Stan Lee’s Likeness, IP Sold to Genius Brands

An agreement has been struck between Genius Brands International and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment to create the “Stan Lee Universe.”

“Stan Lee Universe” will assume worldwide rights to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing, comic book, merchandising and licensing rights to Stan Lee and his IP creations past – present and going forward.  

“In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize,” says Andy Heyward, chairman and chief executive officer, Genius Brands. “This is the Holy Grail. ‘Stan Lee Universe’ is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original, heretofore unexploited properties, created by the most successful creator of intellectual property of our time.”

Jointly owned and subject to due diligence and documentation, the deal will leave Genius Brands as the managing and controlling partner of the ‘Stan Lee Universe’ joint venture.

Lee was the editor and creative force behind Marvel Comics, which was sold to the Walt Disney Company for $4.4 billion. He created properties such as “Spiderman,” “Iron Man,” “Black Panther,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “X-Men,” “Thor,” “Captain America,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Silver Surfer,” “Antman,” “Nick Fury,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “The Avengers.”

“Stan Lee Universe” will be built from the repository of all of the characters and IP created by Stan Lee, post-Marvel Entertainment. It is drawn from more than 100 original Stan Lee creations, from which it will develop and license approximately seven properties per year. 

The announcement comes following the news that Genius Brand’s “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten” will launch on Amazon Prime in the U.S. next spring.