Latest news with #StanLee
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kartoon Studios Q1 2025 Revenue Soars 56% Over Prior Year - Company on Track for Profit By End of Year
Mainframe Animation Unit Achieves Profitability, with Revenue up 138% Over Prior Year Quarter and 29% Sequentially Joining Kartoon Channel! and Beacon Media Profitable Units Four Straight Quarters of Growth, Zero Long-Term Debt, Profitable Animation Studio (Mainframe), Profitable Kids Streaming Service (Kartoon Channel!), and Valuable IP Projects Set the Stage for Investor Value Creation BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kartoon Studios (NYSE American: TOON) today announced results for the first quarter of 2025, showcasing strong revenue growth, continuing improving margins, and disciplined cost control – all accelerating the Company's progress toward overall profitability by year-end. Q1 2025 Financial Highlights: Total Revenue up 56.4% year-over-year Production Services Revenue up 137.9% Operating Loss improved by 51.1% YoY and 11.9% sequentially G&A expenses reduced by 24.9% Mainframe Studios and Kartoon Channel! achieved profitability in the quarter fueled by revenue growth Why Kartoon Studios Is Poised for Investor Growth: 56% YoY revenue growth and four consecutive quarters of topline gains Profitable, cash-generating studio: Mainframe Studios, with 90%+ of 2025 budget revenue already under contract Profitable Kids streaming service: Kartoon Channel! U.S. streamer service continues to grow and remains the #1 viewer-ranked kids' streaming app in the Apple App Store, outperforming Netflix, YouTube Kids, Disney+, and PBS Kids. Zero long-term debt and a streamlined cost structure Upcoming high-potential franchises: A Hundred Acre Woods' Winnie & Friends' and Stan Lee's The Excelsiors coming to market by year end and poised to make significant contributions. Kartoon Channel! Worldwide global distribution is now available to 1.5 billion+ viewer universe across 61+ countries 'We've spent the last year optimizing every aspect of our business – lowering costs, deepening partnerships, and expanding distribution,' said Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Kartoon Studios. 'With a profitable studio division (Mainframe), scalable digital platform (Kartoon Channel!), and powerful IP on the horizon (Hundred Acre Woods' Winnie and Friends''; Stan Lee Universe/The Excelsiors), Kartoon Studios is now positioned to unlock long-term shareholder value.' Mainframe Studios: Profit Engine Driving Visibility and Margin Expansion Mainframe Studios delivered profitability in Q1 2025 and continues to serve as Kartoon Studios' consistent and strategic revenue driver. Its deep, long-standing partnerships with industry leaders such as Disney, Netflix, Sony Kids, Mattel, Spin Master, and PBS, with major brands, speak to the studio's unmatched ability to deliver high-quality animation at scale, on time, and on budget. Mainframe is currently producing content for some of the world's biggest entertainment franchises – including Barbie, CoComelon, SuperKitties, Unicorn Academy, and Octonauts – each of which commands massive global audiences. With over 90% of its 2025 revenue already under contract and a production backlog extending into 2026, Mainframe offers Kartoon Studios not just financial visibility but operational stability and scalability. This pipeline reduces execution risk, supports gross margin expansion, and positions Kartoon Studios to benefit directly from the enduring success of the world's most beloved IP. Kartoon Channel! Growth Accelerates as Kartoon Channel! continues its dominance as the #1 kids' streaming app on the Apple App Store, consistently outperforming YouTube Kids, Netflix, and Disney+ in the family entertainment category. In Q1, FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel watch time more than doubled year-over-year, reflecting deepening viewer engagement and brand stickiness. The platform's global reach now spans over 61 countries and more than 1.5 billion potential viewers, thanks to widespread distribution across Samsung TV Plus, LG, Roku, Apple TV, Prime Video, Xumo, Pluto TV, and by a growing library of premium content—including Peppa Pig, Super Mario Brothers, Kidaverse Roblox Rumble, Minecraft: Journey to the End, and originals like Shaq's Garage and Rainbow Rangers – Kartoon Channel! combines safety, accessibility, and entertainment value in one of the fastest-growing segments of digital media. As advertisers and content partners look to align with brand-safe environments, the platform is poised to unlock significant growth in both viewership and monetization. Franchise Building: IP That Moves MarketsWith Hundred Acre Woods' Winnie and Friends in production, Kartoon Studios is building what it believes will be a large global merchandising franchise. The project is Executive Produced by Andy Heyward and Linda Woolverton, the trailblazing screenwriter behind Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, and Maleficent, whose films have collectively grossed billions of dollars and helped redefine modern fairy tales for global audiences. Her ability to craft emotionally resonant, franchise-driven stories positions Winnie and Friends for long-term cultural and commercial impact. Joining her is John Rivoli, a top-tier