MGM Ties Up with Evolution USA & JW Brand Consulting for NZ, Oz

Evolution USA, along with its local Australasia partner, JW Brand Consulting, have been named licensing and brand management agency for Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s (MGM) portfolio in Australia and New Zealand.

Under the partnership, JW Brand will secure local partners in all key categories, including apparel, accessories, footwear, stationery, publishing, gifts, novelty, home, auto accessories, toys and collectibles, for the MGM brands. It will also be exploring additional opportunities that leverage MGM’s movies, TV titles and characters.

JW Brand Consulting will oversee all in-territory licensing sales and retail development efforts, with Evolution managing the local client interface and providing all back office operational support including, legal and contract management, finance and accounting, royalty reporting and collections, product approvals and brand compliance across the MGM portfolio.

MGM titles that are part of the pact include the Pink Panther character brand; the complete Rocky franchise, including Creed I and II starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone; Tomb Raider, starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, as well as television series such as Vikings, Get Shorty and Teen Wolf.

“Having the opportunity to work with MGM on some of the most iconic and beloved intellectual properties in film and television history, as well as bringing a fresh point of view to two of the most well recognized animated character brands, is going to be a very fun and rewarding project for all involved,” said Travis J. Rutherford, chief revenue officer at Evolution USA.

“We are looking forward to working with the team at Evolution USA and JW Brand Consulting as we expand our theatrical and television portfolio and bring new licensing and retail initiatives to the Australasia market,” said Tricia Samuels Laudisa, VP of global licensing at MGM.