FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT TO PRODUCE COMIC BOOK SERIES AND A LINE OF COLLECTIBLES BASED ON SERGIO LEONE'S CLASSIC ‘DOLLARS' FILM TRILOGY RUNNEMEDE, N.J., August 7, 2007 - Dynamite Entertainment and MGM Consumer Products have signed a new agreement to bring back the "Man With No Name," immortalized on the big screen through the films Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Through this agreement, Dynamite Entertainment will create a new comic book series based on the squinty, gun slinging, anti-hero portrayed in Sergio Leone's epic "Dollars" trilogy. After the launch of the comic book series, Dynamite plans to roll out a line of fine art and posters, action figures, trading cards, statues and other high-end collectibles based on the character. In making the announcement, Dynamite's President, Nick Barrucci stated: "This is an incredible opportunity and an absolute honor. This character and these films have become part of American popular culture. The protagonist "Man With No Name" (also known as Joe and Blondie) set the groundwork for a multitude of future characters which will appear in this series. The whole concept of the "Man With No Name" is quite fascinating, even for fans who are not familiar with the Sergio Leone ‘Dollar Trilogy.'" The new comic book series will explore the rough, western adventures of the "Man With No Name" during the time of the American Civil War (1861-1865) in the untamed Southwestern region of New Mexico. In addition to the capitalizing on the characters' adventures featured in Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, the comic book creators will also introduce new stories as well. "MGM Consumer Products continues to seek new ways of licensing many of the classic films that reside in the studio's 4,200 plus film library," said Travis Rutherford, executive vice president of MGM Consumer Products. "This new partnership with Dynamite provides the ability for the studio to introduce the classic and iconic ‘Man With No Name' film star and Sergio Leone's classic "Dollars" film trilogy to a new generation." In each of the three films, the character is considered an outsider or even an outlaw, and usually works as a mercenary or bounty hunter. The character is identifiable by his signature serape, lambskin vest and hat, and carries a silver cobra-shaped plate on the handle of his gun. He is characteristically soft-spoken and laconic, speaking only when necessary, with as few words as possible. About the Films in the Trilogy
The "Man With No Name" first appeared in Sergio Leone's western A Fistful of Dollars (1964), which was the first film of the Spaghetti Western genre to be released in the United States. The mysterious gunman, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, has just arrived in San Miguel, a grim, dusty border town where two rival bands of smugglers are terrorizing the impoverished citizens. A master of the "quick-draw," the stranger soon receives offers of employment from each gang. His loyalty cannot be bought; he accepts both jobs and sets up a plan in motion to destroy both groups, pitting one against the other in a series of brilliantly orchestrated set-ups, showdowns and deadly confrontations. For a Few Dollars More (1965), the second film of the trilogy, the "Man With No Name" works as a bounty hunter on the trail of one of the most wanted fugitives in the western territories, El Indio. The story exemplifies the character's willingness to be motivated by justice as well as money. The character's next and final portrayal appeared in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). The movie involves the dramatic tale of three men seeking a fortune in buried coins with none of them knowing the exact location of the coins. The climax of the film features an exhilarating showdown as the three treasure hunters face each other. About Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling titles and properties. In addition to the ongoing Red Sonja and Scream Award winning Army Of Darkness series, DYNAMITE publishes both new and classic Battlestar Galactica, the Eisner Award-nominated Lone Ranger, Highlander, Xena, Savage Tales, Terminator 2, Painkiller Jane, Zorro, Raise the Dead and many more, including the just-announced collaboration with award-winning artist Alex Ross: Superpowers Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and continually places more titles in the sales charts than any other comic publisher outside of Marvel Comics and DC Comics! For updated information on Dynamite Entertainment and their titles, please visit the Dynamite website at www.dynamiteentertainment.com About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., Ventanazul, MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
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