creative branding expert known for his visual work on Harry Potter, Batman, The Lord of the Rings, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Rivoli's expertise in translating IP into iconic consumer product lines and immersive brand experiences gives Winnie and Friends a direct path into high-impact retail programs and licensing categories. Together, Woolverton and Rivoli bring a rare combination of storytelling excellence and commercial vision—offering Kartoon Studios a powerful opportunity to transform Winnie and Friends into a globally recognized, multi-platform franchise with deep merchandising potential. Meanwhile, Stan Lee's The Excelsiors and a new animated Christmas movie are expected to further build brand equity and long-term monetization opportunities across Kartoon Studios' growing IP portfolio. Financial Discipline and Strategic Investment'Q1 is all about momentum building off our successful business recovery in 2024. The Q1 results reflect a leaner, more focused Company,' said Brian Parisi, CFO. 'We've cut G&A nearly 25%, recorded our 4th consecutive quarter of revenue growth, improved operating losses by over 50%, and maintained a debt-free balance sheet. With increasing revenue predictability and strong engagement across platforms, we believe Kartoon Studios is structurally positioned for profitable growth.' Looking Ahead: Profitability in 2025, Long-Term Shareholder Value With four consecutive quarters of revenue growth, zero long-term debt, and Mainframe Studios now profitable, Kartoon Studios expects to achieve company-wide profitability by the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company is focused on leveraging IP-driven content, and scaling monetization through licensing, theatrical, and digital channels to drive sustainable shareholder value. For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, Kartoon Studios reported revenue of $9.5 million, current assets of $25.1 million, and stockholders' equity of $30.1 million, with no long-term debt. The Company's full financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 will be available in its Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and accessible on Kartoon Studios' website. About Kartoon StudiosKartoon Studios (NYSE AMERICAN: TOON) is a global creator, producer, distributor, marketer, and licensor of premium entertainment brands for children and families. The Company's diverse portfolio includes some of the most recognized properties in kids' media, including original IP like Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shaq's Garage starring Shaquille O'Neal, Rainbow Rangers, and Llama Llama starring Jennifer Garner. Kartoon Studios owns a controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe, managing the legendary creator's name, likeness, signature, voice, consumer products licensing, and original post-Marvel IP. Stan Lee is widely regarded as one of the most influential storytellers in modern history, with his characters appearing in four of the top ten highest-grossing films of all time. Kartoon Studios' animation powerhouse, Mainframe Studios, has delivered over 1,000 half-hour episodes and more than 60 feature-length projects. The studio's partners include Disney, Netflix, Mattel, and Sony, with current productions such as Barbie, CoComelon, and Unicorn Academy. Through its wholly owned Toon Media Networks—including Kartoon Channel!, Ameba, and Frederator Network—Kartoon Studios reaches audiences worldwide across linear, AVOD, SVOD, and FAST platforms. Kartoon Channel! is the #1 kids' app on the Apple App Store and delivers thousands of hours of family-friendly content, including top-performing series like Peppa Pig Shorts, Mother Goose Club, Talking Tom & Friends, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and educational content through Kartoon Classroom and Spanish language collection KC En Español. Frederator Network operates one of the largest global animation networks on YouTube, featuring over 2,000 exclusive creators with billions of annual views. In 2022, Kartoon Studios acquired Canada's WOW! Unlimited Media and became the largest shareholder in Germany's Your Family Entertainment AG, a leading European kids' content company. The Company also includes Beacon Media Group, a full-service kids and family agency offering integrated PR, social media, influencer, creative, and media buying services across entertainment, lifestyle, gaming, and tech verticals. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding being poised for revenue growth and reaching sustained profitability in 2025 with rebound in animation production pipeline and continuing profit in children's channel; system; releasing A.A. MILNE'S WINNIE-THE-POOH sneak peek animation trailer featuring two new female characters; development plans for Stan Lee's The Excelsiors – one of the largest initial superhero ensemble creations by the legendary Stan Lee: launching the project as a graphic novel through Legible Comics, with concurrent development for television and film adaptations, overseen by industry icon and BATMAN Executive Producer, Michael Uslan: the collaboration with LiveOne (LVO: NASDAQ) to produce, publish, and distribute all music for its Winnie-the-Pooh films and series, including original songs, albums, and soundtracks; continuing to build on the positive results achieved in the first half of the year; the Company's ability to expand its brand globally in 2025 and beyond; the Company's belief that its initiatives reinforce its commitment to building a dynamic, diversified, children's entertainment portfolio that resonates with audiences worldwide, positioning the Company for long-term success; the future success of Mainframe Studios; current initiatives guiding Kartoon Studios toward profitability in 2025; operating at a sustainable expense level for the foreseeable future; and being well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities and deliver long-term value for shareholders;. