Platinum Studios (PDOS)

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Andrew Lazar, Platinum Studios and Top Cow Productions to Bring Comic Book Series "VICE" to the Big Screen marketwire


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - 02/03/11) - Producer Andrew Lazar, Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Platinum Studios, Inc. (OTC.BB:PDOS - News), an entertainment company that controls an international library of more than 5,000 comic book characters which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media, have partnered to bring Top Cow's comic book series VICE to the big screen.

VICE tells the story of a group of hard-core teenage felons who get a shot at clearing their records by joining the FBI's Critical Response Unit (CRU). But with bad attitudes and formidable powers, the CRU might be just as dangerous as the bad guys they're after. The comic book series, first published in 2005, was created by Matt Hawkins, President of Top Cow Productions, Inc.

Lazar will produce with Platinum Studios' Chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Former Universal Pictures senior executive Randy Greenberg of The Greenberg Group, who negotiated the deal, would be an executive producer as would Hawkins and Top Cow's Marc Silversti.

"VICE is a great foundation with which to build a great film," said Lazar. "The landscape is rich with characters, events and opportunities to show off young talent and fantastic visual effects."

"Andrew Lazar understands how to blend live action and CGI into great story telling," said Platinum's Rosenberg. "The world of VICE is in great hands!"

"VICE has always been a passion project of mine and when Platinum and ICM connected us with Andrew Lazar -- the rare alignment of the right person for the right project happened!" said Hawkins.

VICE is a Top Cow Productions, Inc. property licensed to Platinum Studios and is just one of the properties Platinum Studios controls among a multi-universe library of over 5,000 comic characters. While other large comics-based libraries are already spoken for, Platinum Studios remains independent of major entertainment studio affiliation. Marvel was acquired last year by Disney for $4 billion, and is the second major comic library to be acquired by a Hollywood studio. DC Comics, which is owned by Warner Bros., recently announced a newly-revamped business model, focusing on reaching deeper into DC's catalog of characters.

Platinum Studios' film and TV division is in post-production on "Cowboys & Aliens" with executive producer Steven Spielberg and producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer at Imagine Entertainment and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci at Kurtzman/Orci and studios DreamWorks, Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and is in the final stages of post-production on the independently financed feature, "Dylan Dog: Dead of Night" with partners Hyde Park Entertainment and Omnilab Media. In addition, Platinum is developing "Unique" with "Harry Potter" producer David Heyman at Walt Disney Pictures, an untitled feature film project at Sony Pictures Animation, "Nightfall" with producer William Stuart and director James Wan, "Blood Nation" with producer Alexandra Milchan. In addition, Platinum Studios is developing "MetaDocs" for TV with Syfy, FremantleMedia and Landscape Entertainment.

About Platinum Studios, Inc.

Platinum Studios (OTC.BB:PDOS - News) is an entertainment company that controls an international library of comic book characters from all over the world, which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media including print, film, online, mobile / wireless, gaming, and merchandising.
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Mad Chance/Andrew LAZAR (Producer) -- Biography

In 1995, Andrew Lazar formed Mad Chance, starting with "10 Things I Hate About You," with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.

Recent features include, "Get Smart," starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, "Cats & Dogs Revenge of Kitty Galore," "Jonah Hex," and "I Love You Phillip Morris." Mad Chance has previously produced projects including "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," directed by George Clooney, "Catch That Kid," starring Kristen Stewart, Clint Eastwood's "Space Cowboys," and the Wachowski brothers' directorial debut, "Bound," amongst many others.

Upcoming for Andrew is a live-action remake of AKIRA, as well as THE GUNSLINGER, which he is making with New Regency.

About Top Cow Productions, Inc.

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist/creator Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry's Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT's #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow's other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow's other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games. To learn more about the company, please visit our website at www.topcow.com

Platinum Studios Safe Harbor Statement
Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Although expected, actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of Platinum Studios and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting Platinum Studios and its operations; its markets, products, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently, and other factors detailed in reports filed by Platinum Studios with the SEC.
Contact:



Contact:
Randy Greenberg
The Greenberg Group for Platinum Studios, Inc.
[phone]
[e-mail]
Filip Sablik
Top Cow Productions, Inc.
310-282-8062
[e-mail]

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