Universal Pictures and Stuber Prods. have signed a deal with children’s entertainment company Spin Master Ltd. to produce a feature film based on the popular strategic game and anime series Bakugan Battle Brawlers. A hot seller this holiday season, Bakugan Battle Brawlers is a collectible game featuring marble-like balls that transform into powerful monsters when rolled on game cards. The anime series airs six days a week on Cartoon Network and is continually a top-ten show for the network.
Ronnen Harary of Spin Master Ltd. is producing the film along with Scott Stuber from Stuber Prods. Donna Langley and Jeff Kirschenbaum are overseeing for Universal. Exec producer Jon Mone of Stuber Prods. brought the property to the studio through Mike Drake, who was an exec producer on the upcoming Universal release Repossession Mambo, a sci-fi thriller starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker.
‘I am very excited to collaborate with Spin Master to bring its unique property to the screen,’ says Stuber. ‘Bakugan has all the elements of a great movie and is already adored by fans across the globe.”
Nelvana Enterprises is producing an additional 26 episodes of Bakugan. Dubbed Bakugan: New Vestroia, the new season will be ready for air in the spring of 2009. The series features animation by TMS Ent. and follows Dan, Marucho and Drago as they join forces with the Bakugan Resistance in order to restore peace and freedom to their enslaved planet. The newly formed group of friends must battle the evil Vestal to free the captured Bakugan and destroy the Vestal’s plans for domination.
Universal recently released the Stuber Prods.’ David Wain-directed comedy Role Models, starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott. The company is currently in production on director Peter Billingsley’s comedy Couples Retreat starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman and Jon Favreau, who also wrote the script.