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the Company's ability to sustain growth and profitability in 2025; the Company's ability to expand its brand globally in 2025 and beyond; the ability of the Company to achieve profitability in 2025; the successful release of the Company's Winnie-the-Pooh films and series; the successful production and release of the Company's animated Christmas movie set to premiere December 24, 2025; the Company's ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all; fluctuations in the results of the Company's operations from period to period; general economic and financial conditions; the Company's ability to anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion and technology; competitive pressure from other distributors of content and within the retail market; the Company's reliance on and relationships with third-party production and animation studios; the Company's ability to market and advertise its products; the Company's reliance on third-parties to promote its products; the Company's ability to keep pace with technological advances; the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property and those other risk factors set forth in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. MEDIA CONTACT:pr@ INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
The National
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
How to watch all the Marvel films in storyline order
This month's release of Thunderbolts* marked the 36th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and the final film in the timeline before Avengers: Doomsday in 2026. Before the release of the 1960s-set The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, which sets the stage for next year's game-changing team-up, there's plenty to catch up on. For those looking to begin a venture into, arguably, cinema's most popular worlds of the past two decades, it's best to start at the beginning. Here is how to watch all movies of the MCU in chronological order. A great intro to the MCU, set during the Second World War, it has Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) being recruited as part of the super-soldier experiment, causing – hey presto – the birth of Captain America. We also get a first look at an Infinity Stone, the power-wielding jewels that will escalate in importance. Rating: 4/5 While this marks the fourth iteration of the Fantastic Four assembled for the big screen – an unreleased movie from 1994, the two modestly successful films from the 2000s and the calamitous 2015 reboot – the latest version seems poised to be the greatest. Harkening back to the 1960s setting of the original comics run by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, this period film promises to adapt one of the Kirby and Lee's most popular stories – the coming of the world-eater Galactus, announced by his herald the Silver Surfer. But because it's set decades before the rest of the MCU, fans are eagerly awaiting the many intersections it may include of the overarching Marvel story – and how it may connect with the multiverse. Rating: TBD Arriving in the nick of time before Avengers: Infinity War, cosmic hero Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) gets her origin story here – all set in 1995 – as two alien races come to blows. The fun part is seeing Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury, a regular from the intelligence agency S.H.I.E.L.D., as his younger self, before he got that distinctive eye patch. Rating: 3/5 It all began here. Back in 2008, Jon Favreau's Iron Man was something of a risk. But casting Robert Downey Jr as the snarky Tony Stark, an inventor-billionaire who builds himself a weapon-clad suit, was a masterstroke. An entire generation-defining movie series got off to a splendid start. Rating: 4/5 Downey Jr flexed his muscles further against Mickey Rourke's whip-cracking Russian baddie, but this is most notable for introducing Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff – aka Black Widow, the ultra-limber spy who will eventually join Iron Man in the S.H.I.E.L.D. superhero gang The Avengers. Rating: 3/5 It took Marvel three goes to get the angry green giant right. This wasn't it. Following 2003's Hulk (not part of the MCU), this reboot had Ed Norton take over as Dr Bruce Banner, before Mark Ruffalo later inherited the mantle. It pre-dates The Avengers, though it's unclear where it sits in the timeline. Iron Man does make a cameo, though. Rating: 2/5 Set six months before The Avengers, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston first appear as Asgard warrior Thor and his