8 Mile
Primary Target: 18+
Release Date: November 8, 2003
Storyline: Rumoured to be semi-biographical, 8 Mile challenges bad-boy hip-hop icon Eminem to see if he can act as well as he raps. A drama, the film is about a young man’s struggle to find the strength to overcome the boundaries that define his life.
Talent: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Taryn Manning
Studio/Distributor: Universal Studios
Promo Contact: Kyle Mosley, publicity and promotions, (416) 491-3000
Existing Promo Partners: None announced
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Primary Target: Kids, tweens and family
Release Date: November 15, 2002
Storyline: Based on the second novel in the popular series of children’s books by J.K. Rowling (following Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). A darker tone permeates this film, but there’s more action and humour as Harry tries to stop the Chamber of Secrets from literally petrifying Hogwarts’ students in a traditional good versus evil tale.
Talent: Daniel Radcliffe, Sean Biggerstaff, David Bradley, Kenneth Branagh, Alfred Burke, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane
Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros.
Promo Contact: Stephanie Brown, promotions and publicity, (416) 250-8384 ext. 387
Existing Promo Partners: Coca-Cola
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Primary Target: Kids and adults, skewed slightly male
Release Date: December 18, 2002
Storyline: Second instalment of the three-part LOTR series (based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien) has Frodo battling Sauron, Gollum and many other fierce creatures in his continuing quest to destroy the One Ring.
Talent: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler
Studio/Distributor: New Line Cinema, distributed by Alliance Atlantis in Canada
Promo Contact: Julia Caslin, promotions and publicity, (416) 967-1174
Existing Promo Partners: None announced
MVP 3 – Snowboarding (Most Valuable Primate)
Primary Target: Kids and extreme chimp sports fans
Release Date: Winter 2002/Early 2003
Storyline: After playing hockey and skateboarding, Jack, the multi-talented chimp, learns to snowboard in the third instalment of the MVP series. Throw in some bumbling bad guys, a snowboarding championship (chimpionship?) and there you have it.
Talent: Jack, Robby Benson, Bjorn Leines, Devin Drewitz, Trevor Wright, Gwynyth Walsh
Studio/Distributor: International Keystone Entertainment
Promo Contact: Christina Mior, director of communications, (604) 873-9739
Existing Promo Partners: None announced
Daredevil
Primary Target: Teens and up
Release Date: February 14, 2003
Storyline: Based on the Marvel Comics series, Daredevil features a fearless hero who battles crime by night and is a blind lawyer by day.
Talent: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Gardner, Colin Farrell
Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Promo Contact: Julia Perry, theatrical publicity and promotions, (416) 515-3365
Existing Promo Partners: None announced
X-Men 2 (no official title yet)
Primary Target: Teens and above
Release Date: May 2, 2003
Storyline: This sequel to the hugely successful X-Men movie is still being produced in Vancouver, so there’s no official word on the plot yet. Many have speculated that there will be new mutants and a new X-Men character introduced.
Talent: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin
Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Promo Contact: Julia Perry, theatrical publicity and marketing, (416) 515-3365
Existing Promo Partners: None available
The Hulk
Primary Target: Teens and above
Release Date: June 20, 2003
Storyline: Bruce Banner unleashes his alter ego in a contemporary setting in this film adaptation of the classic Marvel Comics series.
Talent: Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Nick Nolte, Josh Lucas
Studio/Distributor: Universal Studios
Promo Contact: Kyle Mosley, publicity and promotions, (416) 491-3000
Existing Promo Partners: None announced
Sinbad
Primary Target
Kids ages 5 and up
Release Date: Summer 2003
Storyline: Animated feature about Sinbad’s four fantastic adventures. He must confront Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, restore calm to Syracuse, retrieve the stolen book of peace and save his childhood friend.
Talent: Voices of Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joseph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer
Studio/Distributor: DreamWorks
Promo Contact: Shannon Nicosia, licensing and publicity (818) 695-5000 ext. 3296
Existing Promo Partners: Burger King
Air Bud Spikes Back
Primary Target: Kids ages 4 to 15
Release Date: Fall 2003 (to be confirmed)
Storyline: Buddy, the famous ‘sport-mastering’ golden retriever, takes on beach volleyball this time around. He gets dognapped, leading master Andrea on a trek to California to save him.
Talent: Buddy, Katija Pevec, Jake Smith, Tyler Boissonnault, Edie McClurg, Cynthia Stevens
Studio/Distributor: International Keystone Entertainment
Promo Contact: Christina Mior, director of communications, (604) 873-9739
Existing Promo Partners: None announced
