Michael Eisner’s independent digital studio Vuguru and comic legend Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment Inc. have partnered to produce original content across multiple platforms. Details of the deal, announced today, did not specify if any existing Lee properties will be involved.
The agreement was brokered by Scott Nocas, who will continue working with the partners to expand and develop opportunities. Nocas has extensive experience with original digital content, having been vice president worldwide marketing and programming for the Sony Digital Video service and group product manager of Xbox Live Video Programming & Original Content.
“As a fan of Stan Lee and the iconic characters he has created, we are thrilled to work together with POW! Entertainment,” said Larry Tanz, president of Vuguru. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bring compelling and heroic stories to a mass audience.”
POW! Entertainment president Gill Champion said the deal was an important move in his company’s development, “It is the start of an exciting new chapter that will enable us to expand our storytelling into the digital realm and more quickly and effectively reach our global audience,” he said. “Stan and the creative team are delighted to begin developing new worlds and amazing characters and cannot think of a better partner than Vuguru to help realize this ambition.”
Vuguru, which is founded by Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company and backed by Canada’s Rogers Media, has its content distributed in over 40 countries, in addition to a ten-project deal with Content Media Corp. in the U.K. and a six-project licensing and distribution deal with AOL in the U.S. Most recently, Vuguru’s The Booth at the End was licensed to Rogers Media for multi-platform distribution in Canada; Fox International Channels for distribution across its entire network of pay-TV channels and online sites; and Hulu for streaming distribution in the U.S.
Lee recently announced two new POW! Entertainment, Stan Lee’s Kid Universe and Romeo and Juliet: The War. Lee is known to millions as the man whose Super Heroes propelled Marvel Comics to its preeminent position in the comic book industry and whose co-creations include Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man and many others.
Related links:
http://www.powentertainment.com
Photo from the documentary m ovie, “With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story”