mischief-making, power-grabbing adoptive brother Loki, in a fine effort by Kenneth Branagh, who compared it all to King Lear. Intern Darcy Lewis, later to return in TV spin-off WandaVision, also makes her MCU debut. Rating: 4/5 Marvel's so-called Phase One came to a resounding close in Joss Whedon's titanic superhero flick, as the Avengers assemble against Loki and his alien hoards. Watching Iron Man bicker with Captain America and 'Hulk smash' were only two of the highlights of a film that also, properly, introduced Jeremy Renner's archer Hawkeye after his Thor cameo. Rating: 5/5 Six months on from The Avengers, Iron Man deals with the fallout from those events while coming up against the Mandarin, the leader of a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings. Shane Black directs with his usual wit, though Sir Ben Kingsley's role – a huge twist in the film – left some fans a bit bemused. Rating: 3/5 Directed by Games of Thrones' Alan Taylor, this second outing for Thor – which concludes with half of Greenwich in London being destroyed – was inferior to the first, owing to Christopher Eccleston's generic villain Malekith. It does introduce Benicio Del Toro's infinity stones-hoarder, the Collector, though. Rating: 3/5 The first of four essential MCU movies directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Captain America's second solo outing, digging further into S.H.I.E.L.D., comes two years on from The Avengers' climactic Battle of New York. Drawing from 1970s-style conspiracy/espionage tales such as Three Days of the Condor, it further expanded Black Widow's character too. Rating: 4/5 Director James Gunn's first entry into the MCU arrived with this insouciant tale of intergalactic rogues. Chris Pratt leads the way as Peter Quill – aka Star-Lord – but the show is stolen by Rocket, a talking raccoon, and his pal Groot, a tree of very few words. Rating: 4/5 A disappointment after the highs of its predecessor, but still a lot of fun – with the Guardians again patrolling the outer reaches of the galaxy. It also expands on the Celestials, the cosmic beings that created the Eternals, with Kurt Russell as Ego. Rating: 3/5 As the Avengers team up to fight Ultron, an AI enemy hellbent on destruction, more get recruited, including Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), Vision (Paul Bettany) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), aka Falcon. Doesn't hit the highs of Whedon's earlier movie, though. Rating: 3/5 Its tortured genesis notwithstanding – director Edgar Wright quit the project, Peyton Reed took over – this is one of the most irreverent MCU entries. Thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is shrunk to insect-size by tech invented by Michael Douglas' former S.H.I.E.L.D. employee Hank Pym, just in time to join the fight in the coming Civil War. Rating: 4/5 One of the great comic-book movies, as Iron Man and Cap come to blows and the Avengers' infighting escalates to epic proportions. This second Russo brothers' MCU effort includes the glorious introduction of Tom Holland as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man – the third, and certainly the best, actor to play Stan Lee's web-spinning hero in the 21st century. Rating: 5/5 Taking place directly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, this origin story for Romanoff also introduces her "sister", Yelena (Florence Pugh), also trained in the so-called Red Room. To stay spoiler-free, avoid the post-credits sequence, though, until you've watched Avengers: Endgame. Rating: 4/5 Set post-Civil War, Jon Watts' effort goes all The Breakfast Club, with Peter Parker hanging out at Midtown School of Science and Technology with his pals, including love interest MJ (Zendaya). Michael Keaton pops in as the bad guy, Adrian Toomes, with an axe to grind against Stark Industries. Rating: 4/5 This intro for Benedict Cumberbatch's mystic, time-bending neurosurgeon came under fire for Tilda Swinton's casting as the Ancient One, a Tibetan character from the comics refashioned as Celtic. But no question, this is the MCU's most surreal movie yet and a vital primer for Avengers: Infinity War. Rating: 4/5 Never mind its place in the MCU, Blank Panther was a genuine cultural moment, when Marvel unveiled the fictional African nation of Wakanda and Chadwick Boseman in the title role. The first superhero movie to get a Best Picture Oscar nomination, this fired imaginations in its positive, passionate representation of black culture. Rating: 4/5 The best Thor movie yet, thanks to the arrival of Kiwi director Taika Waititi, who imported his off-kilter humour perfectly into the MCU. With Thor fighting against Cate Blanchett's Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death, it also brings in Loki and Hulk for a hugely enjoyable space romp. Rating: 4/5 Be careful here. The post-credits scene ties into the finale of Infinity War, so maybe hold off on watching until you've seen IW. But timewise, this quantum realm-hopping adventure begins two years on from Scott Lang's initial involvement with the Avengers in Civil War, with him now under house arrest. Rating: 4/5 The pinnacle of the series and everything the MCU was building towards, as the Avengers confront alien megalomaniac Thanos, now in possession of the Infinity Stones and with a major grudge