Superhero Times: a service of Action Online
--Marvel Enterprises reported operating results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005. Among the news were the following projects that Marvel is working on that this time.
Marvel Studios
(Development and release dates are controlled by movie studios)
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Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2005
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Film/Character Studio/Distributor Status
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Elektra New Regency/ Fox Released Jan. 14, 2005
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Fantastic Four Fox Released July 8, 2005
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Marvel Character Feature Film Development Pipeline (Partial List)
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Character/Property Studio/Distributor Status
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X-Men 3 Fox Script, Director, May 26, 2006
release (1)
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Ghost Rider Sony Filming completed, Slated for
Summer 2006 (1)
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The Punisher 2 Lions Gate Writer, Director, Targeted for
2006
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Spider-Man 3 Sony/Columbia Director, May 4, 2007 release
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Namor Universal Pictures Script, Targeted for 2007
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Iron Man New Line Cinema TBD
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Luke Cage Sony/Columbia TBD
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Deathlok Paramount TBD
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The Hulk 2 Universal Pictures TBD
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Wolverine Fox TBD
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Marvel Character Feature Film Projects in Development
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Ant-Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Killraven, Nick Fury, Silver
Surfer and Thor
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Marvel Character Animated Direct-to-Video Projects in Development
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Partnership with Lions Gate to develop, produce and distribute
original animated DVD features. Four projects in 2D/3D format are in
development with the first release slated for 2006. Titles include:
The Avengers 1, The Avengers 2, Iron Man and Dr. Strange.
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Marvel Character Animated TV Projects in Development
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Partnership with Antefilms Distribution to produce an original
animated television series based on the Fantastic Four. Twenty-six,
30-minute 2D/3D animated episodes are planned with initial TV airings
in 2006.
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Marvel Character Live Action TV Projects in Development
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Brother Voodoo.
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(1) Represents a change from the previously supplied schedule
TBD = To Be Determined
2005 Video Game Release Schedule
(Release dates are controlled by Publishing partners)
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Publisher Character Release
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Activision Spider-Man & Friends Q1 2005
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Fantastic Four Q2 2005
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Ultimate Spider-Man Q3 2005
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X-Men Legends II Q4 2005
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Electronic Arts Marvel versus EA Q4 2005
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THQ Inc Punisher Q1 2005
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Vivendi Universal Hulk: Ultimate Destruction Q3 2005
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The licensing division is expected to generate approximately 50% of the Company's total sales for the year with operating margins ranging between 60% and 65%. Some planned advertising for the Fantastic Four brand is included in both the licensing and toy divisions. The following are expected to be some of the key factors in Marvel's full-year 2005 financial performance and are reflected in the Company's financial guidance range.
-- Ongoing contributions from the Spider-Man 2 feature film.
-- Contributions from the syndication of the Spider-Man: The Movie feature film as well as a non-refundable option payment for the Spider-Man 3 movie expected to be released in 2007.
-- Over $20 million in license revenue to be derived from the Spider-Man joint venture, $18 million of which was recorded in the first half of 2005.
-- The Fantastic Four movie release and related licensing, as well as licensing associated with other entertainment projects slated for 2005 or thereafter, noted in the table above.
-- Income related to an estimated $80 million of wholesale sales of Fantastic Four toys by our master toy licensee; approximately $41 million of wholesale sales were recorded in the first half of 2005.
-- Contributions from new toy product launches related to TNA Wrestling, the Curious George film franchise, and Marvel character-based toy lines such as Legends.
-- Domestic license renewals, including category consolidation efforts, which should exceed $60 million.
-- Domestic licensing overages and cash-basis revenues of $35 million (compared to $37 million in 2004), including $14 million recorded in the first half of 2005.
-- International licensing revenues in excess of $30 million, including $20 million recorded in the first half of 2005.
-- Modest top-line and bottom-line growth from the publishing division.
