NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconix Brand Group,
Inc. (NASDAQ: ICON) announced today that Peanuts Worldwide, a joint
venture with Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, will release a
PEANUTS feature film worldwide in 2015. The film is based on
creator, Charles Schulz's, iconic
comic strip. Snoopy, Charlie Brown
and the rest of the gang are among the most recognized characters
in the world.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121009/NY88861
)
The as yet untitled animated event will be released on
November 25, 2015. 2015 will mark the
65th anniversary of the debut of the "Peanuts" comic
strip and the 50th anniversary of the landmark
television special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
The Peanuts screenplay has been written and will be produced by
Craig Schulz, son of Charles Schulz along with his own son,
Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano. Twentieth Century Fox
and Blue Sky Studios have been chosen by the Schulz family to
distribute, produce and animate the new Peanuts movie. Steve Martino will direct; previously, he
brought to the big screen (with Jimmy
Hayward) "Dr. Seuss' Horton
Hears a Who!" Martino also directed (with Michael Thurmeier) Fox's recent box-office smash
"Ice Age: Continental Drift."
Charles Schulz drew the most
popular and influential comic strip of all time, which was read
everyday by 355 million people in 75 countries. In addition to the
famous strip, Peanuts holiday television specials such as
"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie
Brown" have won Emmy's and continue to be among the highest
rated prime time TV specials.
"This is a momentous step for the Peanuts brand. The
beloved characters, Snoopy, Charlie
Brown and the whole gang resonate with multiple generations
all over the world," commented Neil
Cole, CEO, Iconix Brand Group. "This film will give us a new
medium in which to engage consumers globally and showcase the power
of the Peanuts brand, " added Cole.
Craig Schulz, President, Charles
M. Schulz Creative Associates, commented, "We have been working on
this project for years. We finally felt the time was right and the
technology is where we need it to be to create this film. I
am thrilled we will be partnering with Blue Sky/Fox to create a
Peanuts movie that is true to the strip and will continue the
legacy in honor of my father."
Vanessa Morrison, President,
Twentieth Century Fox Animation, commented, "We are thrilled to
partner with the Schulz family and Iconix and honored to bring the
Peanuts characters to the big screen. This all started with our
love and respect for the work of Charles
Schulz. We thank the Schulz family and Iconix for letting
Fox and Blue Sky bring his vision to new generations of film
goers."
About Charles Schulz
Charles Schulz once described
himself as "born to draw comic strips." A Minneapolis native, he was just two days old
when an uncle nicknamed him "Sparky," after the horse Spark Plug
from the "Barney Google" comic strip. Throughout his youth, he and
his father shared a Sunday-morning ritual of reading the funnies.
After serving in the army during World War II, Schulz got his first
big break in 1947 when he sold a cartoon feature called "Li'l
Folks" to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. In 1950, Schulz met with
United Feature Syndicate, and on Oct.
2 of that year, "Peanuts," so named by the syndicate,
debuted in seven newspapers. Schulz died in Santa Rosa, Calif., Feb. 12, 2000--just hours before his last
original strip was to appear in Sunday papers.
PEANUTS Worldwide
The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are
owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix
Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group,
Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio
of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE
BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), MOSSIMO (R), LONDON FOG (R), OCEAN PACIFIC (R), DANSKIN
(R), ROCAWEAR (R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R),
CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R), WAVERLY
(R), ZOO YORK (R), and SHARPER IMAGE (R). In addition, Iconix owns
interests in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ED
HARDY (R) MATERIAL GIRL (R), PEANUTS (R), and TRUTH OR DARE
brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading
retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of
retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in
both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business
development, merchandising, advertising and public relations
departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer
awareness and equity.
Contacts:
Iconix
Maria Dolgetta
212.819.2084
SOURCE Iconix Brand Group, Inc.