Marvel Secures GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Licensees

Marvel Entertainment presented its upcoming movie event Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy at this year's Licensing Expo. A number of top companies in key product categories have already come on board the property's licensing program, including Hasbro, Disguise and Sideshow Collectibles. Additional partners are expected to sign up over the next few months. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy watches as Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Groot and Rocket Raccoon team up to battle a cosmic force. It is scheduled to hit theaters on August 1, 2014.

"As we've seen with Marvel's The Avengers and Iron Man, Marvel Studios is expert in developing comic-based properties into major blockbuster events and bringing them to the forefront of pop-culture," remarked Adam Biehl, the VP of global marketing at Hasbro. "From the early visuals Hasbro has seen of Guardians of the Galaxy, and knowing the extensive franchise marketing Marvel will put behind this property, we are extremely excited by what the studio has in store for fans and movie goers. Hasbro can't wait to offer kids and fans of all ages an exciting array of toys based on Guardians of the Galaxy."

Cheryl McCarthy, the VP of product design and marketing for Disguise, noted: "Disguise is thrilled to be designing a line of costumes and accessories based on the amazing and rich outer realm characters from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy like Star Lord, Drax and Gamora. It's a treat to expand our Marvel portfolio of Halloween costumes and bring these unique and colorful heroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to life."

Greg Anzalone, the president of Sideshow Collectibles, said: "It's thrilling to see the way that Marvel continues to expand the brand and broaden the vision for entertainment, bringing more and more fantastic characters from the rich comic history to the big screen. Guardians of the Galaxy offers a whole new sense of adventure in the great beyond of deep space, an exciting turn for the Marvel film franchise. As a licensee, we're excited that Guardians offers

all-new opportunities, building on the success that we've enjoyed with Avengers and each of the individual character films that have come before."

Paul Gitter, the senior VP of licensing for Marvel, Disney Consumer Products, added: "Guardians of the Galaxy has been very well received by our licensing and retail partners during meetings held both before and during the show. Both the film and new character portfolio introduces a new and exciting slate of personalities and galactic vehicles that span the galaxy like non other seen in previous Marvel films. These elements along with the power of the Marvel brand sparked the attention of potential partners who immediately saw the application to both new and existing product categories and are well positioned for a successful 2014 program."