THQ Announces Exclusive Worldwide Video Game Rights To Stormbreaker Movie
Teen Spy Game Expected To Infiltrate Stores On Handheld Formats In Summer 2006
23 January 2006
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced the company's exclusive worldwide rights to develop and publish video games based on the forthcoming teen spy movie Stormbreaker. Following award-winning author Anthony Horowitz's series of best-selling Alex Rider books, the movie has attracted top acting talent, including Mickey Rourke, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Nighy, Sophie Okonedo, Robbie Coltrane and Ewan McGregor. The video games, developed by Altron for Nintendo DSTM and Razorback Developments for Game Boy® Advance, are scheduled for a simultaneous worldwide launch with the movie in Summer 2006.
"Alex Rider has a huge worldwide following, having sold over nine million books to date," said Jennifer Wyatt-Ambler, senior global brand manager, THQ Inc. "We are excited to work with Anthony Horowitz and Samuelson Productions to bring the Alex Rider movie franchise to a whole new fan base with an exhilarating, action-packed game."
"Our decision to work with THQ to bring the Stormbreaker video game to market was based on the company's vast expertise with leading global licenses," stated Peter Samuelson, who produces the film with his partner, brother Marc Samuelson, Steve Christian and Andreas Grosch. "We look forward to seeing the brand extended into the video game market and allowing consumers the opportunity to be the martial arts, parachuting, scuba diving, 14-year-old action spy who is Alex Rider."
The motion picture Stormbreaker is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom on July 21 by Entertainment Film Distributors, in the United States on August 18 by The Weinstein Company and worldwide throughout summer 2006 by leading local distributors.
About The Stormbreaker Video Game
Players embrace the role of Alex Rider to out-spy, outwit and out-cool evil in this thrilling action adventure on Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. Featuring third-person stealth game play, fast-paced racing action, intense fighting and engaging, gadget-based mini-games, players can relive defining moments from the Stormbreaker movie and become the ultimate spy.
About The Stormbreaker Movie
The first of Anthony Horowitz's six best-selling novels about reluctant schoolboy special agent Alex Rider, Stormbreaker was named in a nationwide poll of children as the book they most wanted to see turned into a movie. The action-packed film, directed by Geoffrey Sax from a screenplay by Anthony Horowitz, stars newcomer Alex Pettyfer as Alex Rider, with Sarah Bolger, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry, Damian Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Sophie Okonedo, Missi Pyle, Andy Serkis, Alicia Silverstone, Ashley Walters and Mickey Rourke.
About Samuelson Productions
Stormbreaker is produced by Marc Samuelson and Peter Samuelson, whose producing credits include "Arlington Road," "Wilde," "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Tom & Viv" and, as executive producers, "Keeping Mum," "The Libertine" and the forthcoming "Chromophobia."
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
Nintendo, Game Boy Advance and DS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nintendo.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), including but not limited to expectations and projections related to the release of Stormbreaker, and are based upon management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, but not limited to economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, services and pricing of THQ. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), and are based upon management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, but not limited to economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, and pricing of THQ. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2004, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein.Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.