Joel Silver to Develop Live-Action Ben 10 Feature Film

ATLANTA: The Cartoon Network megahit franchise Ben 10 is being developed into a live-action theatrical feature film by Joel Silver and Silver Pictures.

The deal grants Silver and his production company the exclusive rights to develop and package the property and advance it towards a theatrical production. Silver will produce, together with Steve Richards and Andrew Rona, the co-presidents of Dark Castle Entertainment.

Announcing the pact, Stuart Snyder, the president and COO of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division (AYAKM), commented, "I cannot think of anyone better suited than Joel Silver to develop a theatrical action-driven adventure based on our Ben 10 franchise. As a producer of megahit movie franchises like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon and The Matrix, to the successes of Sherlock Holmes and The Book of Eli, Joel has both the passion and movie-making know-how to turn Ben 10 into a spectacular theatrical experience for our fans."

The show, created by Man of Action (Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, Steve Seagle), premiered on Cartoon Network in 2006 and has been a hit for the network across the globe. The series continued with Ben 10: Alien Force in April 2008 and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien in spring 2010, and has spawned an extensive L&M business. The franchise also includes two live-action TV movies, web games and the award-winning Ben 10 Alien Force Game Creator.

"In Ben 10, Cartoon Network has built a property that is loved across the world," said Silver. "It has a fun premise with a great leading character that lends itself to the big screen and I am looking forward to seeing how we can take it to the next level."