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EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Lynda Dorf / Robin Weitz / Jennifer Frederick
B|W|R Public Relations for Stan Lee Media
(310) 248-6105 / 248-6107 / 248-6160
[email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
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STAN LEE MEDIA AND WARNER BROS. PICTURES PARTNER TO BRING "CONAN THE
BARBARIAN"
BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN
The Matrix's Wachowski Bros. To Produce, John Milius To Write And Direct
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LOS ANGELES, November 7, 2000 - In continuing its fast-track record of
creating and acquiring popular global entertainment franchises, Stan Lee
Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLEE) announced today that it has reached an
agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures to develop a new feature film
franchise based on the Conan character and property which was the basis
for John Milius' 1982 feature film classic Conan the Barbarian. Stan Lee
Media, which acquired the rights to the sci-fi and fantasy company Conan
Properties, Inc. (CPI) in September, has established a favorable rights
arrangement through the deal, allowing the Internet-enabled company to
revitalize the Conan brand across numerous platforms. Concurrent with the
development of the theatrical feature, Stan Lee Media will create a
companion-animated series for both television and Internet distribution.
"I can't wait to join the Wachowski brothers, the creative geniuses behind
the Matrix and John Milius who launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's career
with the first Conan film. This is a fantasy come true for me," stated
Stan Lee who will executive produce the film.
Stan Lee Media president and CEO Ken Williams further stated, "Our
relationship with Warner Bros. Pictures affords us the best opportunity to
fully revitalize one of the best loved global fantasy properties. Stan
Lee Media will be driving that global rebirth through feature film,
television, Internet and merchandising."
The announcement marks Stan Lee Media's second film development deal in
the last year. The first film production deal came in June 2000 with Mark
Canton and The
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Canton Company agreeing to produce Stan Lee's Internet franchise "7th
Portal" for the big screen.
The Gersh Agency, Lieberman and Nowak and the law firm of Ziffren,
Brittenham and Branco negotiated the deal on behalf of Stan Lee Media.
Stan Lee Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLEE) is a digital entertainment studio that
develops, owns and distributes branded entertainment properties under the
direction of pop-culture icon Stan Lee, co-creator of such classic
characters as Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and The X-Men. The company
has established its website, www.stanlee.net, as a leading destination for
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animation, interactive games, community, commerce and other content. New
original superhero character franchises and animated series, as well as
co-branded and acquired properties including "Stan Lee Presents Conan the
Barbarian" and "Stan Lee Presents Gene Roddenberry's Starship," are
exploited globally through strategic partnerships with Fox Kids Latin
America and Venture Soft of Japan, and licensed for a broad array of uses
including television, motion pictures, music, events and theme park
attractions.
Stan Lee Media has partnered with international singing sensation The
Backstreet Boys to create and co-own an animated superhero franchise based
on the band (www.backstreetproject.com), the co-promotion of which
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by Burger King was among the largest to support an Internet entertainment
franchise. Stan Lee Media is currently producing three other animated web
series: "Accuser"; "The Drifter," scheduled to debut on www.scifi.com in
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first quarter, 2001; and "7th Portal," currently being co-developed as a
major live-action motion picture with Men in Black's Mark Canton and as a
3D ride attraction for Paramount Parks' five theme parks (12 million
annual visitors) to debut in March, 2001.
# # #
This release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the
Securities Act. Including those statements relating to the potential success of
any franchise or characters created by Stan Lee Media. The stockholders of Stan
Lee Media are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ
materially from those projected in this release resulting from the following
reasons (among others): the timing of sales and deliveries under existing
contracts, general economic conditions, costs of sales and the ability of the
company to maintain pricing levels necessary to maintain gross profit margins,
the level of selling, general and administrative costs, the performance by the
company under existing purchase contracts and the ability to obtain new
contracts, the success of the company's strategy, and the effects of
competition. In addition, the company's shareholders are urged to carefully
review the risk factors discussed in the documents the company files from time
to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