against the universe. Filled with genuine jaw-dropping moments, this was comic book fare on a Shakespearean level. Rating: 5/5 It became the biggest-grossing movie of all time (before Avatar's re-release before the sequel in 2022). This conclusion to the MCU's Infinity saga storyline is another epic, spanning five years. Dealing with the theme of sacrifice for the greater good, it might just be the most emotional Marvel movie yet. Be warned: not everyone makes it out alive. Rating: 5/5 Eight months after Endgame, Spidey takes a European holiday with his classmates and comes up against the Elementals and Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio. Watts's sequel neatly touches on the Americans-abroad trope in a breezy and much-needed pick-me-up after the apocalyptic events of before. Rating: 3/5 Picking up directly after Far From Home, this mind-bending multiverse movie sees Holland's Spider-Man face friends and foes from parallel universes in a film that feels like a joyous slice of fan service. Spinning a wild web, it feels like a movie that will send the MCU in an entirely new and bold direction. Rating: 5/5 Director Destin Daniel Cretton says his effort takes place in the 'present day' so that makes it the most up-to-date entry in the series. Starring Simu Liu as the titular trained assassin, who left behind a life of killing, it reacquaints us with the Ten Rings in a more satisfying way than Iron Man 3 managed. Rating: 4/5 Five years on from events in Infinity War and eight months after Endgame, Eternals comes late in the MCU ordering. But – just to confuse you – there are some flashbacks to ancient Aztec, Babylon and so on, as the world's oldest superheroes are introduced in their battle against the alien Deviants. Rating: 3/5 In the wake of King T'Challa's death, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and her daughter Shuri (Letitia Wright) along with M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje, the team of women who serve as special forces for Wakanda, are in a fight to protect their nation from new intervening and threatening world powers. As Wakanda rises up to embrace its future without its king, the heroes must work together to forge a new path for the kingdom. Rating: 4/5 A combination of drama, comedy, familiar faces, nostalgia and heart-warming moments the superhero franchise has become known for, Waititi returns with his signature humorous touch in this sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Thor reunites with Dr Jane Foster, who broke up with him "eight years, seven months and six days, give or take" ago, putting this timeline to between 2023 and 2025 and after Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. A fun ride from beginning to end, and possibly Hemsworth's last outing as Thor, this one is all about growing up, getting older and finding the one you love. Rating: 4/5 The film takes place after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and sees Doctor Strange continue his research on the Time Stone. However, when Strange casts a forbidden spell, he accidentally opens the doorway to the multiverse and unleashes evil. Faced with old enemies and new foes, he is forced to break the very seams of reality to save it. Rating: 3/5 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania signals the start of the fifth phase of the MCU. The story begins when the family of microscopic heroes – which include Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) – are unwillingly sucked into the Quantum Realm. However, the deeper we venture into the story, and the Quantum Realm, it becomes clear that the film is less about Ant-Man than it is a vehicle to introduce the big baddie of phase five of the MCU: Kang the Conqueror. Rating: 2/5 The last instalment, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, is bittersweet. The film is a testament to director and writer James Gunn's singular vision where action, comedy and emotional storylines meet powerful music for a gripping cinematic experience. Unlike the previous films, the Guardians aren't facing off against one ominous villain whose plan is to eradicate half of all life in the universe. But on the whole, Gunn has delivered to audiences what they expected and always loved about the Guardians of the Galaxy universe: an adventure full of heart, humour and friendship. Most importantly though, what Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 achieves is ultimately a satisfying finale to a story of unforgettable characters. Rating: 4/5 While Deadpool & Wolverine was billed as the debut of the two titular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this manic, violent and thoroughly R-rated buddy comedy features very little interaction with the MCU. Instead, it acts as a coda to the 20th Century Fox Marvel film universe, including Blade, Electra, Fantastic Four and the X-Men series, which unofficially ended when Disney bought the studio back in 2019. While there is one scene set before Avengers: Endgame in 2018 when Iron Man was still alive and numerous scenes in the in-between world established in the Disney+ Loki series, Deadpool and Wolverine probably won't enter the proper Marvel timeline until the coming Avengers: Doomsday, which is set for a 2026 release and will star Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom, or