DIAMOND SELECT TOYS K.O.'S COMPETITION WITH NEW ROCKY LICENSE
(BALTIMORE, July 27, 2006) -- Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC (DST) is excited to announce a new license agreement with MGM Consumer Products for prop replicas and Minimates based on the popular and long-lived Rocky films. The key territories where the products will be distributed include United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
"The Rocky universe is a great match for DST," said Chuck Terceira, director of Diamond Select Toys. "With Rocky's 30th anniversary approaching, we're very optimistic about delivering the very best in prop replicas for this franchise as well as expanding the Minimates line and reaching new customers in the process."
DST will create full-scale and mini-prop replicas from the Rocky movies, including boxing gloves, boxing shorts, title belts, robes and pendants. Rocky is the newest license to join Diamond Select Toys' growing portfolio, which includes Marvel Comics, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Star Trek, Stargate SG-I, Stargate Atlantis, Street Fighter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, G.I. Joe, Archie Comics, Transformers, and Joss Whedon's Serenity.
"Diamond Select Toys' quality and workmanship provides consumers with collectibles that they can cherish for decades," said Travis Rutherford, executive vice president of MGM Consumer Products and Location Based Entertainment. "With the final franchise film, Rocky Balboa, slated for release on December 22, 2006, the DST products will have a broad appeal to established Rocky fans and a whole new generation of moviegoers."
Following the story of a struggling boxer, Rocky was released in 1976 to near-universal praise, and won three Academy Awards® for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing. Four sequels followed throughout the next 14 years chronicling the underdog's attempts at greatness while facing the toughest and deadliest boxers in the world. Thirty years later, the sixth and final franchise film, Rocky Balboa, will be released on December 22. Worldwide box office revenues for the five Rocky films exceed $1 billion, making the franchise one of the most successful of all time.
ABOUT DIAMOND SELECT TOYS & COLLECTIBLES, LLC
DIAMOND SELECT TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES, LLC was founded in 1999 by sister company Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. Envisioned to create unique and exciting collectibles for children and adults alike, the company has licensed a variety of pop culture properties to be turned into merchandise. With partners such as Marvel Enterprises, Capcom, Universal Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Hasbro and MGM, Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles produces a large range of products based on a wide variety of properties, and is headquartered in Timonium, MD. For more information, visit www.diamondselecttoys.com.
About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. Under the supervision of new Chairman and CEO Harry Sloan, MGM is revitalizing all areas of the company. As a result, the studio is now being positioned as an independent, vertical integrated multi-media company. MGM ownership is currently as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.