Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Midway Announce Multi-Territory Publishing Deal for HAPPY FEET
Video Game Based on Upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures Film Scheduled to Launch in 2006
CHICAGO, IL - March 30, 2005 - Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Midway Games Inc., a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, announced today the signing of a multi-territory publishing agreement to develop video games based on Happy Feet, a comedy adventure written and directed by George Miller (the Babe movies, Lorenzo's Oil, the Mad Max trilogy), scheduled for release in November 2006. The multi-platform deal includes games for console, handheld and PC platforms.
"We're very excited to bring consumers top quality interactive games to accompany the release of Happy Feet," said David F. Zucker, Midway president and chief executive officer. "This phenomenal license will attract younger gamers and serve as one of the anchors in our new line of family friendly games."
"Creating a quality game for Happy Feet will allow fans to extend their cinematic experience into the interactive space," said Jason Hall, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. " Expanding the film's creative story within the game will bring Happy Feet to life in a whole new way and create a great connection with young players ."
Under the agreement, Midway's development teams will work in close conjunction with the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment production staff to create compelling, fun and visually appealing interactive games that embody the spirit and humor of the upcoming feature film.
Happy Feet is a comedy adventure set in the land of the Emperor Penguins in the heart of Antarctica. These penguins sing, and each needs their own special song to attract a soul mate. Our hero Mumble (ELIJAH WOOD), son of Elvis (HUGH JACKMAN) and Norma Jean (NICOLE KIDMAN) is the worst singer in the world... but he can tap-dance something fierce!
The all-star ensemble cast also includes the voices of (in alphabetical order) Brittany Murphy, Hugo Weaving, Robin Williams and features the dancing of legendary tapper Savion Glover (Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk).
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy-Miller Film, HAPPY FEET, directed by George Miller. Written by George Miller, John Collee (Master & Commander), Judy Morris and Warren Coleman. Produced by Doug Mitchell, Bill Miller and George Miller. Executive Produced by Graham Burke and Bruce Berman.Music composed by John Powell (Shrek, Chicken Run, The Bourne Identity).
HAPPY FEET is scheduled to be released in November 2006 by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc., a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is a premier licensor and a developer of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including consoles, PC-based gaming and wireless applications.
About Midway
Headquartered in Chicago, IL with offices in San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, Austin, TX , Los Angeles, CA, Munich, Germany and London, UK, Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for major video game systems. More information about Midway can be obtained at www.midway.com.
HAPPY FEETTM & ® Warner Bros. Entertainment. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business conditions and the outlook for Midway Games Inc. (the "Company") based on currently available information that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the interactive entertainment industry, dependence on new product introductions and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, the upcoming console platform transition and other technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other risks more fully described under "Item 1. Business - Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and in the more recent filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For More Information Contact:
Reilly Brennan
Midway - Media Relations
773.961.2557
Miguel Iribarren
Midway - Investor Relations
773.961.2222
Remi Sklar
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
818.977.3023