Avengers: Secret Wars, which is set to release in 2027. Nevertheless, while it falls apart a bit in the final act, it's a must-watch for Marvel fans new and old, and proves that the MCU still has some tricks up its sleeve. Rating: 3/5 Set in 2026, The Marvels is not merely a sequel to the 2019 hit Captain Marvel, which introduced Brie Larson's hero of the same name, it also continues the female-led stories established in Disney+ MCU series WandaVision and Ms Marvel, the latter of which introduced Kamala Khan, Marvel's first Muslim superhero. The breezy tone runtime makes it watchable if mostly forgettable, but the film also adds little to the overall Marvel narrative, with only Iman Vellani's committed and fun performance as Ms Marvel to buoy the proceedings. Rating: 2/5 In many ways, the Captain America franchise has been the beating heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, establishing Steve Rogers as the grander story's moral centre. His successor and former partner Sam Wilson tries to do the same in his first solo film, to near-disastrous results. While Sam has earned a lot of good will from fans of the past 15 years, Captain America: Brave New World fails to provide a good reason why he should be Marvel's main character moving forward. Here, he mainly goes through the motions in one of the least watchable political thrillers ever put to film, which goes from boring to silly when president Harrison Ford begins turning into a big red monster because he'd been given the wrong pills. Taking place in 2027 (we know this because Sam Wilson says that Bucky Barnes, born in 1917, is 110), this sets the stage for Sam-led Avengers team to potentially debut in Avengers: Doomsday in 2026. But honestly, you can skip it. Rating: 0/5 When Marvel is at its worst, keeping up with the ins and outs can feel like homework. When Marvel is at its best, everything clicks into place even without context. Thunderbolts*, which is set in 2027 after Brave New World, finds Marvel once again at its best, uniting discarded supporting characters from other stories and turning that seeming weakness into the film's greatest asset. Told with empathy and humour, this is a story of flawed, human characters that audiences can't help but root for. And thanks to director Jeff Scheier's reliance on old-fashioned in-camera stunt work and committed performances from top-tier talents in Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan in particular, the film ultimately earns its second name The New Avengers – which ensures that these characters will be a prominent part of Avengers: Doomsday. Rating: 4/5
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Marvel legend Stan Lee's daughter denies elder abuse: ‘I never ever touched my parents'
JC Lee, the daughter of legendary Marvel writer and producer Stan Lee, has denied accusations that she attacked her wealthy parents. Stan Lee died in November 2018, at the age of 95. He is considered to be one of the most influential figures in comic book history having created characters such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men and Iron Man. His wife Joan passed in July 2017, also aged 95. In the April before his death, Lee was the subject of a lengthy Hollywood Reporter article which included the allegation that JC had attacked her parents in 2014 after discovering her new car, a Jaguar, had in fact been leased in her father's name. The Hollywood Reporter alleged that she violently grabbed Joan's arm and slammed Stan's head against the back of a chair, and claimed they had seen photographs showing bruising on Joan's arm. Speaking to Business Insider in a new interview, JC Lee, now 75, called the accusations 'lies.' 'I never ever touched my parents,' she said. She went on to say that she followed advice not to make a public denial at the time. "You think I haven't regretted it to this day?" she continued. "They are all lies. That photo is insane. I never did it." JC's former assistant James MacLean concurred in a separate interview with Business Insider, saying that while his sometime boss could get into shouting matches with her parents they were never physical. "They were equally abusive, the way they screamed at each other,' said MacLean. 'But then it would be like, 'Let's sit down and have dinner.' That was their relationship.' Following the 2018 Hollywood Reporter investigation, Stan Lee's business manager Keya Morgan was charged with false imprisonment of an elder, grand theft from an elder and elder abuse. The charges of elder abuse and false imprisonment were dismissed before Morgan's trial in November 2022, and the theft charges were dismissed after a mistrial. Last month, it was announced that a new documentary was being planned to explore Lee's final years and investigate claims that the star was subject to 'mistreatment, manipulation and betrayal.' However, the Kickstarter for Stan Lee: The Final Chapter was cancelled two weeks ago before it reached its funding goal. Aside from his work in comic books, Lee also became famous for his cameos in dozens of movies and TV shows. His final appearance was in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, which was released a handful of months after his death.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Frisch's calls out Dolly's for 'ruthless display of corporate arts and crafts'
