This Just In: Breaking News From Comic-Con/Relativity and Atlas to Bring Voltron to Big Screen‏

Relativity Media and Atlas Entertainment to Bring Voltron™

to Big  Screen

Studio options feature film rights from World Event Productions

(Beverly Hills, CA) July 21, 2011 – Relativity Media’s President of Worldwide Production Tucker Tooley announced today the studio has optioned the feature film rights for Voltron™  from World Event Productions, and will adapt the live-action big screen version from the 1984 cult-classic animated series Voltron: Defender of the Universe™. The project was brought to Relativity through their deal with Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, whose company will shepherd the project.

In Voltron™, an elite battle force defends the fate of mankind in the spectacular action adventure. Five young warriors are responsible for the future of the galaxy when they become pilots of a battalion of ultra-high-tech Robot Lions, powerful vessels with the ability to join together to form a fearsome mega-weapon known as “Voltron”.

The original series, based on the Japanese anime properties Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV, aired in the United States for two years and has been described as an “international pop-culture hit” that has garnered a large following over the last 25 years. In recent years, the Voltron™ property has sold over 300,000 DVDs, established numerous apparel and consumer product deals and has spawned a highly-successful TV series, Voltron Force™, which became Nicktoon’s highest-rated debut ever on June 16, 2011. Voltron™ will be making its first-ever panel debut at Comic-Con International in San Diego on Thursday, July 21 where they will feature a presentation of all-new and classic Voltron™ content.

The live-action film will be produced by Atlas Entertainment’s Roven (The Dark Knight) and Richard Suckle (The International), along with Kickstart Entertainment’s Jason Netter (Wanted). World Events Productions’ Ted Koplar (Voltron Force) will executive produce. The script is being penned by Thomas Dean Donnelly (Conan the Barbarian) and Joshua Oppenheimer (Sahara).

Tooley said, “For nearly three decades, Voltron™ has captured the minds of a nostalgically loyal and rabid fan base and has long been considered a hotly-pursued project. We are beyond excited World Event Productions and Atlas Entertainment have placed their trust and faith in Relativity to bring this coveted property to the big screen, and usher in a new generation of devoted fans.”  Tooley added, “With Chuck and Richard’s experience producing tentpoles, they are the perfect producers to bring this potential franchise to theaters.” 

Roven, co-founder, Atlas Entertainment said, “It’s incredibly gratifying to officially announce the development of the live-action Voltron™ movie this week, given its recent resurgence and the start of Comic-Con."

Suckle, producer, Atlas Entertainment added, "I know there's been a lot of rumors and speculation about this movie, so it's great to finally confirm to all the Voltron™ fans everywhere that we're coming for them." 

World Events Productions was represented in the deal by UTA.

Looking ahead, Relativity will release David Ellis’ Shark Night 3D on September 2, 2011, followed by Marc Forster’s Machine Gun Preacher on September 23, 2011, then the highly-anticipated Immortals on November 11, 2011, starring Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans and Kellan Lutz with John Hurt and Mickey Rourke. The studio is in production on its Untitled Snow White Project (in theatres March 16, 2012), starring Lily Collins as Snow White, Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts as the evil Queen, Armie Hammer as Prince Andrew Alcott, and Nathan Lane as the hapless and bungling servant to the Queen. Relativity’s expansive 2012 slate also includes Haywire (in theatres January 20, 2012), Act of Valor (in theatres February 17, 2012), The Raven (in theatres March 9, 2012), Untitled Farrelly/Wessler Project (in theatres April 13, 2012), House at the End of the Street (in theatres April 20, 2012), Safe Haven (in theatres June 1, 2012) and Hunter Killer (in theatres December 21, 2012).

ABOUT RELATIVITY MEDIA

Relativity Media is a next-generation studio engaged in multiple aspects of entertainment including full-scale film and television production and distribution, the co-financing of major studio film slates, music publishing, sports management, and digital media.  Additionally, the company makes strategic partnerships with, and investments in, media and entertainment-related companies and assets.

To date, Relativity has committed to, produced and/or financed more than 200 motion pictures.  Released films have accumulated more than $15 billion in worldwide box office receipts.  Relativity’s recent films include: Bridesmaids, Hop, Limitless, Battle: Los Angeles, Season of The Witch, Little Fockers, The Fighter, The Social Network, Salt, Despicable Me, Grown Ups, Dear John, It’s Complicated, Couples Retreat, and Zombieland. Upcoming films for Relativity include: Shark Night 3D, Machine Gun Preacher, Immortals, Anonymous, and Cowboys & Aliens.  Thirty-six of the company’s films have opened to No. 1 at the box office.  Relativity films have earned 60 Oscar® nominations, including nods for The Fighter, The Social Network, The Wolfman, Nine, A Serious Man, Frost/Nixon, Atonement, American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma. Fifty-eight of Relativity’s films have each generated more than $100 million in worldwide box-office receipts.

Relativity also owns and operates Rogue Pictures, a company that specializes in films targeted to the 13-25 year old audience, and RogueLife, Relativity’s digital studio which is developing original content for the Web, and creating sustainable online platforms and communities. RelativityREAL, Relativity’s television arm, has 67 projects in production, including 17 original series that are currently airing or will air in the upcoming television season including Police Women for TLC, Coming Home for Lifetime, and The Great Food Truck Race for Food Network.

ABOUT ATLAS ENTERTAINMENT

Atlas Entertainment, led by co-founder Charles Roven, is built on a stellar reputation of creative collaboration, innovation and fiscal responsibility. With an expertise in producing tentpole films, such as The Dark Knight and Get Smart, as well as critically acclaimed independent features such as The Bank Job, Atlas Entertainment’s films have generated billions at the box office. Roven is currently reteaming with Christopher Nolan serving as a producer on the highly anticipated Batman sequel, The Dark Knight Rises, set for release in July of 2012, and is also a producer on Man of Steel, the Superman reboot film directed by Zack Snyder.  Additional film credits include,  Batman Begins, which grossed over $370-million worldwide, The International, Idlewood,  The Brother’s Grimm, Three Kings, the $275-million-plus worldwide box office hit Scooby-Doo, and its sequel Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Fallen, Oscar®-nominated Twelve Monkeys, and  the $200 million grossing fantasy romance City of Angels.

ABOUT WORLD EVENTS PRODUCTIONS

St. Louis-based World Events Productions, Ltd. (WEP) has produced and distributed children’s animation for over 25 years.  WEP is the IP holder for shows including: Voltron, Defender the of the Universe, Voltron: The Third Dimension, Denver the Last Dinosaur, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs and Vytor the Starfire Champion, among others.  WEP is a Koplar Communications company.  WEP is represented by United Talent Agency.  For more information visit www.wep.com and http://www.voltron.com.