As studios begin laying claim to summer pedigrees, from the latest addition to weekend release spots four years ahead the venerable Disney Princess brand of time, it’s getting more important than (The Princess and the Pea) to the ever for licensees and retailers to keep live-action iteration of Hasbro’s track of upcoming film releases. That’s beloved G.I. Joe franchise. From why License! Global puts together this list films aiming for family audiences of the latest releases and their licensing like Universal’s Tales of Despereaux programs every year. This list (left) to DC Direct’s adult-targeted contains many of the major collectibles for Warner Bros.’ Watchmen releases for the rest of this (right), licensing is everywhere. year as well as 2009, to help The following pages are organized by you keep track of what’s studio and provide a brief synopsis of coming up when. each release, along with information on There are plenty of upcoming licensees, promotional partners, and titles with healthy consumer product potential licensing opportunities. licensees & title, promotional studio release date synopsis partners Madagascar: Escape 2 The loveable and hilarious cast of Activision Blizzard DreamWorks Africa characters from the hit 2005 animated (video games) Animation Nov. 7, 2008 comedy Madagascar are back for a brand (Distributed by new adventure. Paramount Pictures) Monsters Vs. Aliens When a woman (Reese Witherspoon) Activision Blizzard March 27, 2009 mysteriously grows into a giantess, she’s (video games) (Distributed by labeled a "monster" and joins with a ragtag Paramount Pictures) group of fellow monsters (left) to defend the Earth from alien invasion. 106 www.licensemag.com June 2008 FLICK PICS licensees & title, promotional studio release date synopsis partners Lionsgate Films The Spirit Based on the classic comic book by Will Mezco Toyz (toys, Dec. 25, 2008 Eisner, about a masked vigilante (Gabriel collectibles), DC Comics Macht) who seeks to rescue his city from evil (comics and figures), crimelord the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). Inkworks (trading cards) Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars: CGI-animated theatrical kick-off to the new Hasbro (master toy), The Clone Wars Star Wars animated series, which takes Lego (construction), Aug. 15, 2008 place during the Clone Wars between Penguin Group (Distributed by Episode II and Episode III. (international Warner Bros.) publishing) Marvel Studios The Incredible Hulk Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) tries to rid Hasbro (master toy), June 13, 2008 himself of the Hulk within, and ultimately Sega (video games), (Distributed by must face a foe as tough as the Hulk—the Disguise (Halloween Universal Studios) Abomination (Tim Roth). costumes), Fruit of the Loom (chidren’s underwear), Kids Headquarters (master apparel), Mega Bloks (construction) MGM Quantum of Solace The 22nd James Bond film picks up where Corgi International Nov. 7, 2008 Casino Royale left off, with James Bond (master toy), Activision (Produced by EON looking to avenge the death of his lover and Blizzard (video games) Productions) stop a worldwide conspiracy. Paramount Pictures The Love Guru Guru Pitka (Mike Myers) comes to America Disguise Inc. (Halloween June 20, 2008 to seek fame and fortune in the world of costumes), Changes self-help and spirituality. His first mission (apparel and novelties), is to help a floundering hockey star Aquarius (posters and reconcile with his wife so his team can win calendars) the Stanley Cup. Tropic Thunder Action comedy about a group of self- Boston America (movie Aug. 15, 2008 absorbed actors (including Ben Stiller, Jack tie-in candy and energy (Produced by Black and Robert Downey Jr.) who set out to drinks), Scorpio Posters DreamWorks make a war film and end up in the jungles of (posters) Pictures) Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys. Star Trek The adventures of Captain Kirk and the Playmates Toys (master May 8, 2009 Starship Enterprise get a new lease on life toy), Corgi International (Licensing thanks to director J.J. Abrams (“Lost”). (high-end collectibles) represented by CBS Consumer Products) June 2008 www.licensemag.com 109 FLICK PICS licensees & title, promotional studio release date synopsis partners Paramount Pictures G.I. Joe An elite team of military specialists from Hasbro (master toy), Aug. 7, 2009 around the world enlist to take on the Sideshow Collectibles (Produced by menacing arms dealer Destro (high-end collectibles), Hasbro) (Christopher Eccleston) and the Electronic Arts (video mysterious group known as Cobra. games) Sony Pictures Cloudy With a Animated film adapted from famous Currently licensing Chance of Meatballs children’s book, which illustrates a world across all key March 27, 2009 where giant pancakes and pasta fall from categories. the sky as a scientist tries to solve world hunger. However, things go terribly wrong when excess amounts of food overload cities and towns. Summit Twilight A teenager (Kristen Stewart) falls in love Currently licensing Entertainment Dec. 12, 2008 with a good vampire (Robert Pattinson). across all key