Miramax has hot date with
Archie's gal pals

Comics co. to enter film, tv realm with live action pic

Miramax Films made a preemptive deal with Archie Comics Entertainment to team on "Betty & Veronica," a live-action film based on the blond and brunette sirens from the 60-year-old comic series.

The pic will be the first live actioner done on the venerable strip on the Riverdale high school kids.

It is also the first step for Archie Comics Entertainment to try to emulate the recent screen success of Marvel Entertainment, which has hatched numerous franchise films from its comic book characters.

"We had offers from four studios, but right before we headed to L.A. we went with Miramax because they showed the focus, the understanding and the marketing potential for the first ever live action film from the Archies gang," said Archie Comics Entertainment prexy Allan I. Grafman.

Grafman recently banded with CEO Chuck Grimes and Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater to hatch a company designed to make movies and merchandising opportunities from a comics catalog that includes "Sabrina The Teenage Witch," "Josie and the Pussycats," "Kate Keene, Teen Model" and Mighty Crusaders."

Grafman said they are exploring feature or TV deals for each of those properties, but wanted the Archie film to kick things off.

"This was a huge first step for our company, it is the flagship brand," he said. "Miramax has made a substantial financial commitment to the movie, and will be our partner in merchandising from the start. We believe this has unlimited potential for the youth market, and it has been kept off the market until now." Grimes will produce the pic, Grafman will be exec producer and Silberkleit and Goldwater will be associate producers.

For Miramax, the deal marks another effort to engage film friendly fare. The studio has stepped up its commitment in that direction, with "The Green Hornet" and "Artemis Fowl." Studio's Michelle Raimo and Meryl Poster will oversee production.

© Copyright 2003, Reed Business Information,
a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. © 2003 Variety, Inc.

MIRAMAX AND ARCHIE COMICS TO CO-PRODUCE
LIVE ACTION THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURE BASED ON
COMIC BOOK ICONS BETTY & VERONICA

Deal Marks First Theatrical Feature Tie In To The
Original Core Characters From Archie Comics

Miramax Films and Archie Comics Entertainment LLC are teaming up to co-produce a major live action theatrical motion picture based on the popular comic book icons BETTY & VERONICA. The announcement was made today by Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein and Archie Comics Entertainment President Allan I. Grafman.

"The demand for youth-oriented entertainment based on well-known character properties continues to soar in the feature marketplace," said Harvey Weinstein. "With more than six decades of unparalleled success in the teen marketplace, Betty, Veronica, Archie, Jughead and the rest of the original Riverdale characters have all the elements to become a highly successful film franchise."

"We are delighted to join forces with Miramax for the production of BETTY & VERONICA," said Allan Grafman, President of Archie Comics Entertainment. "Harvey Weinstein and his Miramax executive team demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm for the project along with an impressive understanding of the property's full potential across film, television, live stage and all other media."

CEO Chuck Grimes will oversee the production on behalf of Archie Comics Entertainment and Grafman will serve as an executive producer. Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater will serve as associate producers.

Michelle Raimo, senior vice president of production and development, will oversee the production on behalf of Miramax, with Meryl Poster, co-president of production.

Charles Layton, executive vice president, office of the co-chairmen, and Timothy Schmidt, vice president of business and legal affairs, negotiated the agreement on behalf of Miramax. Grimes and Grafman negotiated on behalf of Archie Comics Entertainment.

The announcement of the motion picture based on the perennially popular teen duo BETTY & VERONICA comes only four months after Archie Comics Entertainment was co-founded as the entertainment and licensing arm of leading comic book publisher Archie Comic Publications, Inc. by Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater along with Grimes and Grafman.

The Archie characters first appeared in an Archie comic book published in 1941. More than 60 years later, Betty, Veronica, Archie, Jughead and friends remain a staple of entertainment for readers the world over with timeless tales of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of teenagers. Role models to millions, Betty & Veronica, Archie and Jughead have come to represent the fads, fashions and attitudes of contemporary youth.

ABOUT ARCHIE COMICS ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Archie Comics Entertainment LLC was established in 2003 as the entertainment and licensing arm of Archie Comic Publications, home of the world renowned character properties Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and their Riverdale friends, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats and Katy Keene, as well as super hero properties Mighty Crusaders including The Web. With offices in metro New York, Archie Comics Entertainment is involved in the development, production and worldwide distribution of original projects for television, film and home video, music, live events and the Internet as well as represents the licensing and merchandising of its enduring brands across all global markets. Archie Comics Entertainment is on the Web at www.archiecomics.com.

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CONTACT: SSA Public Relations
Los Angeles: Steve Syatt (818) 501-0700
New York: Robin Lawson (212) 679-4750

Miramax Films: Matthew Hiltzik (212) 625-2222