Warner Bros. Consumer Products And Legendary Entertainment Roar Into Licensing Expo 2013 With Gigantic Licensing Program For The Theatrical Release Of Godzilla

BURBANK, Calif., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) has signed a slate of renowned global licensees, led by master toy partner Bandai America Incorporated, to capture the adventurous thrills of Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' highly anticipated film Godzilla.  Returning the character to its epic roots, Godzilla stomps into theaters on May 16, 2014, with a star cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen and Juliette Binoche, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130618/LA33737LOGO)

Featuring spectacular creatures, thrilling action, epic battles and a legendary monster, Godzilla provides the backbone for a monstrous merchandise offering for fans of all ages and enables compelling cross-category opportunities across mass and specialty retailers.

"We believe that our new theatrical film brings a bold new take on Godzilla that will energize and mobilize fans on a worldwide basis and like never before," said Joel Chiodi, Executive Vice President, Theatrical Marketing, Legendary Entertainment. "This licensing program is an augmentation of the filmed entertainment experience, and while it will rally the powerful base, Godzilla the movie will introduce a whole new generation of fans to this franchise."

"With an impressive and long-standing legacy that is known universally across all formats and multiple generations, Godzilla is one of the most iconic monsters to ever hit the silver screen," said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.  "As the 'King of Monsters' prepares to take the world by storm, we are working with our licensing partners on behalf of Legendary to create products that bring to life the spirit of epic adventures and imagination captured by this much-anticipated film."

Bringing the monster-tail to life, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, in partnership with Legendary Pictures, has developed a roaring roster of licensees ready to create product in a variety of categories including toys and figures, apparel and accessories, costumes, publishing and more. Global master toy partner Bandai will release action figures and play sets inspired by the spectacular adventure film.

Additional licensees developing product to support the larger-than-life tentpole film include NECA with gifts and novelties; Jakks Pacific with large scale figures; Bioworld with on-trend apparel; and Sideshow Collectibles with authentic statues. Trevco will also release a line of t-shirts and apparel, while Rubie's will design Godzilla costumes that are sure to delight children and adult fans.  Products inspired by the film will be available at retailers worldwide, with several products also available at www.WBShop.com.

About Godzilla
Toho Co., Ltd.'s Godzilla franchise contains one of the most widely recognized movie monsters worldwide, including more than 25 films, multiple television programs, video games and book series.  Gareth Edwards is directing the film from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont and Dave Callaham.  Legendary's Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni are producing with Mary Parent and Brian Rogers.  Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher are serving as executive producers alongside Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira. A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, "Godzilla" will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd.  Legendary Pictures is a division of Legendary Entertainment.  Slated to open beginning May 16, 2014, the film is expected to be presented in 3D.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About Legendary Entertainment
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film (Legendary Pictures) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to mainstream audiences with a targeted focus on the powerful fandom demographic. Last year Legendary completed an acquisition of Nerdist Industries, the leading pop culture multimedia company. Through complete or joint ownership, Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world's most popular intellectual property. In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have realized grosses of more than $7.2 billion worldwide at the box office. Highlights from Legendary's slate include PACIFIC RIM directed by Guillermo del Toro; SEVENTH SON, directed by Sergei Bodrov; WARCRAFT; Legendary's upcoming GODZILLA project, based on Toho Company's famed character; and HOT WHEELS. Legendary recently announced it will produce Guillermo del Toro's next feature film, CRIMSON PEAK. Upcoming Legendary releases with partner Warner Bros. include THE HANGOVER PART III, MAN OF STEEL and 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE. Previous successful Legendary and Warner Bros. releases include the critically acclaimed INCEPTION ($823 million worldwide), as well as the global blockbusters THE DARK KNIGHT RISES ($1.1 billion worldwide) and THE DARK KNIGHT ($1 billion worldwide), THE HANGOVER PARTS I and II (over $1 billion worldwide total), CLASH OF THE TITANS ($493 million worldwide), and 300 ($456 million worldwide).

GODZILLA is a trademark of Toho Co., Ltd. The GODZILLA character and design are trademarks of and copyrighted by Toho Co., Ltd.  Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.  © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Janice Aguilar-Herrero
818.954.3821
[email protected]

Edelman on behalf of Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Corie Jackson
323.202.1075
[email protected]

PCG on behalf of Legendary
Melissa Zukerman/Paul Pflug
323.658.1555
[email protected]

SOURCE Warner Bros. Consumer Products