WEP News
UTA to represent iconic adventure series, Voltron
10/1/2009
BEVERLY HILLS (October 1, 2009) ---- St. Louis-based World Event Productions (WEP) today announced that it has engaged leading Hollywood talent and literary agency United Talent Agency (UTA) to represent and expand the brand of its popular and world-renowned adventure series, Voltron. WEP has also hired the entertainment law firm of Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor, LLP. The announcement comes as Voltron celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the franchise's launch in the U.S.
UTA and the Liner firm will guide the Voltron franchise in a number of entertainment categories including film, television, publishing, video games, toys and other consumer products.
Based on the Japanese anime television series, Voltron first appeared in the U.S. in 1984 as a first-run syndication animated television series and ran for two seasons. Over the past 25 years the property has maintained a large and loyal following, and more recently, a resurgence in popularity. In the past several years alone, the company has sold over 300,000 DVDs, established numerous apparel and other consumer product deals, and has been a top-selling download through a variety of VOD services.
The renewed interest in Voltron has already spurred the development of film and television projects. Announced in Summer of 2009, Atlas Entertainment's Charles Roven, Richard Suckle and Steve Alexander, along with Kickstart Entertainment's Jason Netter, are attached to produce a live-action tentpole feature film based on the Voltron property, which will be packaged and presented to studios and financiers this Fall. Netter is also working with WEP on a new animated television series, which is scheduled to debut in the U.S. as early as Fall 2010.
There could not be a better way to expand our fantastic team than to join forces with UTA and Liner, said WEP founder Ted Koplar. Together with Atlas and Kickstart, this team will be the catalyst to bring the legendary Voltron story to a whole new generation of fans.
Voltron tells the story of five space explorers who, after being attacked by an alien race, come upon the war-torn world of Arus. In working to defend this once peaceful world, the explorers ultimately discover the keys to five mysterious and battle-ready robot lions, who join together to form the giant warrior Voltron: Defender of the Universe. While sharing some familiar elements with its '80s brethren such as Transformers, what sets Voltron apart is the focus on human characters.
Founded and operated by Ted Koplar, World Events Productions is an American-based animation and distribution company in St. Louis, Missouri, best known for releasing the anime titles Voltron, Defender of the Universe and Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs as well as producing the original animated series Denver, the Last Dinosaur.
United Talent Agency is one of the entertainment industry's premier talent and literary agencies, representing many of world's most widely-known figures in every current and emerging area of entertainment, including motion pictures, television, books, music, digital media and live entertainment. Collectively, UTA agents represent a significant cross-section of today's most acclaimed artists and entertainers, including winners and nominees of Academy, Emmy, Grammy, Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild, Writers Guild, Producers Guild, Golden Globe, People's Choice and Webby awards. The agency is also globally recognized in the areas of film finance, film packaging, corporate consulting, branding & licensing, endorsements and the representation of production talent. UTA also operates New York City-based United Entertainment Group, a joint venture firm focusing on branded entertainment for Fortune 500 companies.
Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor, LLP is a full-service law firm with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, practicing in the areas of intellectual property litigation, business and entertainment litigation, products liability, real estate, business and financial crimes defense, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and creditors, rights, tax and estate planning, and financial services litigation. The firm was recently named one of the best places to work in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
