Disney|ABC, IMAX And Marvel Television Form Innovative Production, Marketing And Distribution Agreement For 'Marvel's The Inhumans,' A New Marvel Television & ABC Studios TV Series Set For ABC

NEW YORK and BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corp. (NYSE: IMAX), Marvel Television, a unit of Marvel Entertainment, and Disney|ABC Television Group today announced an innovative agreement to exclusively premiere the new ABC series "Marvel's The Inhumans" in IMAX commercial theatres, marking the first time a live-action television series has debuted in this manner.

Under the agreement, a version of the first two episodes of Marvel Television's new series "Marvel's The Inhumans" – produced in conjunction with ABC Studios and filmed entirely with IMAX digital cameras – will run worldwide exclusively in IMAX for two weeks at the beginning of September 2017. ABC plans to then premiere the weekly series in fall, with additional exclusive content that can only be seen on the network.

The Inhumans, a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly unique powers, were first introduced in Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Since that time, they have grown in prominence and become some of the most popular and iconic characters in the Marvel Universe. "Marvel's The Inhumans" will explore the never-before-told epic adventure of Black Bolt and the royal family.

ABC, IMAX and Marvel Television also intend to work together to create a joint marketing and promotion plan for the series across their proprietary media platforms – which would be the first such cross-platform marketing launch of a television series. Today's agreement also marks IMAX's first time as a financing participant in a TV pilot and series. 

"This unprecedented alliance represents a bold, innovative approach to launching great TV content for a worldwide audience," said Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group. "It highlights Disney|ABC's unrelenting commitment to finding new and creative ways to showcasing our very best programming and increasing global engagement and reach."

"This first-of-its-kind multi-platform production, distribution and marketing agreement brings together Marvel Television's unique brand of entertainment, ABC's unparalleled audience and IMAX's brand and global fanboy demographic," said IMAX CEO, Rich Gelfond. "It also takes our decades-long relationship with The Walt Disney Company to a whole new level, jointly breaking new ground in the industry. We are confident our exhibition partners will be excited to work with us on this innovative launch of a series across the IMAX network."

"We're happy to see this unique deal come together, working with our partners," said Dan Buckley, President, Marvel Television, Publishing & Brand. "In an ever-changing world of distribution and consumption, it's very exciting to be part of a groundbreaking initiative that takes us to the forefront of this evolution."

This deal also provides audiences with high-quality, compelling entertainment options during what have traditionally been lulls in the summer blockbuster season. These IMAX audiences also tend to have high engagement and positive response to comic book fare.

About Disney|ABC Television Group
Disney|ABC Television Group is comprised of The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE: DIS) global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations group, and radio business.  This includes ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, and the ABC Television Network, which provides entertainment and news programming to viewers via more than 200 affiliated stations across the U.S.  It also includes Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of 116 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment channels, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands, as well as cable network Freeform, which targets Millennials. Disney|ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution and Disney Media Distribution round out the portfolio. Disney|ABC Television Group also has equity interests in A+E Networks and Hulu.

About Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Television
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. 

Marvel Television develops and produces some of the world's most creative and popular live-action and animated programming for broadcast and cable television networks plus digital platforms including a historic deal with NETFLIX. Its portfolio of self-produced series includes "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." for ABC, "Marvel's Daredevil," "Marvel's Luke Cage," and the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "Marvel's Jessica Jones" for NETFLIX and "Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man," "Marvel's Avengers" and "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy" for Disney XD. Marvel Television's upcoming projects include "Marvel's Iron Fist and the culminating Marvel's The Defenders" for NETFLIX as well as "Marvel's The Punisher" (NETFLIX), "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" (Freeform), "Legion" (FX), and "Marvel's Runaways" (Hulu). For more information, visit marvel.com.  © 2016 MARVEL

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing.  As of Sep. 30, 2016, there were 1,145 IMAX theatres (1,037 commercial multiplexes, 16 commercial destinations and 92 institutions) in 74 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation.  More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com.  You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

CONTACTS:

Disney|ABC Television Group
Kevin Brockman
(818) 460-6655
[email protected]

Jori Arancio
(818) 460-5904
[email protected]

Marvel and IMAX
Melissa Zukerman
(323) 658-1555
[email protected]

Marvel Television 
Rayna Schwartz
(818) 544-9483
[email protected]

IMAX
Ann Sommerlath
(212) 821-0155
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/MM01969LOGO

SOURCE IMAX Corporation

Related Links

http://www.imax.com