NEW YORK and BURBANK, Calif., Nov.
15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corp. (NYSE: IMAX), Marvel
Television, a unit of Marvel Entertainment, and Disney|ABC
Television Group today announced an innovative agreement to
exclusively premiere the new ABC series "Marvel's The Inhumans" in
IMAX commercial theatres, marking the first time a live-action
television series has debuted in this manner.
Under the agreement, a version of the first two episodes of
Marvel Television's new series "Marvel's The Inhumans" – produced
in conjunction with ABC Studios and filmed entirely with IMAX
digital cameras – will run worldwide exclusively in IMAX for two
weeks at the beginning of September
2017. ABC plans to then premiere the weekly series in fall,
with additional exclusive content that can only be seen on the
network.
The Inhumans, a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly
unique powers, were first introduced in Marvel Comics by
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Since that time, they have
grown in prominence and become some of the most popular
and iconic characters in the Marvel Universe. "Marvel's The
Inhumans" will explore the never-before-told epic adventure of
Black Bolt and the royal family.
ABC, IMAX and Marvel Television also intend to work together to
create a joint marketing and promotion plan for the series across
their proprietary media platforms – which would be the first such
cross-platform marketing launch of a television series. Today's
agreement also marks IMAX's first time as a financing participant
in a TV pilot and series.
"This unprecedented alliance represents a bold, innovative
approach to launching great TV content for a worldwide audience,"
said Ben Sherwood, co-chairman,
Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group.
"It highlights Disney|ABC's unrelenting commitment to finding new
and creative ways to showcasing our very best programming and
increasing global engagement and reach."
"This first-of-its-kind multi-platform production, distribution
and marketing agreement brings together Marvel Television's unique
brand of entertainment, ABC's unparalleled audience and IMAX's
brand and global fanboy demographic," said IMAX CEO, Rich Gelfond. "It also takes our decades-long
relationship with The Walt Disney Company to a whole new level,
jointly breaking new ground in the industry. We are confident our
exhibition partners will be excited to work with us on this
innovative launch of a series across the IMAX network."
"We're happy to see this unique deal come together, working with
our partners," said Dan Buckley,
President, Marvel Television,
Publishing & Brand. "In an ever-changing world of distribution
and consumption, it's very exciting to be part of a groundbreaking
initiative that takes us to the forefront of this evolution."
This deal also provides audiences with high-quality, compelling
entertainment options during what have traditionally been lulls in
the summer blockbuster season. These IMAX audiences also tend to
have high engagement and positive response to comic book fare.
About Disney|ABC Television Group
Disney|ABC
Television Group is comprised of The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:
DIS) global entertainment and news television properties, owned
television stations group, and radio business. This includes
ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, and the ABC
Television Network, which provides entertainment and news
programming to viewers via more than 200 affiliated stations across
the U.S. It also includes Disney Channels Worldwide, a
portfolio of 116 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment
channels, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior,
Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands, as well as
cable network Freeform, which targets Millennials. Disney|ABC Home
Entertainment and Television Distribution and Disney Media
Distribution round out the portfolio. Disney|ABC Television Group
also has equity interests in A+E Networks and Hulu.
About Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Television
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt
Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), is one of the world's most prominent
character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library
of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over
seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises
in entertainment, licensing and publishing.
Marvel Television develops and produces some of the world's most
creative and popular live-action and animated programming for
broadcast and cable television networks plus digital platforms
including a historic deal with NETFLIX. Its portfolio of
self-produced series includes "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." for
ABC, "Marvel's Daredevil," "Marvel's Luke
Cage," and the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "Marvel's
Jessica Jones" for NETFLIX and
"Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man," "Marvel's Avengers" and "Marvel's
Guardians of the Galaxy" for Disney XD. Marvel Television's
upcoming projects include "Marvel's Iron Fist and the culminating
Marvel's The Defenders" for NETFLIX as well as "Marvel's The
Punisher" (NETFLIX), "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" (Freeform),
"Legion" (FX), and "Marvel's Runaways" (Hulu). For more
information, visit marvel.com. © 2016 MARVEL
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in
entertainment technology, combines proprietary software,
architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you
beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top
filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with
audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is
among the most important and successful theatrical distribution
platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New
York, Toronto and
Los Angeles, with offices in
London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Sep. 30, 2016, there were 1,145 IMAX theatres
(1,037 commercial multiplexes, 16 commercial destinations and 92
institutions) in 74 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D
Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are
trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the
Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect
with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter
(www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube
(www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
CONTACTS:
Disney|ABC Television Group
Kevin Brockman
(818) 460-6655
Kevin.M.Brockman@disney.com
Jori Arancio
(818) 460-5904
Jori.Arancio@disney.com
Marvel and IMAX
Melissa
Zukerman
(323) 658-1555
melissa@pcommgroup.com
Marvel Television
Rayna
Schwartz
(818) 544-9483
rschwartz@marvel.com
IMAX
Ann
Sommerlath
(212) 821-0155
asommerlath@imax.com
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SOURCE IMAX Corporation