New York, NY: April 25, 2016 –As the global film industry continues to be dominated by superhero films based on Stan Lee’s co-creations, including the upcomingX-Men: Age of Apocalypse,the legendary creator is now planning his first Bollywood film for India.
Graphic India, India’s leading character entertainment company, andLee’sPOW! Entertainment,announced today a partnership with Phantom 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’s Gill 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.
GRAPHIC INDIA is a character entertainment company focused on creating leading characters, comics and stories through mobile and digital platforms. 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
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. 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.