’s Curse

„ The year is 1475 in the eastern European village of Lupu. Lisa Tepes, doctor, and wife of Dracula is burned at the stake by the inquisition for heresy. Insane with rage, Dracula unleashes an army of night creatures to exact revenge and wipe humanity from the face of the Earth. No one is safe from the spreading malevolent and immoral onslaught.

„ The world’s only hope is a trio of heroes who together may have the power to defeat Dracula and his army. TREVOR BELMONT

„ Last of the legendary Belmont family of hunters. SYPHA BELNADES

„ A holy speaker with the power of the elements.

„ Half-human son of Dracula and Lisa Tepes BACKGROUND

„ New animated direct-to-video movie targeting 18-35 year olds based on the Castlevania video-games series. „ First movie of the planned trilogy (Lord of the Rings). Epic story and characters. „ Written by acclaimed graphic novelist . „ Based on the classic Castlevania game, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. „ Not . In the tradition of “300” and “Sin City”. „ Ancillary and merchandising opportunities. FACTS

ƒ One Of The Longest Running (21 years), Most Popular Series In Videogame History.

ƒ Over 20,000,000 Copies Sold Worldwide. *60% in the US and Latin America *30% in Europe *10% in Asia 23 Titles Spanning The NES To The PS2 And

ƒ #4 In IGN Top 25 Videogame Franchises http://wireless.ign.com/articles/749/749100p5.html

„ #15 In IGN Top 100 Games of All Time http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_15.html CROSS-PROMOTION

„ Planned live-action Castlevania movie to be released in Q4 2009 from Universal’s Rogue Pictures. Directed by Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard) and produced by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Alien vs. Predator). „ Major next generation PS3 and Castlevania game set for Q4 2009 release as well. CASTLEVANIA SAGA OVERVIEW

ƒ Loosely based on Dracula folklore, the Castlevania series was one of the progenitors of the gothic-horror genre in videogames. The earlier games were platformers focusing on the exploits of the whip-wielding, vampire-hunting Belmont Clan as players struggled to eliminate every last trace of the supernatural from this world. The series saw a large change when made the leap to the 32-bit era with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. That game introduced what has been dubbed the "" style of gameplay (due to its similarities to the series), as well as RPG elements such as hit points, progression, and spell casting. This formula has further been expanded with the Advance and DS iterations in the series. Castlevania is unquestionably one of the most consistently jaw-dropping franchises in the history of videogames. PAST AND FUTURE GAMES

Year Title System 2009 TBD PS3 and Xbox 360 2008 TBD Nintendo 2007 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Xbox Live and Playstation Store 2007 Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles PSP 2006 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Nintendo DS 2005 Castlevania: Curse of Darkness PS2 and Xbox 2005 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Nintendo DS 2003 Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Gameboy Adv. 2003 Castlevania; Lament of Innocence PS2 2002 Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Gameboy Adv. 2001 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Gameboy Adv. 1999 Castlevania 64: Legacy of Darkness 1999 Castlevania 64 Nintendo 64 1998 Gameboy 1997 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Playstation 1995 Castlevania: Dracula X SNES 1994 Castlevania: Bloodlines Genesis 1993 Akumajo Dracula Sharpx68000 1993 Dracula X: The Rondo of Blood PC 1991 Castlevania ii: Belmont’s Revenge Gameboy 1991 Super Castlevania IV SNES 1990 Castlevania iii: Dracula’s Curse NES 1989 Castlevania Adventure Gameboy 1988 Castlevania ii: Simon’s Quest N DID YOU KNOW?

ƒ The average game player is 33 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.

ƒ The average age of the most frequent game buyer is 38 years old. In 2007, 92 percent of computer game buyers and 80 percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18. -ESA (Entertainment Software Association) KEVIN KOLDE (Producer) WARREN ELLIS (writer)

Warren Ellis is one of the most prolific, read, and admired graphic novelists in the world and the creator of such popular series as and . He's got more than 50 graphic novels in print, from the decadent science fiction of CHURCHYARD to the weird alternate histories of . He has more trade paperbacks in print than anyone else in the American comic industry. Winner of the International Horror Guild award for graphic narrative and listed twice in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's 100 Most Creative People and ROLLING STONE's Hot Issue (where his work was described as "more influenced by Jesus and Mary Chain than by the League, Ellis' characters fight for left-wing agendas over God and country, and kick puppies in the street") he concentrates on creating and producing original material for comics and graphic novels. These include the successful graphic novels , and . Currently, he is at work on an original TV series, DEAD CHANNEL, at AMC and is adapting -selling videogame, CASTLEVANIA, into an animated film. Warren’s first novel, , was published by Harper Collins in August 2007 with his second novel, LISTENER, to follow in 2008. Warren lives in southern with his partner, Niki, and their daughter, Lilith. He never sleeps. Notable Awards: * 1999 Entertainment Weekly's Hot List * 2000 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Nominee - Best Writer: THE AUTHORITY * 2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Nominee - Best Writer: ORBITER * 2006 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards – Nominee - Best : OCEAN * 2007 Eagle Awards: * Favorite Comics Writer * Favorite New (for ) * Favorite Comics Story (for Nextwave) * Favorite Comics Villain (for Dirk Anger) * Roll of Honour * 2007 Entertainment Weekly's Hot List * Rolling Stone's Hot List 2000 * Sidewise Award for Science Fiction * International Horror Guild Award GOTHAM/KOREAN CO-PRODUCTION MOVIE SYNOPSIS

