Hasbro, Marvel sign contract extension

PAWTUCKET – Hasbro Inc. announced last week that it will retain the rights through 2017 to toys and games based on new Marvel and Columbia Pictures theatrical releases and on Marvel’s globally popular portfolio of Super Hero brands.
The deal extends Hasbro’s current agreement with Marvel and Spider-Man Merchandising LP, which was slated to end in 2011, and will include franchises such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Avengers, X-Men, Thor and Captain America. The new agreement covers both the “classic” comic book look of the characters as well as product lines inspired by television and films.
In a statement, Hasbro said the license extension guarantees $100 million in royalties with the potential to earn up to an additional $140 million in royalty guarantees, contingent upon the release during the extension period of Marvel character-based films that satisfy certain criteria.
Hasbro is planning the release of its product line for the upcoming film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Other releases this year will be based on Spider-Man, Iron Man, Super Hero Squad and the Marvel Universe. &#8226