DMG and Valiant bring Superhero Universe to Movie Theaters
Epic deal brings the Valiant Universe to the world.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Valiant Entertainment – the award-winning comic book publisher with a
library of more than 2,000 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot,
Harbinger, Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong, and more – and DMG
Entertainment, the Beijing-based leader in global entertainment, today
announced a new partnership to span motion pictures, television,
publishing, and licensing that will culminate in the big screen debut of
Valiant’s universe of characters in theaters around the world.
In conjunction with this new partnership, DMG has made an eight-figure
(USD) series C round of equity investment into Valiant, which the
company will use to further its efforts in international publishing,
film, television, licensing and beyond. DMG has dedicated an additional
nine-figures (USD) of film financing capital toward the production of
theatrical films and television programs based on Valiant's library of
iconic superhero characters.
In total, the new agreement is
the first deal of its kind brokered between an internationally based
entertainment company and a leading independent publisher of comic books
and graphic novels. Utilizing DMG’s expertise in international film
development, production, and distribution, Valiant will begin to
establish its cinematic universe in the United States, China and beyond.
Current Valiant feature films in development include the previously
announced BLOODSHOT from Sony Pictures in partnership with Original
Film; SHADOWMAN in partnership with the Sean Daniel Company from a
script by J. Michael Straczynski; and ARCHER & ARMSTRONG, also with
the Sean Daniel Company from a script by BenDavid Grabinski; among
others. Valiant has also already begun development on several television
projects.
The unprecedented partnership between Valiant and
DMG offers both companies the ability to develop and co-produce
tent-pole theatrical films for distribution and release simultaneously
in the United States, China – the world’s fastest growing film market
with more than $4.8 billion in box office receipts in 2014 – and the
rest of the world.
“Global markets, like China, offer the
greatest opportunities for monetization from merchandising, licensing,
as well as revenues from film and television properties. Comic
superheroes are the most lucrative and sought after IP for movie
franchises, so taking a stake in the last independent massive comic
universe is a strategic investment for DMG that will produce movies and
TV that are both appealing and relevant to a global audience,” said DMG
CEO Dan Mintz. “We are excited by the opportunity to bring these
incredibly engaging characters and their stories to the big screen.”
Beyond film alone, DMG and Valiant will work in concert to form
China-focused licensing partnerships for Valiant's stable of characters
in areas such as Chinese language publishing, animation, online gaming,
toys, apparel, live events, theme parks, and more, with a focus on
bringing Valiant’s iconic heroes to new audiences in China and
Asia-Pacific.
DMG Entertainment has a proven track record of
introducing celebrated superheroes to the Chinese/international
marketplace. In 2013, the Beijing-based studio and production company
co-produced and co-financed Marvel Studios' IRON MAN 3 – the highest
grossing foreign film of 2013 and sixth highest of all time in China.
DMG is currently co-producing high-octane thriller AUTOBAHN, starring
Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, Felicity Jones and Nicholas Hoult; and
the extreme actioner POINT BREAK, directed by Ericson Core; both films
will hit screens worldwide in 2015.
"Valiant's iconic stable
of intellectual property and world class management team coupled with
DMG's unmatched skill with entertainment brand building in China make a
formidable partnership," said Valiant Chairman Peter Cuneo. "We will
look forward to introducing some of the most popular superheroes of all
time to the world's fastest growing market across all media forms.”
“Audiences in China and the rest of the world are hungry for heroic
stories that they can more easily relate to…and with the international
box office accounting for the biggest piece of the total gross, the time
is right for a truly international superhero franchise. DMG will bring
its unique global perspective to the task of transforming the Valiant
Universe into the first international comic-movie universe,” said DMG
President Wu Bing.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2015,
Valiant is one of the most successful comic book publishing companies in
the history of the medium with more than 81 million comics sold and a
library of more than 2,000 distinct characters. Established by a brain
trust of legendary comics creators – including former Marvel
Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter; seminal Iron Man writer and artist, Bob
Layton; and the visionary writer and illustrator of Wolverine: Weapon X,
Barry Windsor-Smith – Valiant's heroes and villains inhabit the largest
independently owned superhero universe anywhere in comics.
Re-established in 2005 as Valiant Entertainment with a best-in-class
management team that includes Chairman Peter Cuneo, CEO & Chief
Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani, COO & CFO Gavin Cuneo, President
of Licensing, Promotions & Ad Sales Russell A. Brown, Publisher
Fred Pierce and Vice Chairman Jason Kothari, the company returned to
great commercial and critical success in 2012, winning a Diamond Gem
Award for Publisher of the Year and numerous industry awards and
accolades. To date, Valiant’s titles consistently rate among the best
reviewed in comics.
"Today marks one of Valiant’s biggest
milestones yet with a huge step towards bringing the Valiant characters
to the big screen and forging the foundation of the first truly
international cinematic universe,” said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative
Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “By bringing Valiant’s biggest heroes to
theaters around the world in concert with our new partners at DMG, we
look forward to making Valiant not only an iconic name in comics, but
global entertainment as well.”


