger and David Linde, Chairman and Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures; and Mike Richardson, founder and President of Dark Horse.

Under the terms of the deal, Universal would have creative access to all Dark Horse characters and properties, as well as any material that Dark Horse might acquire on its own and want to develop as a motion picture. In addition, Dark Horse would have the opportunity to distribute movies through Universal.

Universal Pictures is opening 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army', directed by Guillermo del Toro and based on Mike Mignola's Dark Horse Comics character, on July 11, 2008.

"Dark Horse is one of the most creative and innovative brands in the entertainment industry, as well as an incredibly supportive home for some of the most exciting storytellers working today," said Shmuger and Linde in a joint statement. "Their unique connection to youth culture is proven, and we are thrilled to be part of their expanding film production work."

Mike Richardson responded, "We've worked with many studios and have had several great experiences, but we are particularly happy to be joining forces with Universal Pictures in this deal. We feel a real connection with their vision and the energy and creativity they bring to developing our properties. We are also excited by the option that we'll have to independently produce our own material and distribute it through Universal; their flexibility in this collaboration is what we were looking for, and we're glad we found it."

Donna Langley, President of Production, Universal Pictures, added, "We are very much looking forward to working with Dark Horse's talented writers and artists, and to realizing their wealth of creative content onscreen."

Dark Horse Entertainment is represented by Endeavor and The Gotham Group.

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and Serenity. Today Dark Horse Comics is the third largest comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as the world's leading publisher of licensed comics material.

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.
Dark Horse pacts with Uni - Story @ Comics2Film.com (http://www.comics2film.com/index.php?a=story&b=31947)


This must just apply to Dark Horse-owned properties, right? Not all their licensed titles...? But I would love to see a Fray movie from Universal. Serenity was distributed by Universal.

Allycat
03-15-2008, 11:33 AM
Well since Fray is a spin-off from Buffy, the world she lives in still belongs to 20th Century Fox. However, any original content in that world, such as the plot and any of the characters belong to Dark Horse (right?). And since Dark Horse has an exclusive deal with Universal, I guess they if they wanted to make a movie version of Fray, they would have to go through both Universal and Fox. After this three year deal is up, they'd have to go through just Fox again.

Quite possibly though, the exclusive contract only counts for non-licensed products, which means Fox is the only production company that would be involved.

nerd4hire
03-15-2008, 03:03 PM
I don't think there's any way for the average fan to acquire knowledge of the full complexities of copyright as concerns the Buffy franchise. Those in charge just don't seem willing to share the info.

I know with Serenity Universal acquired the merchandising rights for Serenity, because they threatened to sue someone for making T Shirts. That was just Fox who held the original Firefly rights though. From what bits of information that leaks out on Buffy rights from time to time they're more complicated.

I get the feeling there's this Wild Card, called the Kazuis. They retain some rights from the Buffy movie. Those rights continue on with spin-offs. Their name is on the title credits of Angel in spite of having nothing to do with it. I suspect they are the fly in the ointment holding up the Ripper spin-off.

I'd love to see a Fray movie, or dare we say it? Buffy 8. Hell I'd settle for a straight to DVD Tales of... thing. I suspect the rights would be a difficult mess to sort through though.

alexa
03-16-2008, 04:00 AM
lol, N4h has it in for those Kazui's ;)
It's interesting.. some are speculating, or I should say praying for a Buffy movie, and are reading into this. Suppost to be some big news coming for Buffy fans in June-ish.. so maybe Fray something, or Buffy movie.. or something to do with season 8.
But I guess this press release could mean nothing.

Allycat
03-16-2008, 05:44 AM
You're right, this press release doesn't really have anything to do with Buffy.

As for your comments N4H; you're right... they are more complicated, cause of those Kazuis. I wish someone Joss, Fox, Dark Horse, or even IDW would try to buy them out, but I doubt they'll let that happen.

alexa
03-16-2008, 10:06 PM
I had a dream last night that a Buffy movie was out, but it was by the muppets and Miss Piggy was Buffy.. I think Kermit was Spike.
Kermit looked cute in a black coat, but damn I hope that's not the big news in June. :p lol.