ENFIELD, Conn., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- LEGO Group, the world's leading
construction toy manufacturer, today announced an agreement with Warner
Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) to secure construction toy rights for the
upcoming movie release SPEED RACER, the live action feature film adaptation
of the classic TV series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida.
Under the agreement, LEGO Group will produce four constructible racing
playsets under its LEGO Racers brand, scheduled to race onto store shelves
in April 2008, and ranging in price from $19.99 to $59.99 USD. Builders and
collectors alike will appreciate the inclusion of multiple authentic racers
in each set for head-to-head racing and building fun. Many of the SPEED
RACER characters also will come to life in LEGO minifigure form, including
Speed, Racer X, Trixie, Spritle, Chim-Chim, Mom and Pops Racer, Taejo
Togokhan, Snake Oiler, Gray Ghost and Cruncher Block.
"Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with LEGO on Batman and
Harry Potter, and we are excited to expand our relationship to include
products based on the upcoming SPEED RACER film," said Karen McTier,
Executive Vice President, Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, for
Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "LEGO has captured the racing excitement of
the film in its own unique way."
"The popularity and universal appeal of SPEED RACER has engaged
generations of loyal and enduring fans," said Jill Wilfert, Vice President,
Partnership and Alliance Management for LEGO Group. "Combined with one of
our most popular lines in LEGO Racers, SPEED RACER has become an awesome
proposition for our business and consumers."
The green flag drops on May 9, 2008, when SPEED RACER makes his feature
film debut in the newest project from writer/directors Larry and Andy
Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking The Matrix trilogy, and
producer Joel Silver. A live-action, high-octane family adventure based on
the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the big-screen
SPEED RACER will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed
(Emile Hirsch) in his quest for glory in his thundering Mach 5. It will
feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Mom
(Susan Sarandon) and Pops Racer (John Goodman), girlfriend Trixie
(Christina Ricci) and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox).
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.
SPEED RACER: (C) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s07)
About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group (http://www.LEGO.com) is a privately held, family-owned
company, based in Billund, Denmark. It was founded in 1932 and today the
group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for
children. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children's
creative and imaginative abilities through its products, which can be
purchased in more than 130 countries, and its employees are guided by the
motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best
is good enough."
LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. (C) 2007 The
LEGO Group.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Julie Stern
LEGO Systems
860-763-6731
press@america.LEGO.com
Heather Meeker
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
818-954-3821
heather.meeker@warnerbros.com
|
