At this year’s Licensing Expo, Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced some merchandise deals that we will be seeing in the future to tie in to their current and future television properties based on DC Entertainment, including The CW’s Flash, iZombie, and Arrow, FOX’s Gotham, and NBC’s Constantine.
Here’s a press release with more details:
WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS SHOWCASES DC ENTERTAINMENT AND WARNER BROS. TELEVISION PRIMETIME TELEVISION SLATE AT LICENSING EXPO 2014
All-New Warner Bros. Television Programming Arsenal Featuring DC Comics and Vertigo Titles to Ignite Multi-Category Licensing Opportunities
Burbank, Calif. – June 16, 2014 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), on behalf of Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) and DC Entertainment, is thrilled to swoop into Licensing Expo 2014 with a powerhouse slate of primetime TV licensing offerings based on DC Comics’ and Vertigo’s pantheon of characters. Bringing fresh and innovative programming to fans, WBTV’s new DC Comics–based series “The Flash,” “Gotham,” “Constantine” and returning hit “Arrow,” along with new Vertigo-based series “iZOMBIE” will feature storylines and characters that will inspire an array of new products from licensing partners in every category.
“On the heels of another successful season of ‘Arrow,’ WBCP is excited to introduce to its licensing partners an unparalleled, new slate of content that will cater to audiences looking for smart and inventive programming that explores a wide range of DC Comics and Vertigo characters,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Each new show stars an atypical hero who may not be conventional, but whose fight for justice will resonate with fans and licensees alike.”
“Consumer desire for sophisticated and entertaining genre programming continues to be incredibly strong, and Warner Bros. Television’s commitment to leadership in this area is clear, with five series based upon DC Entertainment properties set to air on network television next season,” said Lisa Gregorian, Chief Marketing Officer, Warner Bros. Television Group. “These signature shows will provide the foundation for consumer products offerings that will give fans a variety of ways to connect with their favorite characters and programs.”
“It’s an exciting time to be a comic book fan with five very distinct DC Entertainment shows slated for the coming TV season,” stated DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. “From the supernatural feel of Constantine to Gotham’s gritty take on big city crime, we look forward to bringing characters and stories from these shows to life in new ways.”
The all-new DC Comics-inspired WBTV programming lineup being showcased by WBCP during Licensing Expo 2014 includes:
“Arrow”
The #1 series on The CW among Total Viewers, “Arrow” is scheduled to return to television this fall for its third season. A one-hour drama based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow, the hit program is a domestic and international success, particularly with Men 18-34 and 18-49. After being marooned for five years on a remote island, billionaire Oliver Queen comes home with a mysterious agenda and lethal new skills to fight crime in Starling City. Oliver creates the persona of Arrow, a vigilante, to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society and restore Starling City to its former glory. Among the licensees already supporting “Arrow” are master toy licensee Mattel, and global partners such as Rubie’s Costume Co. and Bioworld, among others.
“Gotham”
Before there was Batman, there was “Gotham.” The origin story of some of DC Comics greatest Super-Villains and vigilantes, this one hour drama follows the rise to power of Detective Jim Gordon (series star Ben McKenzie – “Southland”) in a dangerously corrupt city that would spawn iconic characters such as The Penguin, Catwoman, The Riddler and a young Bruce Wayne. Coming to FOX Mondays 8/7c this fall, the “Gotham” pilot was written by Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”) and directed by Danny Cannon (“CSI” series, “Nikita”), both of whom serve as executive producers of the series along with John Stephens (“Gossip Girl,” “The O.C.”).
“The Flash”
Speeding to audiences on The CW Tuesdays 8/7c this fall, this lightning-paced super hero drama from the creative team behind the action hit “Arrow” follows the high-speed adventures of the Fastest Man Alive. After an unexpected accident at a Particle Accelerator, police scientist and everyday guy Barry Allen (series star Grant Gustin – “Arrow”) finds himself suddenly charged with the ability to move at incredible speeds, which he uses to help the people of Central City. “The Flash” pilot was written by Greg Berlanti (“Arrow”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Arrow”) and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, and was directed by David Nutter (“Arrow,” “Game of Thrones”).
“Constantine”
Premiering Friday, October 24, at 10/9c on NBC, “Constantine” is a drama about DC Comics character John Constantine, is a man waging war against the forces of darkness. An irreverent con-man and occult expert, he doesn’t come down on the side of either good or evil … but ultimately might be the only thing defending us against the dark forces from beyond. “Constantine” is executive produced by Daniel Cerone (“The Mentalist,” “Dexter”) and David S. Goyer (“Man of Steel,” “The Dark Knight” trilogy). The pilot was directed by Neil Marshall (“The Descent”), with teleplay by Cerone and story by Cerone & Goyer.
“iZOMBIE”
Based on characters published by DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, “iZOMBIE” follows a medical resident turned zombie (Rose McIver – “Masters of Sex,” “Once Upon a Time”) who works in a coroner’s office for access to the brains she must reluctantly eat, but with each brain she consumes, she inherits the corpse’s memories. With her medical examiner boss and a police detective, she now solves homicides to quiet the voices in her head. This new one-hour drama from executive producers/writers Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright (both “Veronica Mars”) comes to The CW in midseason. Thomas & Ruggiero-Wright co-wrote the pilot, which Thomas directed, and they both serve as executive producers of the series along with Danielle Stokdyk and Dan Etheridge (both “Veronica Mars”).
“Arrow,” “Gotham,” “The Flash,” and “Constantine” are based on characters from DC Comics. “iZombie” is based on the characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred for Vertigo.
