MUMBAI: The Weinstein Company (TWC) has inked a deal with Exodus Film Group to jointly develop, produce and finance a multi-picture slate of CG-animated feature films, DVDs, and television series.
TWC will distribute the titles worldwide. The joint announcement was made by The Weinstein Company co-chairman Harvey Weinstein and Exodus Film Group CEO John D. Eraklis. TWC is handling worldwide distribution for Exodus’ CG-animated film Igor” which is set for a wide theatrical release on 24 October, 2008.
Weinstein said, “With our first collaboration Igor looking so strong we thought the timing was right to further the relationship and to begin work on an Igor sequel. John Eraklis and his team, led by Max Howard, have the unique ability to create dynamic animated entertainment that attracts kids, parents and everyone in between.”
“We’ve enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with Harvey Weinstein, Eric Robinson, and Glen Basner. I can’t think of anything better than working side by side with The Weinstein Company to develop, finance and produce an animated slate of films,” said Eraklis.
Igor is a playfully irreverent comedy that brings a new twist to the classic monster genre. It tells the story of an evil scientist’s hunch backed lab assistant with big dreams of becoming a scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair. The voice cast includes Jeremy Piven, Jay Leno, John Cusack, Jennifer Coolidge, Arsenio Hall, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Sean Hayes and Christian Slater. Award-winning animation writer, Tony Leondis, is directing the screenplay by Chris McKenna. Eraklis and Exodus Productions’ head Jean-Luc De Fanti are producing with Exodus President Max Howard executive producing. Eric Robinson, Vice President of Production and Development, will oversee the creative aspects of the relationship on behalf of TWC.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division announced a major publishing deal this month with Exodus for seven Igor books, which will published under their Simon Scribbles and Simon Spotlight imprints.
To complement the strategic alliance with TWC, Exodus will establish a New York presence. The new office will be in addition to their headquarters in Los Angeles and European operations in Paris.
Other exciting CG-animated projects for The Weinstein Company include Escape From Planet Earth, Opus, Cricket In Times Square and Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil the sequel to Hoodwinked.
