Rovio preps Angry Birds movie

Finnish game developer Rovio Entertainment is to produce and finance an Angry Birds 3D animated movie for release in 2016 as the business accelerates plans to turn its poplar video game series into an entertainment franchise.

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Video game developer to fund and produce Angry Birds movie outside of the studio system to retain creative control.

The developer has hired “Despicable Me’ producer John Cohen to oversee the project alongside former chairman of Marvel Studios David Maisel, who will serve as the movie’s executive producer.

The developer intends to create the film outside of the studio system meaning that it will retain full creative control of the project. It will look to emulate the model Marvel Studios uses to produce its own highly successful run of films.

Mikael Hed, chief executive of Rovio, says: “With John’s hands-on producer background and David´s expertise in establishing and running his own successful studio, these two are the dream team for making a movie outside the studio system. Both professionals have the ideal skills and vision to achieve incredible things.”

Rovio has already experimented with bringing the game’s characters to the small screen with a series of cartoons originally airing on Nicktoons earlier this year.

The game has also generated other spin-offs since it launched in 2009 including an Angry Birds Star Wars game, toys, books, t-shirts and a tie-up with Dreamworks’ film Rio. Earlier, this year Finnish food business Fazer launched a range of Angry Birds sweets in the UK. Fans can also visit the Angry Birds theme park in Finland.

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