Spider-Man swings onto the Kids' WB! Saturday morning slate on The CW in early 2008 in a news animated series tentatively titled THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, from Culver Ent., a Sony Pictures Television company.
Greg Weisman (GARGOYLES, THE BATMAN) is supervising producer, Victor Cook (HELLBOY: BLOOD AND IRON and BUZZ LIGHTYEAR OF STAR COMMAND) is producer/supervising director.
"The addition of SPIDER-MAN bolsters a lineup that has proved to be the Saturday morning destination for kids seeking action and adventure in the most amped-up ways," said Kids' WB! svp/gm Betsy McGowen. "We're ecstatic to welcome SPIDER-MAN to our popular cavalcade of superheroes."
"Spider-Man is such an important brand for Sony Pictures and we're thrilled to keep the momentum going by taking it back to television with an animated series on Kids' WB!," Sony Pictures Television co-president Zack Van Amburg said. "It's also an excellent way to launch Culver Ent., our newest television company."
Likely riding the crest of Sony's anticipated summer blockbuster SPIDER-MAN 3, the new animated series picks up the original web-slinger's mythology as a not-so-typical 16-year-old entering his junior year of high school. Having spent the summer engaging common criminals with his new-found powers, Peter Parker must conceal his secret identity while engaging a new level of terror -- the pressures of teenage life at home and school. In addition, he combats bigger, badder supervillains in the real world.
"Our goal is to reinterpret these great characters and concepts for our millennium," Weisman said. "We'll have plenty of resonant material for the Spider-Man fan, while engaging the Spider-Man novice with the same thrills we experienced when we were first exposed to the character. Our stories will appeal on multiple levels with plenty of eye-candy, action, humor and colorful characters for the youngest demographic balanced with extensive character development for 'tweens, teens and adults."
SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Ent. company, and one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms.
Kids' WB! (www.KidsWB.com) continues to be a unique destination for kids. Kids' WB!, now airing on The CW Network, has been the broadcast home for such cornerstone hits as the blockbusters POKÉMON and YU-GI-OH!; Emmy Award-winners XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN and THE BATMAN; culturally diverse series, JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES AND ¡MUCHA LUCHA! GIGANTE; and breakout hits SHAGGY & SCOOBY-DOO GET A CLUE! and LEGION OF SUPER HEROES, among other favorites.
