Movie studios hope to spawn new franchises

Excerpt From Los Angeles Times Article - Sept 18, 2007

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-franchise18sep18,1,2046660.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

The $160-million fantasy "Beowulf," co-produced by Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. and Stephen Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment, is not expected to start a franchise.

But director Robert Zemeckis' version of the epic 8th century poem could do wonders for 3-D exhibition and the motion-capture technique he pioneered with "The Polar Express." The film will get the widest 3-D and Imax release ever at a combined 1,100 theaters when it comes out Nov. 16, said Rob Moore, Paramount's president of worldwide marketing and distribution.

A 20-minute reel featuring a digitally rendered Angelina Jolie as Grendel's mother impressed observers at this summer's Comic-Con in San Diego. "The movie is so unique and different it's hard to get a handle on how big it will be," Moore said. "The 3-D visuals will blow people away."