Speed Racer, The dark knight, where the wild things are and Harry Potter and the half-blood prince set the stage.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products [WBCP] arrives at this year’s Licensing Show with an unrivaled slate of event films driving its licensing, merchandising and retail business. With theatrical tentpoles Speed Racer, The Dark Knight, Where the Wild Things Are and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on deck for 2008--as well as its strong stable of classic brands and football licensing rounding out the portfolio--WBCP will set the pace in entertainment licensing.

“We’re in an unprecedented position to offer major event films at four key retail timeframes in 2008. We start the summer with Speed Racer, hit mid-summer and head into back-to-school with The Dark Knight. Then we keep our momentum into fall with Where the Wild Things Are and round out the year during the all-important holiday season with the sixth film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products.

Speed Racer
Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed in his quest for glory on and off the track in his thundering Mach 5. The film will feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Speed’s family and his mysterious arch-rival, Racer X. The new high-octane actioner will combine the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers’ films, bringing Speed Racer into the 21st century.

Slated for release on May 9, 2008, Speed Racer is being written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, and produced by Joel Silver. The film marks a reunion for the Wachowski brothers and Silver, who previously worked together on The Matrix trilogy. The film features (in alphabetical order) Matthew Fox (as “Racer X”), John Goodman (as “Pops Racer”), Emile Hirsch (as “Speed”), Christina Ricci (as “Trixie”) and Susan Sarandon (as “Mom Racer”).

Batman - The Dark Knight
Batman (Christian Bale) raises the stakes in his war on crime in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker (Heath Ledger). The Dark Knight releases in theaters July 18, 2008.

Where the wild things are
Where the Wild Things Are follows the adventures of Max, a head-strong young boy who leaves home after having a fight with his mother – only to find himself in a mysterious forest bordering a vast sea. Misunderstood and rebellious, Max sets sail to the land of the Wild Things, where mischief reigns. The live-action adventure film will use a unique process to bring the story to life, incorporating the most dynamic elements of voice performance, live-action puppetry and computer animation. Where the Wild Things Are releases October 3, 2008.

Harry Potter and the half-blood prince
Grossing over $3.5 billion in worldwide box office for the first four movies, the Harry Potter phenomenon has captivated fans of all ages. The summer 2007 release of the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ensures that Harry Potter will continue to captivate with action, magic and adventure. The series will continue with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, slated for release in November 2008.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort wreaks havoc throughout Britain, and the pressure to defeat him grows stronger. Using an old Potions book which previously belonged to the “Half-Blood Prince,” Harry is able to increase his magical knowledge and prepare for battle. First, however, he must help Dumbledore discover the secret to Voldemort’s quest for immortality – the location of his Horcruxes. But the quest for the Horcruxes and the resulting battle at Hogwarts produce a tragic outcome – leading Harry to believe he must head out on his own to conquer the Dark Lord.

Classic characters and films will be at the forefront of Licensing 2007, with Tweety gearing for a big year along with the rest of the Looney Tunes. Beloved franchises including Hanna-Barbera, Scooby-Doo, and Tom & Jerry, along with high-flying DC Super Heroes, Superman and Batman will once again demonstrate that the all-time favorites are here to stay. Timeless classics including Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Caddyshack, The Goonies, Gremlins, The Polar Express, Frosty the Snowman, and A Christmas Story will also be highlighted at the show.

Additionally, WBCP will continue to underscore leadership in the arena of football licensing as 2008 program initiatives will be on display, included among them: the European Teams AC Milan, FC Barcelona, Juventus FC, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, The UEFA Champions League, The EURO 2008 and The Mexico National Team, São Paulo Football Club and Club America in Mexico.

WBCP has more than 3,700 active licensees worldwide. With 26 offices and agents representing more than 100 countries in key regions throughout the world, including Latin America, Asia and Europe, WBCP maintains an ongoing commitment to expand and build the power of its core brands' recognition in the international marketplace - through strong and creative merchandising, promotional marketing and retail programs.

Contact
Katrin Hundhausen, Tel: 040 22650 420, katrin.hundhausen@warnerbros.com.