LONDON -- April 11, 2005 -- Titan Publishing Group announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group for the publishing rights to Universal Pictures' upcoming futuristic action-adventure film, Serenity. Directed by OscarŪ- and Emmy-nominated writer/director Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel), the film is scheduled for release in the U.S. on September 30th, 2005 and in the UK on November 4th, 2005.
Titan Publishing Group, a big supporter of Joss Whedon's work, has two major Serenity projects in development. Titan Books, leading publisher of graphic novels and film and television companions, has acquired the World English Language Rights to publish a Serenity screenplay book (Titan Books; September/October 2005; $19.95/Ģ16.99; ISBN: 1-84576-082-4). This companion to the film will feature the full Serenity shooting script, production art and photographs, as well as a preface by Joss Whedon and an in-depth interview with him regarding the making of the film.
Titan Magazines, the largest and most experienced publisher of licensed entertainment magazines in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, has recently added Serenity: The Official Souvenir Magazine to its portfolio. This 100-page one-shot souvenir magazine will offer a wide array of cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes reports. A must for all fans, the magazine will serve as an official guide through the world of Serenity.
About Serenity
Joss Whedon- the OscarŪ- and Emmy-nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel-now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity.
Based on Whedon's cult hit television series Firefly (which has taken on a second life following its December 9, 2003, DVD release, winning new fans and critical praise worldwide), Serenity will continue and expand upon the adventures of the memorable characters launched in the series, who will be joined by new characters created expressly for the motion picture adaptation. Whedon will act as both screenwriter and director, with Barry Mendel (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and The Life Aquatic) producing and Chris Buchanan and Alisa Tager (of Barry Mendel Productions) serving as executive producers. The Serenity cast will include such returning Firefly cast members as Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds, Gina Torres as Zoë Warren, Morena Baccarin as Inara Serra, Jewel Staite as Kaylee Frye, Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb, Sean Maher as Dr. Simon Tam and Summer Glau as River Tam.
The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family -- squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.
When Mal takes on two new passengers-a young doctor and his unstable, telepathic sister-he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from the coalition dominating the universe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim the girl. The crew that was once used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the horrific, cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Hunted by vastly different enemies, they begin to discover that the greatest danger to them may be on board Serenity herself.
This film has not yet been rated. Please consult www.filmratings.com or www.parentalguide.org for more information.
About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.
About Titan Publishing
Titan Publishing Group is one of the English-speaking world's largest publishers of licensed Film and Television publications and Graphic Novels, with two main divisions, Titan Books and Titan Magazines. Titan Books has an established reputation as a publisher of high-profile film and television tie-ins and companions. The leading publisher of graphic novels in the UK as well as classic comics collector's editions worldwide, Titan Books also boasts a formidable license list that includes Star Wars, Batman, Wallace & Gromit, and The Simpsons, amongst others and also publishes an extensive line of Buffy The Vampire Slayer graphic novels and Joss Whedon's FrayTM. The portfolio of Titan Magazines, the largest and most experienced publisher of licensed entertainment magazines in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, includes thirteen issues of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel magazines per year as well as the #1 children's comic in the UK, The Simpsons, which celebrated its 100th issue in November 2004.
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