Cartoon Network Signs With Silver Pictures to Develop BEN 10 Feature Film

ATLANTA, June 14, 2011 – Cartoon Network has signed an agreement with acclaimed producer Joel Silver and Silver Pictures to develop a live-action motion picture for its globally successful animated action-adventure property, BEN 10, it was announced today by Stuart Snyder, president and COO of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division (AYAKM).  The movie, which will be produced by Silver, along with Dark Castle Entertainment co-presidents, Steve Richards and Andrew Rona, gives Silver and his production company the exclusive rights to develop and package the property and advance it towards a theatrical production.

“I cannot think of anyone better suited than Joel Silver to develop a theatrical action-driven adventure based on our BEN 10 franchise,” said Snyder.  “As a producer of mega-hit movie franchises like, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon andThe Matrix, to thesuccesses ofSherlock Holmes and The Book of Eli, Joel has both the passion and movie-making know-how to turn BEN 10 into a spectacular theatrical experience for our fans.”

“In BEN 10, Cartoon Network has built a property that is loved across the world,” said Silver. “It has a fun premise with a great leading character that lends itself to the big screen and I am looking forward to seeing how we can take it to the next level.”

Created by Man of Action (Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, Steve Seagle), the series about a boy (Ben Tennyson) who discovers a strange wrist watch that allows him to transforms into 10 different aliens with super powers, premiered on Cartoon Network in January 2006 and quickly became a global hit, reaching more than 165 countries.  With these powers, Ben can play the part of a superhero, righting wrongs, saving the world and getting into some old-fashioned kid-style trouble.  A #1 hit for the network on Saturday mornings, the Ben 10 saga continued to expand as a series, first with Ben 10: Alien Force in April 2008 and then with Ben 10: Ultimate Alien in spring 2010, now airing on Friday nights.

Joel Silver is credited with practically reinventing the action film genre in the 1980s.  In 1985 he formed Silver Pictures and continued producing hit action films such as Commando (1985), the Lethal Weapon franchise, the first two films of the Die Hard franchise and The Matrix trilogy.  Recent projects include Sherlock Holmes (2009) and the upcoming films Project X and Logan’s Run.