NEWS
TOTAL LICENSING
LMI TO LICENSE THE LITTLE PRINCE The Little Prince and LMI have joined forces to expand the licensing programme into the UK & Eire. The Little Prince was born in 1943 in New York City and has since continued his incredible journey across generations. With more than 200 million books sold globally in 500 languages, the original publication has extended to a cinematic movie, a 3D animated Netflix series, a game with more than 100 million downloads, a theme park attraction, multiple global exhibitions, standalone stores, and a stage show musical. A new pre-school TV series of 52 x 11 minutes is in development. The series set for a 2023 release is lead by BAFTA & NFT nominated writer Simon Nicholson whose acclaims include PJ Masks, Paw Patrol, Bob the Builder and Thomas and Friends to name but a few. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the 1st Edition in 2023, LMI is seeking new partnerships to develop a successful consumer products programme for the original classic illustrations which are now available for licensing, as well as additional publishing projects including colouring books and activity books. On a different note, 2023 is the 400th anniversary year of the publication of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays, one of the most important books ever published and a highlight of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s collection. This treasured volume is the first edition of Shakespeare’s collected plays, published as Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories & Tragedies in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death. It includes eighteen of Shakespeare’s plays printed for the first time and the engraved portrait of the author that has since become the iconic image of Shakespeare recognised around the world.
AMAZON COMPLETE MGM DEAL Amazon’s US $8.45bn acquisition of MGM has been completed, both companies have confirmed. MGM, which is nearly 100 years old, is behind legendary movies such as Rocky and James Bond, brings to the deal 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, 180 Academy Awards and 100 Emmy Awards. Content only post-1986 will count towards the deal. Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, commented: “MGM has a nearly century-long legacy of producing exceptional entertainment, and we share their commitment to delivering a broad slate of original films and television shows to a global audience.” Amazon stated they would be welcoming all current MGM employees, indicating there would be no lay-offs. MGM’s TV catalogue includes The Handmaid’s Tale, Fargo and Vikings. In its vast film library, hits including Legally Blonde, Silence of the Lambs and Thelma & Louise. The mega-deal significantly expands Amazon’s roster of IP as it continues to grow into digital streaming. The deal was finally given the greenlight by the European Commission recently.
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LMCA APPOINT CEO New York Headquartered LMCA has announced a shift in its top management as the agency experiences rapid growth and expands further internationally. The LMCA Board has announced the promotion of Ciarán Coyle, formerly President & COO of the agency, to the CEO role. He will also become a Principal of the firm and join the LMCA Board. Coyle will oversee all aspects of the operations of the business, globally. Allan Feldman, Founder and formerly CEO, will become Executive Chairman, working closely with Coyle on the agency strategy and key partnerships. “Ciarán has brought a sharp business focus and discipline to LMCA over this past year and established an incredibly strong foundation for the agency’s continued international growth as a leader in strategic brand extension licensing. The decision of the LMCA Board to elevate Ciarán to the position of CEO reflects the confidence we have in his ability to realize LMCA’s full potential and add significant value to our clients,” commented Allan Feldman, LMCA Founder and Executive Chairman. Coyle added, “I’ve greatly enjoyed working with our super clients, partners, and the wonderful LMCA team over the past year and am very excited for what lies ahead. I’m truly honored by this opportunity to take on the CEO responsibilities and look forward to working with all our LMCA stakeholders to deliver continued success!”
