Activision, Inc. announced today that the company has signed an agreement with Spider-Man Merchandising L.P., a limited partnership between Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., to extend its exclusive worldwide publishing rights to the phenomenally successful “Spider-Man” motion pictures through 2017. The license grants Activision the right to publish entertainment software products based on subsequent “Spider-Man” movie sequels or new television series.
Under its current agreement with Spider-Man® Merchandising, Activision will develop and publish interactive entertainment games based on Columbia Pictures/Marvel Entertainment, Inc.’s upcoming feature film Spider-Man 3, which is set for release in May 2007. To date, Activision has published games based on Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2.
For calendar 2004, Spider-Man 2 was the #1 movie-based videogame in the U.S. according to NPD Funworld and for calendar 2002, Spider-Man was a top-five selling title in the U.S., according to NPD.
“This agreement allows Activision to continue bringing our own brand of interactive magic and vision to this unique, evergreen property and to build on the success we have already achieved with the ‘Spider-Man’ movies,” said Mike Griffith, President and CEO, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Games based on this phenomenally successful property bring the film’s popular characters to life and allow consumers to extend their experience with original missions and additional Marvel characters beyond those of the ‘Spider-Man’ movies.”
Tim Rothwell, Worldwide President, Consumer Media Group, Marvel Entertainment, added, “Activision has done a tremendous job in translating ‘Spider-Man’ into compelling, top-selling interactive games. Given their performance and long-term commitment to the franchise, as well as their creative excellence Activision is the ideal partner for movie-based ‘Spider-Man’ games, a business that complements our recent extension of their interactive license for ‘classic’ Spider-Man.”
According to Bruno Maglione, President, Marvel International Inc., “Activision has consistently demonstrated their ability to execute ‘Spider-Man’ theatrical games on a global basis. We are pleased that both Marvel and Activision will be extending our relationship for many years to come on this important franchise.”
Source: Activision, Inc.
