January 18, 2005

World Wrestling Entertainment Launches WWE Films

According to Business Wire, Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment and Stone Cold Steve Austin have come to an agreement for a three-picture deal under the WWE Films banner. The new division is slated to produce 2-4 films a year in-house. Distribution and home video plans have not yet been disclosed.

According to WWE Films Producer Joel Simon, the company will leverage its entire product line to market action and horror flicks to its extensive male fan base:

WWE's investment in its film products will include using all its various media platforms and marketing expertise to promote these films to the public. "There is a synergy within WWE that allows us to put our entire marketing and media infrastructure behind the opening of a WWE movie," stated Simon. "We can promote our movies within our television programming, at our more than 325 annual live events, on the internet, and in our two magazines, "Smackdown" and "Raw", as well as in our many home video and DVD offerings in order to expose our movies to the huge global WWE audience."

Is that the confident, bellicose swagger of a a pro wrestler or a Hollywood exec? We'll see if Hollywood tag-teams 'em or not. They're paying close attention though, since they've been milking the wrestling audience goldmine for years - just check out the WWE site to see the 'Friday Night Lights' ads plastered everywhere to get a taste.

Stone Cold Goes Hollywood!!!

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