Tag Archives: dmg entertainment

Shadowman Returns to gaming in action-horror adventure Darque Legacy

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Shadowman, the best-selling fan favorite comic series with more than 5 million copies sold, reawakens to explore haunting secrets and voodoo mysticism in Shadowman: Darque Legacy. The all new action-horror game from developer and publisher Blowfish Studios in partnership with comic publisher Valiant Entertainment and their parent company DMG Entertainment will emerge from the darkness on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

As a flagship title for Valiant, the adventures of Jack Boniface and other Shadowmen against the forces of the Deadside have entertained comic readers and gamers alike for decades. First published in 1992, the franchise has garnered such acclaim that it even boasts an officially declared “Shadowman Day” since Jan. 17, 1993. 

As a conspiracy threatens to overrun the realm of the living, Shadowman must contend with horrifying inhuman entities with challenging melee combat. Follow a dark path from the land of the living to the hellish realm of the Deadside as you cross the veil between both. Embody the hero of the dark to traverse the necromantic divide, overcome dastardly obstacles, and silence the terrifying threats lurking within.

Shadowman: Darque Legacy will release in 2024 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

Filmmaker Dan Mintz Acquires Valiant Entertainment

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In the first major news of 2018, filmmaker and DMG Entertainment Founder Dan Mintz has acquired Valiant Entertainment. Valiant’s the third largest universe of superhero characters in entertainment, sitting alongside Warner Bros.’ DC Comics and Disney’s Marvel.

Mintz has held a significant stake in Valiant since 2014. By taking complete ownership of Valiant’s library of over 2,000 characters Mintz increases his library of intellectual property. Valiant’s character’s include X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong, Ninjak, Faith and more.

DMG has an expertise in monetizing in the global marketplace and is positioned to increase Valiant’s IP to a growing global audience including not just comics and movies, but theme parks, gaming, and more.

Current Valiant movie and television projects in development include the previously announced “Bloodshot” and “Harbinger” feature films from Sony Pictures, to be produced in partnership with Original Film; the television show “Quantum and Woody,” produced in partnership with the Russo Brothers’ Getaway Productions; and a Dr. Mirage television series with CBS Studios and The CW Network. Additional feature film projects, including “Shadowman,” “Archer & Armstrong,” “Eternal Warrior,” “X-O Manowar” and others yet to be disclosed publicly, are also well underway.

DMG is valued at more than $6 billion. Mintz has a strong track record when it comes to producing and financing global IP, including Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man 3” and the acclaimed sci-fi thriller “Looper.” Additionally, DMG has produced numerous major motion pictures, including its recent partnership with James Cameron and Studio Canal to reimagine “Terminator 2” in 3-D for global theatrical release. DMG’s upcoming feature films include “Chappaquiddick,” starring Jason Clarke and Kate Mara, and “Blockers,” starring Leslie Mann and John Cena; both films will hit screens worldwide in 2018.

The move has resulted in one immediate change. Dinesh Shamdasani, who acted as CEO, is transitioning out of the company.

Founded in 1989 by Jim Shooter, it was bought in the 90s by Acclaim Entertainment. That purchase too was to use Valiant’s IP in ways other than just comics. However, Acclaim’s business tanked and along with it Valiant. The rights to the characters were eventually picked up by Shamdasani and Jason Kothari and a resurrected company began publishing again in 2012.

Will history repeat itself? Time will tell.

DMG and Valiant to Bring Largest Independent Superhero Universe to Movie Theaters Worldwide

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Valiant-Logo-Red_primary_webValiant Entertainment and DMG Entertainment today announced a new partnership to span motion pictures, television, publishing, and licensing that will culminate in the big screen debut of Valiant’s universe of characters in theaters around the world.

In conjunction with this new partnership, DMG has made an eight-figure (USD) series C round of equity investment into Valiant, which the company will use to further its efforts in international publishing, film, television, licensing and beyond. DMG has dedicated an additional nine-figures (USD) of film financing capital toward the production of theatrical films and television programs based on Valiant’s library of iconic superhero characters.

