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Miramax Films and
LEGO Media, the TV and film division of the celebrated LEGO Co., today
announced their first-ever partnership: the fast track development of
a major, CGI-animated motion picture for 2004 based on the LEGO Co.'s
monumentally successful BIONICLE brand.
The announcement was made by Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein,
Conny Kalcher, global vice president of TV and film for LEGO Media and
Stig Blicher, global vice president for BIONICLE.
The deal represents two-year-old LEGO Media's premiere foray into
the motion picture business. It will also be among the first
CGI-animated films in the youth genre to be produced and distributed
by Miramax.
Miramax's Charles Layton, executive vice president, office of the
co-chairmen, and Bob Osher, co-president of production, negotiated on
behalf of the film company. Jeff Tahler, vice president of
acquisitions, brought the project to Miramax. LEGO was represented by
Kalcher and Blicher.
"The buzz on BIONICLE and the ensuing offers from various partners
to produce a feature film version has been unbelievable," said
Kalcher. "We have been developing the property with a motion picture
adaptation in mind from day one, so it's very rewarding to see our
vision realized so quickly.
"And while we had serious discussions with a number of potential
partners, we felt an immediate rapport with Harvey and his team at
Miramax. BIONICLE is a very unusual property which took an equally
unusual route to such instantaneous popularity, so it deserves to be
brought to the big screen by a powerhouse producer like Miramax."
"BIONICLE is one of the most intelligent and imaginative
properties out there for the youth market today," said Weinstein.
"BIONICLE is a rich story with complex characters -- exactly the type
of project we always appreciate at Miramax. This is a great project
with which to begin our relationship with LEGO Media -- a company that
shares our passion for pushing creative boundaries in all areas."
"BIONICLE, targeted at 8-12-year-old boys, is one of the most
successful brands that the LEGO Company has ever launched -- and one
of the top-selling toys in the industry," added Blicher. "One of the
keys to its popularity has been the creation of multi-dimensional
media platforms -- including a Web site, comic books, trading cards,
software and a toy line.
"But fans have told us they are particularly eager to see their
favorite characters come 'alive' in theaters. With Miramax as our
partner, we can not only deliver a blockbuster movie but also take the
franchise to greater heights than ever before."
In addition to the feature film project, the agreement gives
Miramax worldwide distribution rights to LEGO Media's recently
announced, CGI-animated, direct-to-video movie, "BIONICLE: Mask of
Light," scheduled to debut in September 2003. LEGO Media is currently
producing Mask of Light at L.A.-based animation company, Creative
Capers Entertainment.
A vivid mixture of languages, myths and magic, BIONICLE was
inspired by the folklore of many exotic cultures, from the South
Pacific to North America, from Europe to the Far East. Featuring
biomechanical characters in a primitive setting -- a unique device
that sets the property apart from any other action-adventure story --
BIONICLE is set in the time before time on the islands of Mata Nui.
Each story follows six legendary heroes, called the Toa, who must find
the great Masks of Power in order to save their people from an evil
ruler.
The DTV story, scripted by Henry Gilroy (Mouse House), finds Mata
Nui, which was previously protected by a great spirit of the same
name, crumbling into the ocean. Evil Makuta, the jealous sibling of
the great spirit Mata Nui, has placed his brother into a deep sleep
and is responsible for the island's demise. With the help of the Toa,
two young islanders must use the Mask of Light -- one of the most
revered of the Masks of Power -- to end Makuta's dominance.
BIONICLE was launched in December 2000, first on a Web site and in
comic books, and shortly thereafter in 27 different yet
interconnecting additional media platforms. Clues, characters and
adventures revealed in one platform enhanced the experience on
another.
By August of 2001, the toy line was outselling every other action
figure on the market. Recently, the product line was recognized with
two Toy of the Year awards, including "Most Innovative Toy of the
Year" and "Best Boy Toy of the Year" by the American Toy Industry
Association.
The LEGO Co. is committed to the development of children's
creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by
the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only
the best is good enough." For more information, visit www.LEGO.com or
www.BIONICLE.com.

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