Universal

Unrated Battlestar Galactica: Razor Coming to DVD

In a first, fans of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will be able to vote for their favorite DVD packaging of the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR UNRATED EXTENDED EDITION, which will be released Dec. 4 (Universal Studios Home Ent., $26.98). This follows the Nov. 24 premiere of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR on SCI FI Channel. The website www.scifi.com/battlestar will display a selection of three choices for fans to cast their votes now through 12:00 am midnight PST on Sept. 7. The final selection will be posted Sept. 14 on the site.

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International Headline News

Universal International Modifies Senior Management Team

Universal Pictures International Ent., the international home entertainment division of NBC Universal, today announced key new appointments in its London-based management team.

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Universal Headline News

Johnson Moves Up to EVP at Universal

Bret Johnson has been promoted to EVP, physical production at Universal Pictures, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Johnson, who has held various posts at Universal since joining the studio in 1988, will continue to work with filmmakers on all aspects of physical production, including scheduling, budgeting, hiring crews and managing day-to-day production.

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International Headline News

Bromstad New NBC Universal Int'l TV Production Chief

Angela Bromstad has been upped to president, International Television Production, NBC Universal International, based in London. Heading the newly created division as of Sept. 1, 2007, Bromstad will lead television production and strategic TV content partnerships across all territories and will be responsible for driving NBC Universal's international growth through increased local production, geographical expansion and new business creation.

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Universal Headline News

Universal Introduces Woody Woodpecker and Friends to DVD

Making its DVD debut uncut and digitally re-mastered is a Walter Lantz treasure trove: THE WOODY WOODPECKER AND FRIENDS CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION (Universal Studios Home Ent., $39.98), which lands on store shelves July 24, 2007. The three-disc collection features 75 zany adventures, including eight Academy Award-nominated shorts, and offers more than an one hour of vintage bonus materials, such as the doc "Walter, Woody and the World of Animation," behind-the-scenes footage and a full episode of THE WOODY WOODPECKER SHOW.

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Universal Headline News

Cowboys & Aliens Play on the Silver Screen

DreamWorks and Universal Pictures are teaming to make a live-action adaptation of the graphic novel COWBOYS & ALIENS.

Imagine partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and Platinum Studios chairman/ceo Scott Mitchell Rosenberg with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are set to produce. Ervin Rustemagic and Rich Marincic will be co-producers. IRON MAN writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby are penning the screenplay.

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Universal Headline News

Harry Potter Theme Park Coming to Universal Orlando

Warner Bros. Ent. Inc. and Universal Orlando Resort are partnering to create the world's first fully immersive HARRY POTTER themed environment based on the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and feature films from Warner Bros. Envisioned as a "theme park within a theme park" and titled "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," the new environment will become part of the experience within Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort.

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Universal Headline News

Universal Hires Grass as Int'l Pres, Pacts with Night Watch Director on Toons

Universal Pictures has confirmed that, beginning in October 2007, Christian Grass will become president of the studio's new international production arm at Universal Pictures International (UPI).

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Universal Headline News

The Simpsons Ride to Open In Both Orlando & Hollywood

Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson -- stars of TV's longest running series, THE SIMPSONS, will ride along with guests in a new mega-attraction opening at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in spring 2008.

Guests will experience a side of Springfield previously unexplored as they enjoy the new ride's interpretation of the thrill rides, dark rides and "live" shows that make up a new fantasy amusement park dreamed up by the show's cantankerous Krusty the Clown.

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Universal Headline News

Universal Brings Woody Woodpecker and Friends to DVD

Coming to DVD uncut and digitally remastered is a Walter Lantz treasure trove: THE WOODY WOODPECKER AND FRIENDS CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION lands on store shelves July 24, 2007, from Universal Studios Home Ent. The three-disc collection priced at $39.98 features 75 zany adventures, including eight Academy Award-nominated shorts, and offers more than an one hour of vintage bonus materials, such as the doc "Walter, Woody and the World of Animation," behind-the-scenes footage and a full episode of THE WOODY WOODPECKER SHOW.

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Mobile Headline News

Universal Buys International DVD Rights To Bernard

Universal Pictures Int'l Ent. has just bought the international DVD rights to the first 52-episode season of BERNARD. This deal for producer BRB Internacional represents the first time that the Spanish company has entered into such a wide-ranging alliance covering so many countries. Universal has also acquired mobile rights to BERNARD in the U.K.

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Universal Headline News

Acclaimed Children of Men Now on DVD

One of last year's gems, CHILDREN OF MEN, the riveting futuristic thriller from director Alfonso Cuarón, comes to DVD and HD-DVD on March 27, 2007 (Universal Studios Home Ent., $29.98). No stranger to vfx after HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, Cuarón elicits superb seamless work from London's Double Negative and Framestore CFC in crafting a bleak, naturalistic vision of London in 2027.

