Earlier this year, NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks Animation — the home of the Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda franchises — for a staggering $3.8 billion. NBCUniversal chief Steve Burke doesn’t care about finally making an Antz sequel, though; he’s more interested in an Antz roller coaster. Okay, maybe Antz isn’t the best example, but according to Deadline, Burke’s goal “is to create characters that will lead to theme park attractions and licensed merchandise.” That will take, he said, “the low-single digit returns of the movie business and turn it into a different kind of business.”
While speaking to investors yesterday, Burke also revealed that Illumination Entertainment, which is owned by NBCUniversal, is working on how to make more Shrek films. (In fact, NBCUniversal wants as many as four new animated movies a year.) That’s good news for Mike Myers’ accountant and the dark part of the internet that makes Shrek memes, and no one else.
“[Chris Meledandri, Illumination founder and CEO] is creatively going to try to help us figure out how to resurrect Shrek and take a lot of the existing DreamWorks franchises and add value as we create new franchises,” Burke said. (Via)
You know what other property falls under the Illumination Entertainment banner? Minions. It’s only a matter of time before Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the Minions team up, Men In Black and 21 Jump Street-style, and take over the world. Or at least take over the grocery section at Walmart. There will be Minions-branded bananas and Tic-Tacs and Shrek Dunkaroos as far as the eye can see. Counting Crows are already working on a song.
“What rhymes with Shrekions?”
(Via Entertainment Weekly)