Based on the best-selling novels by categories. Stephenie Meyer. Twentieth Century Space Chimps Three chimps are blasted into space to Brash Entertainment Fox July 18, 2008 retrieve a satellite but end up on a hostile (video games), Penguin alien planet in this CGI-animated film. Group (publishing), Namco (talking plush), Publications International (novelty books) City of Ember Based on the novel, Lina and Doon live Brash Entertainment Oct. 10, 2008 in the City of Ember, where the sky is (video games) (Produced by always dark. As Ember's power source Walden Media) begins to fail and the lamps start to flicker, they search for clues that will unlock ancient mysteries about the city and save the citizens. Street Fighter:The Based on the classic Capcom fighting Currently licensing Legend of Chun-Li game, the film focuses on popular fighter across all key February 2009 Chun-Li (Kristi Kreuk). categories. Dragonball Based on the classic manga and anime Currently licensing Apr. 8, 2009 about the heroic Goku (Justin Chatwin) who across all key protects the Earth from evil forces seeking categories. to control the mystical Dragonballs. Night at the Museum The sequel moves the action to the Currently licensing 2: Escape From the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum across all key Smithsonian complex, and includes new characters categories. May 22, 2009 such as Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams). FLICK PICS licensees & title, promotional studio release date synopsis partners Twentieth Century X-Men Origins: The fan-favorite mutant (Hugh Jackman) Hasbro (master toy), Fox Wolverine gets his own spin-off film, which depicts Sega (video games), May 1, 2009 his early days with the Weapon X Disguise (Halloween (Produced by Marvel program. costumes) Enterprises) Ice Age: Dawn of the The CGI threequel finds the gang from the Activision Blizzard Dinosaurs first two movies encountering some (video games) July 1, 2009 recently unfrozen dinosaurs. Fantastic Mr. Fox Animated adaptation of the Roald Dahl Currently licensing Nov. 6, 2009 novel directed by auteur Wes Anderson across all key (Darjeeling Express) and starring the categories. voice of George Clooney. Percy Jackson and Based on the young adult novels with a Currently licensing the Lightning Thief mythological bent, tells the story of the across all key Nov. 13, 2009 teenaged son of Poseidon and his efforts categories. to prevent a war of the gods. Avatar Long-awaited film from director James Ubisoft (video games) Dec. 18, 2009 Cameron (Titanic was his last fictional film) employing cutting-edge 3-D graphics and technology in the story of a former Marine employed in colonizing an alien planet. Universal Pictures Hellboy II:The Sequel based on the Dark Horse comics, Mezco (action figures), Golden Army which finds Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and Gentle Giant (high-end July 11, 2009 the B.P.R.D. up against an evil mythical collectibles), Sideshow army. Collectibles (high-end collectibles), NECA (apparel, posters), Dark Horse (publishing) The Mummy:Tomb Brendan Fraser’s adventurer returns to Sideshow Collectibles of the Dragon combat the evil mummy of an ancient (prop replicas, high- Emperor Chinese Emperor (Jet Li). end toys), IDW (comic Aug.1, 2008 books), Penguin-Putnam (publishing), Newmarket Press (publishing) The Tale of The animated story of a big-eared, big- iToys (master toy), Despereaux hearted mouse (voice of Matthew Candlewick Press Dec. 19, 2008 Broderick) whose sense of chivalry sends (publishing), him on a quest to rescue a princess (voice Publications of Emma Watson). International (electronic books) FLICK PICS licensees & title, promotional studio release date synopsis partners Universal Pictures Coraline 3-D stop-motion animated film about a girl NECA (toys, apparel, Dec. 19, 2008 (voice of Dakotah Fanning) who stumbles gifts, home furnishings, (limited), Feb. 6, into a creepy alternate version of her home. accessories, 2009 (wide) stationery/social expression) Cirque du Freak Film about a supernatural world explored by Currently licensing Feb. 19, 2009 a newly initiated 14-year-old vampire (Chris across all key categories. Massoglia) who becomes bound to a traveling freakshow of misunderstood creatures and grotesque monsters of the night. The Wolf Man Reinvention of the classic Universal horror Currently licensing in a Apr. 3, 2009 film about a man (Benicio del Toro, left) who targeted specialty becomes inflicted with a curse that program. transforms him into the titular monster. Fast and Furious The original cast of the 2001 film The Fast Currently licensing June 5, 2009 and the Furious are back for a fourth high- across all key categories. octane go-around. Land of the Lost The classic kids’ TV show becomes a big- Currently licensing July 17, 2009 budget sci-fi comedy starring Will Ferrell as across all key categories. a park ranger trapped with his family on a prehistoric world. Warner Bros. Journey to the Brendan Fraser stars in a family-friendly THQ (Nintendo DS Pictures Center of the Earth update of the Jules Verne classic, projected game), Penguin Putnam 3-D in digital 3-D.