Nicktoons to Air Two Marvel Comic-Based Properties

NEW YORK, March 19:
Nicktoons Network will broadcast two new animated series from Marvel
Entertainment: Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man: The Animated Series.

Both series will debut
exclusively on Nicktoons Network in the first quarter of 2009, with 26
half-hour episodes that follow the respective heroes through action, adventure
and drama.

Wolverine and the X-Men is a co-production with Toonz Entertainment and
First Serve International. The story begins as an explosive event shatters the
lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, Professor X. The beaten heroes,
including Beast, Storm, Cyclops and Nightcrawler, walk away from it all but
then they are given a rare glimpse into the future, where they see a world in
utter ruin. They discover the world has spiraled out of control because the
X-Men have given up. So now the most legendary of all X-Men, Wolverine, must
take the lead on the ultimate mission—to prevent the world's destruction.

In Iron Man: The
Animated Series, Tony Stark, heir
to a billion-dollar corporation, lives a life of luxury. But everything goes
horribly wrong when a tragic accident robs Tony of his father and nearly costs
him his own life. Now dependent on his own impressive technology for survival
and dedicated to battling corruption, Tony must reconcile the pressure of
teenage life with the duties of a superhero. The series is a co-production with
France-based Method Films.

Two new major motion
pictures featuring these characters are being readied for the big screen, Iron
Man on May 2, and X-Men
Origins: Wolverine on May 1, 2009.
Paramount Pictures will distribute the Iron Man feature film.

"Nicktoons Network is
first and foremost about showcasing the most creative and unique animation
there is, and this partnership with Marvel is another crucial way to
super-serve our audiences with something fresh and new," said Keith
Dawkins, the senior VP and general manager of Nicktoons Network. "The fact
that these Marvel characters span books, feature films and TV speaks to their
massive appeal. We hope this deal signals to the marketplace and our audience,
particularly boys, that we are the home for big hits and exciting,
adrenaline-fueled animation."

"Nicktoons has a
reputation for delivering some of the highest-quality animation programming to
the youth-entertainment market, and Marvel is thrilled to be joining hands with
such a dynamic channel," said Eric Rollman, the executive VP of animation
and television for Marvel Studios. "Marvel is uniquely positioned to bring
two shows with incredible brand momentum and awareness to this partnership, and
we look forward to being in business with Nicktoons to launch this
programming."

—By Ned Berke