SONY'S SUPER TEAM-UP; STUDIO WINS FILM RIGHTS TO SPIDER-MAN FRANCHISE.Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer The tangled web of claims over Spider-Man movie rights ended abruptly Monday after six years, with Sony settling the legal issues and proclaiming it will turn the comic-book hero into a franchise. ``I knew this would happen sooner or later but I'm absolutely delighted,'' said Stan Lee For the fictional character of this name, see . Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922[1]) is an American writer, editor, former Chairman of Marvel Comics, and memoirist. , who created the character in 1962 and will be an executive producer on all film and television projects. ``I've waited so many years for Spider-Man to hit the bigcreen. With luck, this should be one of the biggest movies ever.'' Spider-Man has long been one of Hollywood's hottest undeveloped properties, considering the success of other comic-book characters like Batman, Superman Superman invincible scourge of crime. [Comics: Horn, 642–643] See : Crime Fighting Superman superhero under guise of Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter. and Men In Black. Additionally, ``Titanic'' writer-director James Cameron
James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is an Academy Award winning Canadian director, producer and screenwriter. wrote a treatment for a Spider-Man movie in 1991 and agreed to direct for now-defunct Carolco, which was sued in 1993 by Cannon Films in the first of five suits over the project's rights. Lee, the 76-year-old chairman emeritus e·mer·i·tus adj. Retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement: a professor emeritus. n. pl. of Marvel Enterprises, did not predict who will write, direct or star in the first Spider-Man movie but estimated the film will hit theaters in 2001. ``I'm quite sure it's going to be put on the fast track,'' he added. Sony, which owned video rights, resolved disputes with comic-book publisher Marvel and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and announced a merchandising joint venture with Marvel. ``This is a great day for the studio,'' said John Calley, chief of Sony Pictures Entertainment,a statement. MGM MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. lost the rights to the project last week when a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court judge ruled that MGM's claim lapsed LEGACY, LAPSED. A legacy is said to be lapsed or extinguished, when the legatee dies before the testator, or before the condition upon which the legacy is given has been performed, or before the time at which it is directed to vest in interest has arrived. Bac. Ab. Legacy, E; Com. Dig. in 1996, prompting the ailing studio to announce it would appeal. MGM had argued it acquired the rights from three extinct film companies - Cannon, Carolco and 21st Century - but Marvel has contended the movie options have expired. Still to be resolved is Marvel's dispute with Viacom Inc., which claims it holds the TV rights to any Spider-Man movie. But Marvel, which emerged from bankruptcy last year and combined with Toy Biz, and Sony believe the agreement frees them to make a movie. ``Spider-Man is the crown jewel Crown jewel A particularly profitable or otherwise particularly valuable corporate unit or asset of a firm. Often used in risk arbitrage. The most desirable entities within a diversified corporation as measured by asset value, earning power, and business prospects; in takeover of Marvel's vast character library,'' said Eric Ellenbogen, chief executive officer, in a statement. ``Our pact with Sony is a giant step forward in leveraging Marvel content to the fullest.'' Spider-Man, a high school student who gained super powers of dexterity after being bitten by a radioactive spider, has remained a top seller in comic boo ``Not a day doesn't go by that I don't get several dozen fans asking when there's going be a Spider-Man movie,'' said Lee, from his Encino headquarters at Stan Lee Media Stan Lee Media (SLM) was an Internet-based creation, production and marketing company that created branded super hero franchises for applications in all media. Its 165 man animation production studio was based in Los Angeles, California from 1998- 2001. Inc. ``I'd like to think he's popular because of the personality we built into him, so he makes mistakes and has his own problems. He's an everyman with a superpower.'' CAPTION(S): Drawing DRAWING: (Color) no caption (Spiderman) |
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