APRIL 1, 2013
Disney to Release Separate ‘Iron Man 3’ Version in China
By Anthony Palazzo and Clarence Tsui - Apr 1, 2013 12:00 AM ET
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) will release a separate version of its Marvel comic-book movie “Iron Man 3” in China, an unexpected plot twist for Hollywood’s most prominent collaboration yet in the country.
Disney won’t seek official Chinese co-production status for “Iron Man 3,” according to an e-mailed statement. The film, set to debut in the U.S. on May 3, was partly filmed in China with partner DMG Entertainment. A release date for the Chinese version wasn’t announced.
The decision, just over a month before “Iron Man 3” is set to kick off the U.S. summer movie season, hints at the challenges confronting Hollywood studios as they expand in China’s government-controlled market, which surpassed Japan last year as the biggest box office outside the U.S. The first two “Iron Man” movies grossed a total $1.21 billion worldwide.
The studio won’t comment beyond the statement about the reasons for the decision, differences between the two versions or when the Chinese movie will be released, Melissa Zukerman of Principal Communications Group, a spokeswoman for Marvel Studios, said.
DMG, which produced 2012’s “Looper,” is marketing and distributing the film in China, according to the statement. Chinese actor Wang Xueqi will appear in both versions, and both include footage filmed in Beijing in December.
The Chinese version will feature actress Fan Bingbing and will include bonus footage for the Chinese audience, according to the statement.
Disney added 0.6 percent to $56.80 on March 28 and has climbed 14 percent this year. U.S. markets were closed March 29 for Good Friday.
Chinese Movies
China limits the number of foreign movies released into theaters each year to about 34. U.S. studios have sought to bring more movies in by making co-productions, which don’t count against the quota.
While the government censors all movies, co-productions must meet additional requirements. For example, one-third of the major actors must be Chinese, according to Robert Cain, who writes the China Film Biz blog. Co-productions also require a certain amount of Chinese cultural content, which could limit the film’s appeal elsewhere, making co-production status less attractive to the studio, he wrote in a March 7 blog post.
Disney said in April 2012 it would co-produce “Iron Man 3” with DMG, which would make an investment in the production, manage the Chinese co-production and jointly produce the film in China, according to the statement at the time.
Theme Parks
Leading up to the release of Iron Man 3, separately, Hong Kong's city financial chief, unveiled plans for the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park to host an area dedicated to Marvel’s superheroes.
Introducing his annual financial budget at the city’s legislature Wednesday, John Tsang Chun-wah said Disneyland Hong Kong’s Marvel section will be “the first of its kind in the world” when it is launched within “the coming few years.” The park, which is 52 percent owned by the city’s government, will pay for the project with its operating surpluses, Tsang said.
According to local press accounts, the Marvel-themed area will be completed by 2017. Decisions will be made within the next few months about the one or two characters that will be introduced as the core of that extension.
The plan is in line with Disney’s earlier announcement that it planned to introduce more elements from Marvel Entertainment into its theme parks, with the corporation having acquired the latter in 2009 for $4 billion. And Hong Kong’s theme park -- which has proved to be a big pull for tourists coming in from mainland China -- could be seen as a good entry point for such an approach, given the success of films featuring Marvel’s superheroes in Chinese-speaking markets.
The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man were the fourth and 10th highest-grossing international releases on mainland China in 2012, respectively, taking a total of $141 million during their runs. One of the most anticipated blockbusters among the country’s younger audience is Iron Man 3, a collaboration between Marvel and DMG Entertainment which was partly shot in Beijing and features Chinese actors Wang Xueqi and Fan Bingbing.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s film-inspired expansion plans also are in line with the numerous film-related theme park projects on mainland China. Last year, Huayi Brothers and Mission Hills signed on to develop a site dedicated to the work of director Feng Xiaogang, while Stephen Chow Sing-chi inked a deal last week on an entertainment complex and tourist resort based on his screen adaptations of the novel Journey to the West.
The director’s latest stab, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, is riding high in mainland China, having already taken $160.6 million since its release Feb. 10.
Iron Man Tech Coming to Disneyland
It’s already starting to happen. Disney just announced that they are one step closer to world domination by announcing the opening of an all new attraction taking over Innoventions at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The man himself, Tony Stark, will be presenting the technology of Iron Man at Disneyland starting in April. It’s just in time for the opening of the latest Marvel blockbuster, Iron Man 3.
Guests will be able to tour Tony Stark’s very own Hall of Armor and see history in real life. The exhibit will feature all of the suits used in Iron Man 3 from Mark I through Mark VII. The suits will be on display showcasing the tech that allows Iron Man to save the world.
In addition guests will have the chance to operate the latest suit Mark 42. Through a special simulation you can feel what it’s like to interact with Jarvis and even fire repulsor blasts.
The exhibit opens at Disneyland on April 13th while Iron Man 3 hits theaters May 3rd.
For those hoping for an add on at Epcot at Walt Disney World, you’re out of luck. The contract Marvel signed with Universal Orlando keeps the Marvel characters out of theme parks East of the Mississippi River.
Guests at Disneyland are in for sensory overload when the attraction opens April 13th.