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Universal Headline News

Battlestar Producer Re-Signs First Look with NBC Universal

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA exec producer David Eick has resigned his first-look agreement with NBC Universal, reports VARIETY. Despite the deal with NBC Universal, he has set up a host of projects in various stages at various studios, including Fox thriller THEM, two projects with FX, projects with SCI FI Channel and a miniseries with Lifetime. With NBC, he is overseeing the re-imagining of THE BIONIC WOMAN.

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Universal Headline News

Universal Adds The Host to Monster Library

With it in U.S. theaters for less than a week, THE HOST is already being circled as a remake possibility at Universal, reports SCI FI Wire. In an interview, the original's director Bong Joon-ho stated that Universal had bought the rights to his film, which follows a dysfunctional family as they try to rescue their youngest member from the clutches of a genetically altered amphibian, which has run amok in Seoul.

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Universal Headline News

Newest Land Before Time DVD Now Available

THE LAND BEFORE TIME: THE GREAT DAY OF THE FLYERS (Universal Studios Home Ent., $19.98), the 12th entry in the number one bestselling animated for DVD franchise, hits shelves Feb. 27, 2007. Produced by Universal Animation Studios, the franchise additionally expands with an all-new Cartoon Network LAND BEFORE TIME series, beginning March 5 at 9:30 am.

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World Events

Will Vinton Comicbook Signing

Begins: February 10, 2007

After many successful years in the world of animation, Will Vinton dives into the two-dimensional comic world with JACK HIGHTOWER, a new action-adventure-comedy about a very unique secret agent, spanning 150 pages.

Vinton, and writing partner, Andrew Wiese, will sign books at Things From Another World at Universal Citiwalk, Feb. 10, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Things From Another World is located at Universal Studios Citywalk, 1000 Universal Center Drive, Citywalk #179, Universal City, CA 91608

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Universal Headline News

Jeff Zucker Named President/CEO of NBC Universal

Jeff Zucker has been officially announced as president and ceo of NBC Universal, succeeding Bob Wright, who will continue to serve as a General Electric vice chairman.

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Production Headline News

Animation Production Day 2007 Planned for Stuttgart

In order to enhance financing and marketing of animated feature films on a long-term- basis, the Animation Production Day (APD) will, for the first time, bring producers of feature film projects into contact with world distribution companies, marketing experts, banks and equity investors, focusing on gap financing and the potential for international distribution.

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Universal Headline News

Toon Script Reader Sells Manuscript to Universal

By shelling out seven figures, Universal Pictures has won the bidding war for the rights to children's fantasy manuscript SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The soon-to-be published book from first-time novelist Michael Reisman, who is a script reader for Nickelodeon TV and Cartoon Network.

Gary Ross is eyeing the project as director and his Larger Than Life partner Allison Thomas would produce the live-action adaptation with Gotham Group's Ellen Goldsmith-Vein.

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Universal Headline News

NBC Universal Cable Ent. To Launch Chiller Network

NBC Universal Cable Ent. announced the launch of Chiller, a 24-hour entertainment cable channel dedicated to the horror genre. DIRECTV will be the first affiliate to carry the new network, which starts March 1, 2007.

"We continually look at our options for launching new networks," said Jeff Gaspin, president, NBC Universal Cable Ent., digital content and cross network strategy.. "Horror is one of the most reliably successful genres in entertainment today and Chiller seems like a well-timed addition to our portfolio."

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Universal Headline News

NBC Universal Exec Shuffle Deals in Michael Pilot as Ad Sales President

NBC Universal today (Dec. 4, 2006) announced expanded responsibilities for several senior executives, and appointed Michael Pilot as new head of Ad Sales.

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Universal Headline News

King Kong Deluxe Extended DVD Offers 230 New VFX Shots

As with THE LORD OF THE RINGS, Peter Jackson has double-dipped with KING KONG, providing 13 additional minutes of new footage, including 230 new VFX shots from the Oscar-winning Weta Digital, and nearly 40 minutes of deleted scenes. The KING KONG DELUXE EXTENDED EDITION three-disc set (Universal Home Ent., $34.98) was produced by the award-winning Michael Pellerin and was released Nov. 14, 2006.

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Universal Headline News

Curious George Arrives on VOD & PPV

NBC Universal Cable brings the beloved family classic tale CURIOUS GEORGE to on demand (VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) on Nov. 9, 2006. Consumers who order the film on demand or on pay-per-view and watch until the end of the credits will get instructions on how to receive a CURIOUS GEORGE beanie toy for free while supplies last.

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Universal Headline News

Kristin Lowe Upped to Universal Pictures Production VP

Kristin Lowe has been promoted to vp, production, Universal Pictures, overseeing the day-to-day production activities for many of the studio's most anticipated films, including CHILDREN OF MEN, THE KINGDOM and BREACH.

Lowe joined Universal Pictures in 2004 as director of development, following a stint as director of development at Warner Bros. Pictures, She joined WB in 2002 as a creative exec after posts both at MGM and Michael Bay Films.

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Universal Headline News

NBC Universal Announces NBCU 2.0

NBC Universal announced NBCU 2.0, a wide-ranging strategic initiative to assure future growth, streamline and strengthen operations and exploit opportunities created by the rapidly evolving digital and global marketplace.

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