MARVEL

SONY is in the market to purchase MARVEL ENTERPRISES.

Market analysts believe that SONY's passion for the 'super-heroes' genre, coupled to their savvy promotional delivery of this year's "Spider-Man", makes them the ideal fit for Marvel's 4,700 proprietary characters.

SONY is banking on their "Spidey" success, with numerous Marvel characters in development as major features. Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2" has been fast-tracked for production, with a late 2003- early 2004 release, while motorcycle speed-demon "Ghost Rider" recently rode over to the Sony lot from another studio.

But other studios are also in on the Marvel bandwagon. Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad recently announced that principal photography on Universal's Ang Lee-helmed "HULK" is now complete, with a new participation deal allowing Marvel capped gross profits in the finished product. Marvel are also negotiating for a "HULK" animated TV series to help promote the film following its wide release.

As for the PG-13 New Regency/Fox production "DAREDEVIL", Arad says that a second trailer will be released next month. Marvel's deal for "DAREDEVIL" will also include gross participation.

Twentieth Century Fox's "X-MEN 2" is now slated for a May 2003 release.

Arad has also told investors "... we're feverishly working on 'The Punisher' ..." with Artisan Entertainment. Marvel will share in profits 50/50 after production and distribution, of the R-rated film, including the DVD/video release.

Marvel expects to become "aggressive" in TV next year, currently holding the #1 animated TV show with "X-MEN : EVOLUTION", and a new "SPIDER-MAN" animated series, ready for delivery by 2003.

As a comic book publisher, Marvel remains the industry leader, with a spectacular 42.8 percent market share.