[Warning: This story contains spoilers for Tuesday’s midseason finale of Agents of SHIELD, “What They Become.”]
Agents of SHIELD is stepping up to the big leagues in a major way. Tuesday’s midseason finale revealed that Skye (Chloe Bennet) isn’t quite human.
Hero Ventures, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, announced today that technical elements for “The Marvel Experience,” an epic-scale, immersive adventure experience in which guests step into and interact with the world of Marvel’s Super Heroes and Super Villains, are being led by entertainment event technology and service provider, Production Resource Group (PRG).
“The Marvel Experience has evolved into an amazing, premier touring experience, complete with unique technical elements such as 3D 360˚ video projection, first-person ‘live’ interactive gaming and a dynamic 4D motion ride. It became apparent early on that we needed an elite team of seasoned professionals in entertainment production that could offer us real solutions to help execute our complex vision – that’s why we went to PRG,” said Hero Ventures’ Chief Production Officer, Jason Rosen.
The team assembled by Jim Lehner, PRG senior Vice President, Special Projects, and Duke Durfee, PRG Creative Director and Design Manager, will be handling all the coordination and supervision of the design and construction for the project. While The Marvel Experience’s technical requirements pose a unique set of challenges, PRG’s global reputation has been built on its ability to bring innovative solutions to a wide range of projects including Broadway’s groundbreaking Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Olympic Opening & Closing ceremonies, key elements of Universal Studios’ Harry Potter attraction, Super Bowl Halftime Shows and an exhaustive list of global concert tours.
While the follow-up to this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy still may be undergoing the writing process, James Gunn, who’s returning to helm the sequel, can make one promise about the second installment: it won’t be more of the same.
How big is Avengers: Infinity War, the two-movie event from Marvel Studios that will begin with 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War Part 1? If you ask Josh Brolin, who plays the story’s villain, Thanos, the answer appears to be “very big indeed.”
If Marvel superheroes the Avengers, X-Men and Spider-Man all teamed up for a film, it would probably break box office records. Unfortunately, all three are owned by separate studios, and so the comic fan dream has long remained exactly that.
Kabam, the leader in the western world for free-to-play games for traditional players, today announced an extended collaboration with Marvel Entertainment to create a second forthcoming free-to-play game based on Super Heroes in the Marvel Universe.
The two companies first started working together on Marvel Contest of Champions, a fighting game being released on mobile devices in December 2014. Marvel Contest of Champions had its first-look unveiling at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year, and its first hands-on demo with fans at the Marvel booth at New York Comic-Con this past October. Marvel Contest of Champions is being developed in Kabam’s Vancouver studio.
This second collaboration will be a mobile role-playing game developed by Kabam’s San Francisco studio. As with Marvel Contest of Champions, it will bring some of Marvel’s most beloved characters to life with an anticipated release on mobile devices in the fall of 2015. The second Marvel game will be created by the same team responsible for Kabam’s hit games Castle Age and Underworld Empire.
“The Marvel brand represents some of the most iconic and loved characters in the history of action entertainment,” said Kent Wakeford, COO of Kabam. “Marvel continues to dominate the box office with mega hit after mega hit, and we at Kabam look forward to extending Marvel’s universe into a blockbuster mobile game.”
“Marvel Interactive is continuing our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality games for mobile devices by expanding on our relationship with Kabam,” says Peter Phillips, EVP/GM of Interactive & Digital Distribution, Marvel Entertainment. “Kabam’s development teams do a great job of creating original, true-to-character gameplay experiences which supports that commitment.”
Hero Ventures, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, announced today that Los Angeles Lakers legend and NBA 2-Time Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined the team as an investor and Board Member for The Marvel Experience. He joins an accomplished Board that includes, among others, Michael Cohl, Steve Tisch, Stanley Gold, Jere Harris, Maurice Marciano, Basil DeVito of the WWE and Company founders Rick Licht and Doug Schaer.
The Marvel Experience’s massive Dome complex launches January 10, 2015 in Dallas, Texas following a preview beginning next month on December 19th in Phoenix, Arizona. The singular story line running through the Experience will engage guests for two hours or more in an adventure unlike anything ever before produced. This first-of-its-kind premier touring experience features a dynamic 4D motion ride, the world’s only 360-degree Stereoscopic 3D Dome, a wide range of technologically advanced interactive and immersive elements, state-of-the-art projection techniques and dozens of Marvel’s most popular Super Heroes.
Earvin Johnson is not only an accomplished athlete but also a very successful businessman and philanthropist. His vast business achievements include co-ownership of key sports and entertainment properties, Los Angeles Dodgers, LA Sparks and LA Football Club. Johnson brings a wealth of business knowledge and marketing across multiple industries, and charitable experience to Hero Ventures.
“The Marvel Experience is a traveling destination that not only provides unique high quality entertainment for families and fans of all ages but will create jobs in each city that it visits,” said Johnson. “I’m excited to partner with Hero Ventures and bring this affordable entertainment option around the world; specifically to ethnically diverse communities that over-index as followers of the Marvel Super Heroes. Growing up watching the Hulk as my favorite Marvel character, and this opportunity to work with a team of business all-stars, made this partnership an easy decision.”
“We always felt like there was a bit of ‘magic’ in The Marvel Experience, and now it’s official! From unparalleled success on the basketball court to unparalleled success in the business world – Magic Johnson has done it all at the highest level,” said Rick Licht, Hero Ventures CEO. “When you look at our Board and partners that we’ve assembled for The Marvel Experience, there aren’t very many people who can measure up to our team, but Magic is in a class by himself and, just like when he played, he does everything possible to make everyone on our team better.”
Executive Producer Michael Cohl stated: “Magic Johnson stands for greatness in every way possible. We are thrilled that he is joining The Marvel Experience team. I look forward to working with him again. It’s going to be great to take a Step Into Hyper Reality with him on board.” Steve Tisch, the first investor in Hero Ventures, added, “I have cheered for Magic the player…and known Magic the executive, Magic the philanthropist, and Magic my friend over the past few decades. No matter what role he is playing, he has continually proven his expertise. We are excited to welcome our own ‘modern day Super Hero’ to our Board to help us build this franchise of the future – The Marvel Experience.”
“Hero Ventures has done a fantastic job in assembling the best and the brightest for this unique experience. Adding Magic, who has a proven track record on and off the court, is a coup in itself and adds even more excitement and credibility to this venture,” said Marvel Studios Senior VP Business Development Benjamin Hung.
The Marvel Experience lands in Phoenix on December 19, 2014 and runs through January 3, 2015, before the Domes move on to Dallas on January 10, 2015 followed by San Diego and San Francisco, with more cities to be announced shortly. Tickets are available both at Ticketmaster.com and at www.themarvelexperiencetour.com/tickets.
We have some awesome clips from the bonus features below as a sneak peek.
Bonus Clip: Bloopers Dance Off
Deleted Scene: The Kyln Will Have To Do
Bonus Clip: James Gunn’s Aesthetic Vision
Bonus Clip: Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon
Bonus Clip: Benicio Del Toro as the Collector
Bonus Clip: Music from the Morag Scene
In Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. we know a blue alien has been seen. His blood was used in a serum to help bring back Phil Coulson when he died. The serum had a strange effect on Coulson.
Marvel’s Phase 3 Timeline was released via their twitter account. Check out the dates and movies scheduled for release.
