April 26 2016, 21.45 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
Indian Superhero created by Lee’s POW! Entertainment and Graphic India ~
GRAPHIC INDIA AND STAN LEE’S POW! ENTERTAINMENTPARTNER WITH PHANTOM FILMS & DIRECTOR VIKRAMADITYA MOTWANE TO LAUNCH BOLLYWOOD FILM FOR “CHAKRA THE INVINCIBLE”
Bengaluru, India — April 26, 2016 –As the global film industry continues to be dominated by superhero films based on Stan Lee’s co-creations, including the upcoming X-Men: Age of Apocalypse,the legendary creator is now planning his first Bollywood film for India.
Graphic India, India’s leading character entertainment company, and Lee’sPOW! Entertainment,announced today a partnership withPhantom Films, to begin pre-production on alive-action theatrical film for “Chakra The Invincible,” the first Indian superhero created by Lee along with Graphic Co-Founder & CEO, Sharad Devarajan.
The film will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker,VikramadityaMotwane(Lootera, Udaan) who is currently working on the screenplay with Lee and Devarajan. Phantom’s MadhuMantena will produce the film with Devarajan and POW! Entertainment’sGill Champion. Datta Dave at Tulsea (Motwane’s agent) brought the parties together and structured the arrangement. Unlike the animated kids property, the film version of Chakra will feature an older version of the character in his twenties, set against the spectacular backdrop of Mumbai.
“I’m a fan of Bollywood films and am really excited about launching Chakra the Invincible as my first Bollywood superhero movie,”commented Stan Lee, Chief Creative Officer at POW! Entertainment.“Vikramaditya is an amazingly talented filmmaker who I have no doubt can make the Chakra film a massive hit in India and around the world. I only hope he remembers to include my cameo!”
Says Vikramaditya, “It’s an honor and an absolute delight to be making a film based on a Stan Lee character. We’re very excited and we hope to take comic book filmmaking to the next level with Chakra. And no, we won’t forget Stan’s cameo…”
“Stan Lee’s characters have generated $15 billion at the global box office, creating some of the most beloved icons in entertainment. More people likely know the face of Spider-Man than they do the Mona Lisa,” commented Graphic’s Co-Founder & CEO,Sharad Devarajan. “With VikramMotwane, we have been fortunate to find both a groundbreaking director and a passionate comic book fan, who will be able to create something uniquely Indian, but also authentic to Stan’s pantheon of superhero storytelling.”
Chakra The Invincible was originally launched as a kids animated film on Cartoon Network India two years ago, with three new animated TV movies currently in production to be released on Cartoon Network and Toonami later this year. The hero also built a worldwide following through a digital mobile series launched on Rovio’s ToonsTV available through the Angry Birds game – resulting in more than 40 million views for the Indian superhero. Chakra has also had hundreds of thousands of comic books released worldwide in India and North America.
ABOUT GRAPHIC INDIA
GRAPHIC INDIA is a character entertainment company focused on creating leading characters, comics and stories through mobile and digital platforms. Founded by media entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman, Graphic India is owned by U.S. comic book Company, Liquid Comics and CA Media LP, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group, LLC (TCG). The company’s partners and investors bring together decades of experience in building businesses in character entertainment, media and India.
Graphic believes that India is home to some of the most creative talent in the world, with more than 500 million people under the age of 25 and more than 850 million mobile phone users in the country. The Company’s mission is to create enduring stories and heroes that foster the imaginations and fuel the inspirations of a new globalized generation of youth in both India and around the world.
Graphic’s stories include, Ramayan 3392A.D., The LeavesandThe Sadhu, allcurrently in development as Hollywood feature films; 18 Days, a reimagining of the great eastern epic, the Mahabharata, by acclaimed graphic novel creator, Grant Morrison which was launched as an animated digital series in partnership with YouTube India; Devi, a female superhero from acclaimed filmmaker, ShekharKapur; Chakra The Invincible, the first superhero for India from legendary creator Stan Lee; and numerous other heroes and stories. www.GraphicIndia.com
ABOUT POW! ENTERTAINMENT
POW! Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB: POWN), a multi-media entertainment company, was founded by noted comic book writer Stan Lee, together with award-winning producer Gill Champion and the late intellectual property specialist Arthur Lieberman. POW!’s principals have extensive backgrounds in the creation and production of original intellectual properties, including some of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time. POW! is utilizing Stan Lee’s historical background by perpetuating his legacy while creating and developing all new live-action films, television, digital games, merchandising, licensing and related ancillary markets, all of which contribute to global expansion. POW! partners with third parties and strategic alliances, including studios and networks, in the production and distribution of new POW! character franchises.
ABOUT PHANTOM FILMS
Phantom Films is India’s first ‘Directors’ Company’. It was formed by four young creative minds of the country, viz. VikasBahl, Anurag Kashyap, VikramadityaMotwane and MadhuMantena in 2011. Phantom has a distinct focus on fostering creative energies to create enduring and entertaining content.
In the last 4 years of the company’s existence they have had 10 releases till now: Lootera, HaseetohPhasee, Queen, Katiyabaaz, Ugly, NH10, Hunterrr, Bombay Velvet, Masaan&Shaandaar. Most of their films have been successful and critically acclaimed as well.