A Cincinnati burger war is starting to sizzle. Earlier this month, "Dolly's Burgers and Shakes" began filling the vacant red and white buildings that once housed Frisch's Big Boys. The diner, owned by Michigan-based Big Boy Restaurant Group, ruffled feathers with its new locations after more than 65 Frisch's locations throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, including more than half of the locations in Greater Cincinnati, were forced to shutter due to an ongoing eviction dispute. As Dolly's works on its signage, Frisch's poked fun at the restaurant on social media Friday, calling the makeover of the old Frisch's locations a "crafty takeover." "In a ruthless display of corporate arts and crafts, Dolly's has taken over Frisch's Big Boy—literally just slapped their logo right on top like a bad DIY project," Frisch's official Facebook page posted. BREAKING: In a ruthless display of corporate arts and crafts, Dolly's has taken over Frisch's Big Boy—literally just... Posted by Frisch's Big Boy on Friday, March 28, 2025 The chain added that it would be mad, but it's too focused on serving up tradition and "staying legendary." Frisch's post comes after its other one from March 26, which said, "31 Locations. ONE Frisch's. Legend can't be imitated." A spokesperson for Dolly's/Big Boy Restaurant Group was not immediately available for comment. A Frisch's spokesperson had nothing to add when reached out to for comment by The Enquirer. Michigan-based Big Boy Restaurant Group said it would begin reopening former Frisch's Big Boy locations under a "working title" name of "Dolly's Burgers & Shakes," with the addition of some very familiar-looking menu items, such as "Big Boy" hamburgers – tweaked to suit local tastes. It wants to reopen 55 closed Frisch's restaurants by June 1, CEO Tamer Afr told The Enquirer. In March, a federal court issued a temporary order barring the company from using the Big Boy name after Frisch's sued claiming it has 'exclusive' rights to the moniker in most of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Afr said the company would prefer to operate the eateries under the Big Boy name, but that depends on the outcome of the court case. Dolly is more than just a rival chain looking to replace Frisch's Big Boy. Their relationship is much deeper than that. The new diner concept is named after Big Boy's girlfriend, Dolly, from the comic books once published by the restaurant chain. "The Adventures of the Big Boy" comics debuted in 1956 and were written by none other than Stan Lee − yes, that Stan Lee. The comics were made by Timely Comics, the predecessor of Marvel Comics. The restaurant's comic books were handed out to kids for free so they'd have something to do while waiting for their food. Two versions of each issue were produced, identical except for the West Coast or East Coast versions of the Big Boy character used. The stories featuring Big Boy, his girlfriend, Dolly, and his dog, Nugget, were published for 39 years. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Frisch's calls out Dolly's on social media amid battle for Big Boy
Forbes
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Stan Lee: The Final Chapter': Jon Bolerjack Documentary Chronicles Tragic End For The Marvel Legend
HOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 20: Stan Lee attends the Premiere of Disney and Marvel Studios' "Doctor ... [+] Strange" on October 20, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by) A pioneer. An icon. A creator and writer. An individual with a vision for positive and lasting storytelling through an array of legendary fictional outsiders fighting for a better society. It is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine what pop culture would be like at present minus the unprecedented contributions of Stan Lee through his work with Marvel Comics. From his first superhero, the Destroyer, to Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Thor to the Avengers, the Hulk, the X-Men, Ant-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange and the countless others, Stan Lee's roster of fictional heroic superheroes were outsiders who fight for a better society. They wanted love. They wanted peace. They wanted to fit into a world where acceptance was no guarantee. And the comic books that featured them were often used as metaphors for social issues (the X-Men, for example, were representative of discrimination). NEW YORK: A rare first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man comic book series valued around $30,000 is ... [+] seen at a press preview for the Big Apple Comic Book, Art and Toy Show June 4, 2004 in New York City. The show will be held June 5th at Penn Plaza Pavillion. (Photo by) From the Beginning Rising through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Comics beginning as an assistant in 1939, which later became Marvel Comics, Stan Lee in 1960 shifted his storytelling from the generic perfection typically written for preteens to more substantial stories with characters, flawed at times, who spoke like real people. It was an aspect of storytelling for which Marvel became known for. It separated Marvel from its chief competitor, DC Comics. And it cemented Lee's status as one of the most recognized names in comic book history. TURIN, ITALY - APRIL 12: Close Up of X-Men comics during the Torino Comics 2024 on April 12, 2024 in ... [+] Turin, Italy. (Photo by) Stan Lee was instrumental in elevating the category from the perception of simply frivolous entertainment for children to the worldwide art form of today. But Lee, himself, who is now the subject new documentary Stan Lee: The Final Chapter, was also not without his own imperfections. Jon Bolerjack, a documentary filmmaker who also buys and sells comic books, met Stan Lee about one decade ago through a mutual friend to pitch Lee about participating in a reality series he was planning about him. Lee agreed, and the pair formed a close friendship in his final years. But with time, and upon observation, Bolerjack decided to shift the focus of the reality series to Lee's later years. 'As we were shooting the initial footage, I was getting the feeling there was a bigger story to tell,' said Jon Bolerjack, whose experience prior to Stan Lee: The Final Years includes working with Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner in Food Inc., Command and Control and Merchants of Doubt; and producing documentary shorts. 'The premise of the reality series would have followed Stan to conventions, traveling the world, doing the red carpets and the cameo appearances; basically a slice of life Stan Lee style.' 'In time, however, Stan's story evolved,' he said. 'There was more to it. And it is important for me to tell it.' Jon Bolerjack and Marvel legend Stan Lee. Following his retirement from Marvel in the 1990s, Stan Lee traveled to fan gatherings and conventions (Comic Con, in particular) across the world. The outcry from his legion of enthusiasts has built over the years, lifting him to iconic celebrity status. By the time he passed away in 2018, Lee had also filmed 38 cameos in Marvel-related films and television series, not to mention lending his voice to two feature-length animated movies and other media-related guest spots. Stan Lee was the voice – and the face – of Marvel. NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Stan Lee speak onstage at Stan Lee Creators Roundtable at Madison Square ... [+] Garden on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by) 'When I felt the reality series was not coming together how I envisioned it, I talked to Stan and asked if I could keep filming until I found the story,' remembered Bolerjack. 'At a certain point, he stopped being Stan Lee the icon to simply Stan Lee the guy. This is where I really got to know him. He put his trust in me, and I found the story I knew I needed to tell. But it was not the happiest of endings'Stan Lee Controversy In April 2018, a video recorded on a cellphone from the Silicon Valley Comic Con surfaced, featuring Stan Lee, then age 95, appearing confused and unable to sign his name (for a reported $120 per picture). According to published reports, one of his handlers, among many, coached the barely cognizant Marvel icon through the task. Reports of his abuse had been gathering since the death of his beloved wife Joan one year earlier. 'That man is a legend and you shuffled him around like he was a bag of money!,' wrote one observer on Facebook. In the aftermath of the Silicon Valley Comic Con video, there were other allegations about money stolen from Lee's bank accounts, his property in jeopardy, and his health in decline. Shortly later, an article documenting years of questionable activity around Lee published by the Hollywood Reporter. It accused his advisers of taking over his management and finances and using the aging icon to enrich themselves, while showing little concern for Lee's physical or mental well-being. 'Stan was an overly trusting person; funny and entertaining; and he hated disappointing anyone. But his track record doing business deals might have made him a target to be manipulated,' noted Bolerjack. 'Stan was creative, but not a businessman. He did not even own a piece of Spider-Man. His foundation was his wife, and when she died in 2017 he started having a harder time remembering things. He started becoming disoriented; age had caught up with him. And that is when the documentary really kicks in.' 'You will never see anything more honest or real about Stan Lee. He granted me unfettered access, all with the goal to get his story out there,' noted Bolerjack. 'And he wanted it to serve as a warning to others.' Kickstarter Campaign At present, there is no official outlet attached to Stan Lee: The Final Chapter. After years of collecting footage, Jon Bolerjack is seeking $300,000 through Kickstarter to reach the finish line. 'Stan wasn't just an icon in the comic community, he had a profound impact on all of pop culture today,' wrote Bolerjack on Kickstarter. 'Spread the word so that we can fully honor this man who has touched the lives of so many. 'One of my hopes for the film is that when you watch it, you are going to be as enamored with Stan the guy next door as well as Stan the man who made Spider-Man,' concluded Bolerjack. 'I want to make a good film first and then I want the world to see it. Stan Lee made a positive difference in our world and I am committed to telling his true story and making sure people see it.' Marvel legend Stan Lee remains the face behind the comic book dynasty.
