Exodus Film Group Announces Videogame Deal With Interactive Game Group And Legacy Interactive For CG-Animated Film "Igor"
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Dec. 7, 2007 - Exodus Film Group announced today a videogame deal with Interactive Game Group (I2G) and Legacy Interactive for a multi-platform game based on Exodus' CG-animated feature film "Igor." The game will be distributed on Nintendo DS TM and Wii TM , PC (retail, downloadable, online), and wireless. Legacy Interactive will publish the "Igor" licensed game in North America and I2G is financing and coordinating the project on a worldwide basis. "Igor" is a Weinstein Company presentation being distributed in U.S. theaters by MGM on October 24, 2008. The Weinstein Company is handling international sales for "Igor."
"The principals at Legacy and I2G have proven track records in creating and distributing exciting and innovative games," said Bruce Auerbach, Exodus president of consumer products. "The audience experience will be greatly enhanced by not only seeing the movie, but being able to 'play' the movie."
"The incredibly rich world and characters the film offers are well suited to the action puzzler genre," said Ariella Lehrer, Legacy Interactive's CEO. "I think this is a game that will have crossover appeal among casual and more core strategy gamers alike."
Frederic Chesnais, I2G's founder and general manager, added, "This project is exactly why I have created I2G, to bring talented people together and facilitate the creation and distribution of interactive entertainment."
The film version of "Igor" is a playfully irreverent comedy that brings a new twist to the classic monster genre. In a world filled with Mad Scientists and Evil Inventions, one talented evil scientist's hunch-backed lab assistant has big dreams of becoming a Mad Scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair. The stellar voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cusack, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, Molly Shannon, and Christian Slater.
Exodus recently announced a nationwide promotional program with Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants. The videogame deal adds to the extensive line of "Igor" consumer products aligned with the film, which currently includes a master license for toys and collectables with Corgi International, a major publishing deal with award-winning global leader Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division and a comic book series with IDW Publishing. Corgi will release a wide range of products including action figures, play sets, electronic role-play games, pocket money toys, vinyl figures, plush, statues, busts and other associated products. Simon & Schuster plans nine "Igor" books, which will be published under their Simon Scribbles and Simon Spotlight imprints.
Award-winning animation writer Tony Leondis (Disney's "Lilo & Stitch 2") is directing the screenplay by Chris McKenna (Fox's "American Dad!"). Exodus CEO John D. Eraklis and President Max Howard are producing with Jean-Luc De Fanti executive producing on behalf of Exodus Productions in Paris. Eric Robinson, Senior Vice President of Production and Development, is overseeing "Igor" on behalf of The Weinstein Company.
ABOUT EXODUS FILM GROUP
Exodus Film Group is an independent production company based in Venice Beach, California, with satellite offices in New York and Paris. The company develops a wide range of projects for all media outlets in both live action and animation. Exodus has taken pioneering steps in the animation field by creating one of the first private equity animation film funds. The company has entered into a long-term strategic alliance with The Weinstein Company to jointly develop, produce, finance, and distribute a multi-picture slate of CG-animated feature films, DVDs, and television series. In addition to "Igor," Exodus' CG-animation slate includes "The Hero of Color City," which is in pre-production and will be distributed in North America by Magnolia Pictures, and "Bunyan & Babe," which is being directed by three-time Oscar winner Jim Rygiel and will feature the voice talents of John Goodman and Eddie Griffin.
Web site: http://www.ExodusFilmGroup.com
ABOUT LEGACY INTERACTIVE
Legacy Interactive is a developer and publisher of casual games. Entertaining customers since 1998, the company has built a reputation for developing intelligent, realistic and engaging games for a broad audience. Located in Los Angeles, Legacy is well known for its TV-branded games, such as "Law & Order" and "The Apprentice," as well as for its popular simulation games "Pet Pals: Animal Doctor," "Emergency Room" and "Zoo Vet." Through Legacy's online casual game portal at www.legacygames.com, customers can download and try more than 500 casual games plus read and write reviews and share playlists of their favorite games. Legacy has ongoing distribution, marketing and content strategic partnerships with a number of companies, including Vivendi Games, Universal Studios, Ubisoft, Mindscape, Majesco Entertainment, and Scholastic.
Web site: http://www.legacyinteractive.com
ABOUT INTERACTIVE GAME GROUP
Interactive Game Group (I2G) is a company acquiring, financing and licensing video games and other interactive entertainment properties, whether packaged media, online or wireless. Created by Frederic Chesnais, former Chief Executive Officer of Atari Interactive, Inc. with a decade-long experience in acquiring, financing and licensing intellectual property rights in the video game industry, I2G is developing and financing a portfolio of video game properties, joining forces with the best studios, publishers and distributors for each project on a worldwide scale.
Editor's Note: Hi-rez logos available upon request.
LEGACY INTERACTIVE
Linda Meyers
email: linda@mmpr.com
phone: 925.551.8080
EXODUS FILM GROUP
Spence Bovee
email: spence@exodusfilmgroup.com
phone: 310.722.9191
INTERACTIVE GAME GROUP (I2G)
Steven Bercu
email: Bercu@limelaw.com
phone: 617.395.1386