Stan Lee to launch superhero franchise

By Carolyn Giardina

LAS VEGAS (Hollywood Reporter) - Comic book legend Stan Lee, one of the forces behind Spider-Man and the X-Men, is helping to develop a new superhero property, "Legion of 5."

His production shingle POW! Entertainment has teamed up with Utah investment firm Brighton Partners and Vancouver-based producer Rainmaker Entertainment to turn the concept into a series of computer-animated films.

Details of the characters and story line are being kept under wraps.

Rainmaker CEO Warren Franklin reported that the partners are raising about $24 million to get things going. "We are hoping to develop a strong franchise with the characters," he said.

Plans call for Rainmaker to create the look of the characters as well as develop and produce the feature-length computer-animated film properties.

A cross-platform approach will include games, online and mobile releases. Merchandising is part of the plan as well.

Separately, Lee has set up three projects at Disney, which houses POW!: "Nick Ratchet," following the exploits of a private eye; "Blaze," an action adventure; and "Tigress" (working title), the story of a woman who starts getting tiger-like instincts.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter