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The press release by Lori Mezoff
DIGITAL ANVIL SECURES LICENSING DEALS FOR “WING COMMANDER” MOVIE PROPERTY
Film to be Released Nationwide on March 12 by 20th Century Fox
Austin, TX, February 11, 1999 – Attention WING COMMANDER™ shoppers: prepare for a full retail assault! Digital Anvil, in conjunction with Creative Licensing Corporation, today announced a ‘stellar’ selection of WING COMMANDER movie-themed merchandise including toys, limited-edition posters, bicycles and jewelry. These licensing deals follow on the heels of 20th Century Fox’s recent announcement that the sci-fi adventure film will be released to theaters nationwide on March 12th, 1999.
The WING COMMANDER movie marks a first in both the computer game and film industries, as the film’s director, Chris Roberts, is also the creator of the first four of ORIGIN Systems’™ WING COMMANDER computer games on which the movie is based. ORIGIN Systems, an Austin-based entertainment software developer, granted the WING COMMANDER film and movie rights to Digital Anvil in late 1997. In addition to directing the film, Roberts, CEO of Digital Anvil, also co-wrote the script with Kevin Droney and Mike Finch.
“We’ve had a great response from retailers wanting to stock WING COMMANDER merchandise in anticipation of the movie,” said Marten Davies, president of Digital Anvil. “Millions of people have already experienced WING COMMANDER through the computer game series. With the movie and our merchandising efforts, we are hoping to turn others on to the great universe that Chris Roberts created.”
WING COMMANDER merchandise includes:
- Action Figures and Space Ships (X-Toys) (Recently introduced at the X-Toys showroom at Toyfair in New York)
- WING COMMANDER Adult and Junior Novelizations, Fact Book, and Continuity Novels (HarperCollins) (Just released)
- WING COMMANDER Collectors Magazine (Starlog)
- Signed and Limited Edition Art Posters (Hasson Fine Art Corp.)
- Masks and Costumes (Cinema Secrets)
- Collectible Pilgrim Cross Jewelry (United Cutlery)
- Children’s Bicycles and Backpacks (Rand International)
- T-shirts and Hats (Altuf Sportswear )
- Posters (Scipubtech and Scorpio Poster)
WING COMMANDER combines science fiction settings and state-of-the-art special effects created by Digital Anvil, with the story and creative elements of a grand adventure film. The film follows the exploits of rebellious rookie space pilot Christopher Blair, played by Freddie Prinze, Jr. ("She's All That"). Carrying an encoded message about an invasion from an alien race, Blair, his fellow maverick pilot Maniac (Matthew Lillard of "Scream" and "She's All That"), and their beautiful superior officer, Deveraux (Saffron Burrows of "Circle of Friends"), mobilize to evade and ultimately repel the alien attack. Tcheky Karyo, David Suchet, David Warner, Ginny Holder and Jurgen Prochnow also star.
"Since its inception, I have treated the WING COMMANDER computer game series as a cinematic production with the firm intention that my creation would someday make its way to the big screen," said Roberts. "Now with the movie releasing in March, moviegoers will be able to get caught up in the emotion and compelling characters that made the WING COMMANDER games so popular."
WING COMMANDER is a No Prisoners/Digital Anvil production in association with ORIGIN Systems Inc. and Carousel Picture Company, with Todd Moyer of No Prisoners serving as producer, and Jean-Martial Lefranc and Romain Schroeder as executive producers. WING COMMANDER is rated PG-13.
Since the 1990 launch of the first title, the WING COMMANDER series has spawned four full sequels and numerous derivative products combining to generate sales of more than five million units worldwide. In that time, the WING COMMANDER series has consistently broken new ground. WING COMMANDER III was one of the first interactive movies and marked the first extensive use of full-motion video in a computer game. WING COMMANDER IV was the first game to use 35-millimeter film for its linear narrative. ORIGIN released WING COMMANDER: Prophecy, the fifth installment in the series, to critical acclaim in 1997.
ORIGIN Systems
ORIGIN Systems develops and publishes state-of-the-art entertainment software. To date, the company has released more than 50 titles, including the award-winning Ultima, WING COMMANDER, Privateer and Crusader series of games. ORIGIN also develops titles under the Jane's® Combat Simulations brand. ORIGIN is based in Austin, Texas, with additional offices in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS). More information on ORIGIN products can be found on the Internet at http://www.origin.ea.com
Twentieth Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group. - more -
Creative Licensing Corporation
Creative Licensing Corporation is a sixteen-year-old independent merchandise licensing company representing the finest creators of entertainment. Located in Los Angeles, Creative Licensing can be reached at 310-479-6777.
No Prisoners
No Prisoners is a production and visual effects company specializing in producing visual effects driven, cutting-edge motion pictures. Todd Moyer serves as President of No Prisoners Productions and CEO of No Prisoners 3DFX. Moyer is a long-standing entertainment executive and film producer. Next up for No Prisoners is BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA, which is scheduled for a late summer start in Luxembourg. Moyer is also producing the high-concept action/adventure update of JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS for DreamWorks Pictures. Also on the No Prisoners slate is a motion-picture adaptation of Philip K. Dick's A SCANNER DARKLY, which Moyer is producing with Jersey Films for Universal Pictures. No Prisoners 3DFX, which comprises numerous members of the effects team responsible for the stunning visual effects for WING COMMANDER, is presently providing the special visual effects for the upcoming FORTREESS II.
Digital Anvil
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Digital Anvil is an entertainment company specializing in the fusion of silicon and celluloid. In addition to creating innovative, bleeding-edge, interactive computer games and movies with star power and mass-market appeal, Digital Anvil is also a digital production house creating state-of-the-art visual effects. Founded by Chris Roberts, creator of the best-selling WING COMMANDER series, Digital Anvil has a top creative team from the game and film industries, and key marketing and equity partnerships with industry leaders Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices. Digital Anvil can be found on the Web at http://www.digitalanvil.com # # #
Digital Anvil is a trademark of Digital Anvil, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
ORIGIN, ORIGIN Systems, WING COMMANDER, Ultima, Privateer, WING COMMANDER: Prophecy, and Electronic Arts are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts in the U.S. and/or other countries. Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group Ltd.
For Chris Roberts/Digital Anvil: Lori Mezoff/Mark Prindle TSI Communications, Inc. 212 696-2000 / For No Prisoners: Henry Eshelman BWR Public Relations 310.550.7776 ; For ORIGIN Systems: David Swofford, Director of Communications 512.434.6620
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