The Stage is Set for Fame

Rocket Licensing has signed a raft of deals in the U.K. for the remake of the musical Fame, set for theatrical release in September 2009.

The first wave of licensees signed includes Character World for home textiles, International Greetings for bags and stationery, Danilo for cards and calendars, Kinnerton for confectionery, Spearmark for lunch, table and drinkware, Susan Prescott Games for games, TDP Textiles/Aykroyds for nightwear and underwear, and Blues Clothing for apparel.

Each collection will target tween and teen girls and their mothers. It is expected that there will also be a retro-interest from young adults.

The new licensees join existing Somerbond, which supplies classic Fame apparel for adults, available in the U.K. at Topshop, Asos and on Play.com.

"The early licensee response to the film has been extraordinary, but we're not surprised," says Rob Wijeratna, Rocket Licensing joint managing director. "Fame's combination of dance, drama, youth and energy are even more relevant now than they were in 1980. As a licensing opportunity the same themes resonate strongly in a number of key product categories—as the growing list of Fame licensees proves."