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.

Miramax Films, founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 1979, has released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films of the past 14 years, with a record 11 Best Picture nominations over the past 10 consecutive years: "In the Bedroom," "Chocolat," "The Cider House Rules," "Shakespeare In Love," "Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella)," "Good Will Hunting," "The English Patient," "Il Postino (The Postman)," and "The Piano." As well as, 18 Best Foreign Language Film nominations including: "Amelie," "Life is Beautiful," "Kolya," "Mediterraneo" and "Cinema Paradiso."