Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : JAKKS Pacific (JAKK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JakeStraw who wrote (355)	9/25/2001 1:46:01 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 371

JAKKS Pacific Signs Master Licensing Agreement With Universal Studios for ``The Scorpion King'' Line of Action Figures to be Based on World Wrestling Federation Superstar The Rock® as The Scorpion King biz.yahoo.com MALIBU, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2001-- JAKKS Pacific Inc. (Nasdaq:JAKK) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to act as master toy licensee for Universal Pictures' action-adventure film, ``The Scorpion King,'' a spin-off of the worldwide box office hit movie ``The Mummy Returns.'' JAKKS Pacific will manufacture and market a line of toys inspired by the feature film, scheduled to be released on April 19, 2002. ``The Scorpion King'' line of toys from JAKKS Pacific is expected to consist of action figures, playsets and accessories based on the characters and story lines from the film. The line is slated to hit retail shelves prior to the movie's release, and will be available in both mass merchant and specialty retailers nationwide. ``We are excited to be working with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group on this toy line spun off from 'The Mummy Returns,''' said Jennifer Richmond, vice president licensing, JAKKS Pacific. ``Given the past and current success of 'The Mummy' franchise, we anticipate great potential for 'The Scorpion King' toy line at retail.'' ``We are confident that JAKKS will create an action-packed product line based on a film that combines exciting action and adventure with one of Hollywood's newest and multitalented actors -- The Rock,'' said Tim Rothwell, senior vice president, licensing, merchandising and retail development, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. World Wrestling Federation sensation The Rock stars as ``The Scorpion King,'' a spin-off of ``The Mummy'' series based on the character first introduced in ``The Mummy Returns.'' Co-starring Michael Clarke Duncan (``The Green Mile''), Kelly Hu and Peter Facinelli, the exciting action-adventure was written by Jonathan Hales, Stephen Sommers and Will Osborne, with Chuck Russell (``The Mask,'' ``Eraser'') directing. James Jacks, Sean Daniel, Stephen Sommers and Kevin Misher are the producers, with the World Wrestling Federation's Vince McMahon serving as executive producer. Inspired by the legendary Egyptian warrior, ``The Scorpion King'' is set 5,000 years ago in the notorious city of Gomorrah, where an evil ruler is determined to lay waste to all the nomadic peoples of the desert. The few remaining tribes, never natural allies, have to unite or perish. Knowing their enemy relies on the visions of a sorcerer, they hire a skilled assassin, Mathayus (The Rock), to eliminate the visionary. After infiltrating the enemy camp, Mathayus discovers that the sorcerer is in fact a beautiful woman (Kelly Hu). Rather than eliminate her, he takes her deep into the desert badlands, knowing that the ruler's henchmen will stop at nothing to rescue her and bring her back. Seriously wounded in the ensuing battle, Mathayus must find the strength to lead his scrappy band of allies back to Gomorrah for a final confrontation. ``The Scorpion King'' is the highly anticipated spin-off to the action-packed adventure film, ``The Mummy Returns,'' which kicked off the 2001 summer movie season with a record-breaking, non-holiday opening weekend box office gross of $68.1 million. ``The Mummy Returns'' was the No. 1 film again in its second weekend, passing the $100 million mark and has currently grossed more than $400 million in worldwide box office revenue to date. ``The Mummy Returns'' is scheduled for release on home videocassette and DVD on Oct. 2, 2001