The latest adaptation of Marvel’s ever-popular Spider-Man is already casting a web over the licensing industry as Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. – the limited partnership between Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) – unveiled today a blue chip list of partners who will serve as the foundation for the merchandising program supporting the all-new Spectacular Spider-Man animated series. The highly-anticipated series will debut in early 2008 as part of the Kids’ WB! line-up on The CW Network, the No. 1 rated Saturday morning kids broadcast slate.
Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. has already attracted some of the biggest names in key categories – ranging from toys and apparel to domestics and publishing – to develop product lines inspired by The Spectacular Spider-Man. Leading the way are such industry heavyweights as: Hasbro (master toy licensee), Wear Me Apparel (master apparel), IMT (sporting goods), Fashion Accessory Bazaar (back-to-school and storage), Bendon Publishing (publishing), DecoPac (cake decoration), Giant Merchandising (t-shirts), Berkshire Fashion (headwear, cold weather and hosiery), Fast Forward (back-to-school), and Jay Franco (domestics). Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. is continuing to work on expanding the program with additional licensees.
The Spectacular Spider-Man picks up the original web-slinger's mythology at the beginning of his hero's journey as a not-so-typical 16-year-old entering his junior year of high school. Peter Parker must conceal his secret identity, confront the multi-leveled pressures of teenage life at home and school, and all the while combat even bigger Super Villains than ever before. Based on Marvel Entertainment’s popular Super Hero, The Spectacular Spider-Man is produced by Culver Entertainment, a Sony Pictures Television Company.
“The early feedback on The Spectacular Spider-Man has been phenomenal with licensees quick to embrace the series,” said Paul Gitter, President of Consumer Products for North America, Marvel Entertainment for Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. “Our goal is to create a merchandising program and entertainment event that aims to fuel the on-going demand for the Spider-Man franchise.”
Marvel and Sony Pictures Television recently announced that they have green-lit Culver Entertainment to commence production on an additional 13 half-hour episodes for the series – bringing the current series run to 26 episodes. A major marketing effort by Kids WB!, Sony Pictures Television and Marvel designed to maximize consumer awareness of the series and drive tune-in is already underway.
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