WWE Renames Filmed-Entertainment Division

STAMFORD, July
22: World Wrestling Entertainment is renaming its Los Angeles-based subsidiary
WWE Films as WWE Studios, reflecting the division’s mandate to develop
entertainment across theatrical features, direct-to-DVD movies, scripted TV
movies and series and reality programming.

“The name change reflects
our focus on expanding the variety of projects that WWE intends to pursue,”
said Michael Lake, the president of WWE Studios. “WWE Studios will continue to
pursue opportunities which expand the integration of the WWE brand and its
Superstars into filmed entertainment.”

Upcoming releases for WWE
Studios includes WWE Superstar John Cena’s latest theatrical film, 12 Rounds, in early 2009. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film
will be released by 20th Century Fox under the WWE first-look deal with Fox
Atomic. WWE Studios, in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment,
also will debut its first direct-to-DVD film, Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia, starring WWE Superstar Mr. Kennedy. Since the
subsidiary’s formal inception in 2002, WWE has produced three motion pictures: See
No Evil, The Condemned and The Marine.

—By Mansha Daswani