The year is 1475 in the village of Lupu. A doctor named Lisa Tepes treats a patient in her home medical facility. Suddenly, a group of angry priests led by a Bishop show up at her front door and accuse her of practicing witchcraft. With the blessing of the village’s inhabitants, they violently remove her from her home and burn her at the stake. Dracula magically appears before the villagers and warns them he will return in one year to exact his revenge for the killing of his wife. After Dracula gives this message to the people of Lupu through a magic mirror, a shadowy figure advises him not to harm the innocent people who had nothing to do with Lisa’s death. Dracula strikes the figure, possibly killing him… A year later in the city of Targoviste, the inhabitants listen to the Archbishop mock Dracula and celebrate the one-year anniversary of Lisa Tepes’death. Dracula once again emerges, but this time releases his monstrous minions onto the city. All Hell breaks loose and everyone is fair game: men, women, and even children. The Archbishop meets his demise in the onslaught. Dracula then instructs his evil army to attack all of the other neighboring cities. MOVIE SYNOPSIS CONT’D…

Elsewhere, our hero and last of the legendary Belmont vampire hunters, Trevor Belmont, staggers out of a bar and comes across the city of Gresit. Gresit is in the midst of an attack by Dracula’s armies. Fascinated by this spectacle, he draws closer to the main gates and then to the market place square. It is now day time and Dracula’s forces are not present because they only strike at night. People attempt to keep up their daily rituals. After interacting with some of the traumatized population, Trevor is told an old legend of a sleeping hero underneath the city who will awake to save the land when help is needed. Of course, this legend is highly discouraged by the Church. At that moment, Trevor saves an old man being attacked by a group of priest cronies. The thankful old man known as the Elder reveals to Trevor he is part of a group of holy people called Speakers. The Elder takes Trevor back to the Speaker lodgings, an old run barn, to meet the other Speakers. The Speakers are in hiding because the church publically blamed them for the demon invasion in order to cover up the truth that the church itself is really responsible. The Speakers are generally a nomadic group, but have remained in Gresit to assist her people. The Speakers are also staying because the Elder Speaker’s granddaughter, a Speaker herself, went searching for the sleeping savior underneath the city, but has not returned. Feeling a sense of companionship with the Speakers, Trevor proposes a deal: if he finds the Elder’s granddaughter, the Speakers will leave and go to a safer place. MOVIE SYNOPSIS CONT’D…

Trevor travels though Gresit's catacombs to an underground hall. He finds a statue of a woman with Speaker robes named Sypha. He is attacked by a Cyclops that has the ability to stone-turning rays out of its eyes. Trevor kills it with his superior fighting skills. With the defeat of the Cyclops, the statue magically becomes flesh and blood. As Sypha regains consciousness, Trevor convinces her to leave with him and go back to her grandfather. Trevor confronts the village headman known as the Domn and fails to persuade him to protect the Speakers. The Domn claims he is powerless because the city is under the control of the Church. At his last point of hopelessness, Trevor is escorted by some priest cronies and brought to the Bishop who led the killing of Lisa Tepes. The Bishop orders Trevor to leave Gresit because he believes the Belmont family lineage is responsible in part for the present . The Bishop informs Trevor he will exterminate the Speakers as well. In one last attempt, Trevor pleads with the Speakers to leave Gresit, but the Speakers refuse once again. This time, it is the Speakers who convince Trevor to stay and defend Gresit. MOVIE SYNOPSIS CONT’D…

The priests the Speaker’s barn, but the Speakers are all gone, safely hidden in the underground hall where Trevor fought the Cyclops. While Trevor fights off the priest cronies, the people of Gresit finally come to their senses and assist Trevor in combat. Dracula’s forces attack the city as night falls. They sneak into the church and slay the Bishop. The civilians follow Trevor into battle and engage the demons for the first time, killing many in the process. While the battle ensues, the ground collapses and Trevor and Sypha fall deep into the catacombs. They avoid many deadly traps until they hit a central chamber. A coffin lies in the chamber with pipes connected to it. Trevor accidentally stands on a flag stance and triggers a mechanism that opens the coffin. A pale figure rises. He is Alucard, the shadowy figure from the beginning of the story who warned Dracula not to harm innocent people. Believing he’s Dracula, Trevor attacks him. Just before Alucard wins, he discloses to Sypha and Trevor he is Dracula’s son and the prophesized sleeping savior. Alucard has vowed to stop his father’s reign of terror because it is what his mother would have wanted. All three of them leave the central chamber together ready to confront Dracula.