In total, the new agreement is the first deal of its kind brokered between an internationally based entertainment company and a leading independent publisher of comic books and graphic novels. Utilizing DMG’s expertise in international film development, production, and distribution, Valiant will begin to establish its cinematic universe in the United States, China and beyond. Current Valiant feature films in development include the previously announced Bloodshot from Sony Pictures in partnership with Original Film; Shadowman in partnership with the Sean Daniel Company from a script by J. Michael Straczynski; and Archer & Armstrong, also with the Sean Daniel Company from a script by BenDavid Grabinski; among others. Valiant has also already begun development on several television projects.

VALIANT-UNIVERSE_poster_webThe unprecedented partnership between Valiant and DMG offers both companies the ability to develop and co-produce tent-pole theatrical films for distribution and release simultaneously in the United States, China – the world’s fastest growing film market with more than $4.8 billion in box office receipts in 2014 – and the rest of the world.

Beyond film alone, DMG and Valiant will work in concert to form China-focused licensing partnerships for Valiant’s stable of characters in areas such as Chinese language publishing, animation, online gaming, toys, apparel, live events, theme parks, and more, with a focus on bringing Valiant’s iconic heroes to new audiences in China and Asia-Pacific.

In 2013, the Beijing-based studio and production company co-produced and co-financed Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 – the highest grossing foreign film of 2013 and sixth highest of all time in China­. DMG is currently co-producing high-octane thriller Autobahn, starring Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, Felicity Jones and Nicholas Hoult; and the extreme actioner Point Break, directed by Ericson Core; both films will hit screens worldwide in 2015.

Movie Review – Looper

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LooperI went in to watching my DVD review copy of Looper with a bit of hesitation. I heard a lot about it from friends and saw the praise online. But, when it comes to time travel trippy movies, I find them to be rather hit or miss. I’m often left wondering more about the mechanics of time travel the movie lives by instead of the story presented before me.

In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to ‘close the loop’ by transporting back Joe’s future self.

I sat down with my bowl of popcorn and my soda and turned down the lights not sure what to expect. What I found was an action packed movie that was more a hard boiled noir/crime story instead of a time travel/sci-fi movie. This was a movie whose character development was centered around people sitting or standing around talking, not in the action or bravado they showed.

Directed by Rian Johnson where left to focus on the characters before us and their motivation instead of being distracted by the world they inhabit or that mechanics of time travel. To control our focus like that is impressive for the director who gives us quiet scenes of chatter along with blazing shoot outs. To be able to pull off both and pull us in as an audience is impressive.

The most difficult task of the movie was making us believe Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the younger version of Bruce Willis. The movie really centers around that having us focus on these two same people at different points in their lives. Some small make-up work made Gordon-Levitt look like Willis and the young actors ability to mimic the veteran action star’s familiar patterns is impressive. You could easily believe they’re the same person. Supporting roles by Emily Blunt and Jeff Daniels as Gordon-Levitt’s verbal sparring partner and the mob boss pursing Willis and Gordon-Levitt stand out from a small, but impressive cast. Pierce Gagnon as Cid, the possible target of Willis, is really impressive. At not times does the movie suffer from the child actor, in fact it’s enhanced by his innocence.

I did find some issues with the mechanics of time travel presented in the movie (we’ll get to that in the extras comment) and found myself focused a lot on that after. But, it was explainable to me (though the other person I watched it with had issues as well). The plot was predictable with some slight twists and turns, but nothing super shocked. The movie is all about that acting not the action, something not expected going into watching the film.

The extras on the DVD was sparse with some commentary and deleted scenes. There’s one scene I think does deserve being in the film and it explains time travel a bit better. That extra is very helpful watching after the film. The Blu-Ray has a “The Science of Time Travel Featurette” and additional deleted scenes, but unfortunately that’s not the copy I received, so only able to review what was provided.

Overall, the film is excellent. It lives up to the hype and buzz and I’m a bit pissed I waited so long to watch the film. It might seem like a time travel action film, but it’s really all about the characters and acting. This is a smart-person’s sci-fi film, one who doesn’t care about explosions or action sequences, they care about the performance overall. It’s a pretty tight movie that you have to pay attention to, to really appreciate the small details that added in with the performances make one of the best films of the year.

Looperis out today on Blu-Ray, DVD and Instant Video.

Direction: 8 Acting: 9 Plot: 7.5 Extras: 6 Overall: 8

Graphic Policy was provided with a FREE copy for review