Independent licensing company Rocket Licensing has been appointed by leading media company Legendary Entertainment to manage UK licensing for a number of its major properties, beginning with Pacific Rim Uprising, the 2018 follow-up to the hit science fiction action movie and the upcoming remake of the classic 1960s science fiction series Lost in Space.
Pacific Rim, which appeared in 2013, is the story of a war between the inhabitants of Earth and monsters from another dimension, fought by human heroes piloting giant humanoid robots.
It made close to half a billion dollars at the international box office. The new film, to be released on 23 March 2018, takes the action and excitement of the original and adds a fresh new cast with multi-generational and multi-cultural appeal, as well as a stronger emphasis on adventure, emotion and human drama.
There will be a diverse blend of fan-favourite characters and new faces on show as John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spanny and Charlie Day lead an exciting young cast.
In licensing terms, the themes and concepts underpinning Pacific Rim Uprising offer opportunities for a wide range of technology partnerships and gaming initiatives, as well as merchandise potential in categories such as toys, posters and apparel.
Lost in Space is a reimagining of the original family space adventure first aired in the 1960s and still regarded as one of the great science fiction series.
Thirty years in the future, the Robinsons find themselves torn en route to what they had hoped would be a fresh start on a distant space colony.
Facing terrible odds, the family bands together to survive on a dangerous alien planet.
A Marquee Netflix original title with a planned release date of June 2018, the show takes the engaging concepts of the 1960s show and updates them for a modern audience in the shape of a highly immersive and visually stunning world.
With a cast extending from tween to adult, and themes of technology and adventure, the show aims to engage a wide-ranging fanbase and build a strong licensing proposition.
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film (Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to mainstream audiences with a targeted focus on the powerful fandom demographic.
Through complete or joint ownership, Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world’s most popular intellectual property.
Joint Managing Director of Rocket Licensing Charlie Donaldson said, “Legendary Entertainment has already made a major impact in the entertainment industry with a strong portfolio of exciting, inventive and memorable creations for TV, film, digital media and comics. The licensing potential of proven hits like Pacific Rim and future favourites like Lost in Space is exceptionally strong. We’re looking forward enormously to working with this dynamic and innovative company and its thrilling brands.”