Disney to Release Separate ‘Iron Man 3’ Version in China
By Anthony Palazzo and Clarence Tsui - Apr 1, 2013 12:00 AM ET
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) will release a separate version of its Marvel comic-book movie “Iron Man 3” in China, an unexpected plot twist for Hollywood’s most prominent collaboration yet in the country.
Disney won’t seek official Chinese co-production status for “Iron Man 3,” according to an e-mailed statement. The film, set to debut in the U.S. on May 3, was partly filmed in China with partner DMG Entertainment. A release date for the Chinese version wasn’t announced.
The decision, just over a month before “Iron Man 3” is set to kick off the U.S. summer movie season, hints at the challenges confronting Hollywood studios as they expand in China’s government-controlled market, which surpassed Japan last year as the biggest box office outside the U.S. The first two “Iron Man” movies grossed a total $1.21 billion worldwide.
The studio won’t comment beyond the statement about the reasons for the decision, differences between the two versions or when the Chinese movie will be released, Melissa Zukerman of Principal Communications Group, a spokeswoman for Marvel Studios, said.
DMG, which produced 2012’s “Looper,” is marketing and distributing the film in China, according to the statement. Chinese actor Wang Xueqi will appear in both versions, and both include footage filmed in Beijing in December.
The Chinese version will feature actress Fan Bingbing and will include bonus footage for the Chinese audience, according to the statement.
Disney added 0.6 percent to $56.80 on March 28 and has climbed 14 percent this year. U.S. markets were closed March 29 for Good Friday.
Chinese Movies
China limits the number of foreign movies released into theaters each year to about 34. U.S. studios have sought to bring more movies in by making co-productions, which don’t count against the quota.
While the government censors all movies, co-productions must meet additional requirements. For example, one-third of the major actors must be Chinese, according to Robert Cain, who writes the China Film Biz blog. Co-productions also require a certain amount of Chinese cultural content, which could limit the film’s appeal elsewhere, making co-production status less attractive to the studio, he wrote in a March 7 blog post.
Disney said in April 2012 it would co-produce “Iron Man 3” with DMG, which would make an investment in the production, manage the Chinese co-production and jointly produce the film in China, according to the statement at the time.
Theme Parks
Leading up to the release of Iron Man 3, separately, Hong Kong's city financial chief, unveiled plans for the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park to host an area dedicated to Marvel’s superheroes.
Introducing his annual financial budget at the city’s legislature Wednesday, John Tsang Chun-wah said Disneyland Hong Kong’s Marvel section will be “the first of its kind in the world” when it is launched within “the coming few years.” The park, which is 52 percent owned by the city’s government, will pay for the project with its operating surpluses, Tsang said.
According to local press accounts, the Marvel-themed area will be completed by 2017. Decisions will be made within the next few months about the one or two characters that will be introduced as the core of that extension.
The plan is in line with Disney’s earlier announcement that it planned to introduce more elements from Marvel Entertainment into its theme parks, with the corporation having acquired the latter in 2009 for $4 billion. And Hong Kong’s theme park -- which has proved to be a big pull for tourists coming in from mainland China -- could be seen as a good entry point for such an approach, given the success of films featuring Marvel’s superheroes in Chinese-speaking markets.
The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man were the fourth and 10th highest-grossing international releases on mainland China in 2012, respectively, taking a total of $141 million during their runs. One of the most anticipated blockbusters among the country’s younger audience is Iron Man 3, a collaboration between Marvel and DMG Entertainment which was partly shot in Beijing and features Chinese actors Wang Xueqi and Fan Bingbing.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s film-inspired expansion plans also are in line with the numerous film-related theme park projects on mainland China. Last year, Huayi Brothers and Mission Hills signed on to develop a site dedicated to the work of director Feng Xiaogang, while Stephen Chow Sing-chi inked a deal last week on an entertainment complex and tourist resort based on his screen adaptations of the novel Journey to the West.
The director’s latest stab, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, is riding high in mainland China, having already taken $160.6 million since its release Feb. 10.
Iron Man Tech Coming to Disneyland
It’s already starting to happen. Disney just announced that they are one step closer to world domination by announcing the opening of an all new attraction taking over Innoventions at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The man himself, Tony Stark, will be presenting the technology of Iron Man at Disneyland starting in April. It’s just in time for the opening of the latest Marvel blockbuster, Iron Man 3.
Guests will be able to tour Tony Stark’s very own Hall of Armor and see history in real life. The exhibit will feature all of the suits used in Iron Man 3 from Mark I through Mark VII. The suits will be on display showcasing the tech that allows Iron Man to save the world.
In addition guests will have the chance to operate the latest suit Mark 42. Through a special simulation you can feel what it’s like to interact with Jarvis and even fire repulsor blasts.
The exhibit opens at Disneyland on April 13th while Iron Man 3 hits theaters May 3rd.
For those hoping for an add on at Epcot at Walt Disney World, you’re out of luck. The contract Marvel signed with Universal Orlando keeps the Marvel characters out of theme parks East of the Mississippi River.
Guests at Disneyland are in for sensory overload when the attraction opens April 13th.
