Tim Burton and Todd McFarlane Collaborate, McFarlane Toys to Produce Sleepy Hollow Movie Figures
When you think of films containing intriguing supernatural characters, director Tim Burton often comes to mind. When you think of action figures from the same genre of cutting-edge fright, horror, and science-fiction, Todd McFarlane and McFarlane Toys are always at the top of the list. Combine the minds of Burton and McFarlane and you're guaranteed to get a product of incredible quality and detail that authentically captures the compelling characters in Burton's highly anticipated feature film Sleepy Hollow(TM), opening nationwide on November 19. Burton has called the film "a great mix of drama and horror," with "a lot of classic beautiful horror images."
Award-winning McFarlane Toys, the fifth largest action figure manufacturer, will be releasing four highly detailed and accessorized collectible figures in November 1999 in conjunction with the sweeping fantasy film's debut. The collection includes Ichabod Crane, the first figure ever created in the likeness of Johnny Depp, a critically acclaimed actor known for a variety of memorable roles, including the title roles in Burton's films Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood. These roles earned him two of his three Best Actor Golden Globe nominations. Ichabod and the collection's other figures are described below:
Ichabod Crane - Standing 61/2" tall, Ichabod, the film's idiosyncratic constable, has articulation at the neck, shoulders, left bicep, hips, wrists, and shins. This detective's accessories include his eyeglasses, a pistol, a satchel with hinged flaps that open to display a rising tray of various bottles and potions, four forensics tools, and two books. The Headless Horseman - Don't put this on your nightstand. The headless nightmare is dressed in black and ready to attack! He comes complete with an axe, two decapitated heads, a skull, a Hessian head and a cape. He stands 51/8" tall and has articulation in his shoulders, right bicep, left elbow, right forearm, waist, and thighs. Headless Rider and Horse Box Set - The legend of Sleepy Hollow rides again! The Horseman stands 513/16" tall and is articulated at the shoulders, forearms, waist, hips, and for the first time, this figure has invisible, internal knee joints. He is equipped with a sword and a cape. His trusty steed is 81/16" tall and is ready to ride with a saddle, stirrups, bit, and reins. This black stallion is articulated at the neck, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. This box set also comes complete with detailed tree and skulls of the unfortunate.
Crone - Beware! This frightening witch comes complete with snakes that pop in and out of her eyes and mouth. She stands 61/16" tall and has articulation at the neck, shoulders, biceps, forearms, waist, and right ankle. Also included with this hag are her veil, a candle, a horned skull, two baskets, and a mortar and pestle set. Sleepy Hollow is Tim Burton's reverent adaptation of Washington Irving's classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, set in upstate New York in 1799. The film details the adventures of Ichabod Crane, an eccentric and earnest constable with an unconventional approach to solving crime. Ichabod's modern ways are put to the test when his superiors send him to the small village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a string of murders, allegedly committed by a headless horseman. Sleepy Hollow, a sweeping fantasy film, is a Paramount Pictures and Mandalay Pictures presentation. The film is directed by Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson and Michael Gambon. Inspired by Washington Irving's classic story, Sleepy Hollow is produced by Scott Rudin and Adam Schroeder and executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and Larry Franco. The screenplay is by Andrew Kevin Walker and the screen story is by Kevin Yagher and Andrew Kevin Walker. The film also stars Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDiarmid, Michael Gough, Lisa Marie, Marc Pickering and Steve Waddington. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom, Inc.
Burton's impressive credits include: Batman and Batman Returns (Director), Batman Forever (Producer), Edward Scissorhands (Director and Producer), and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (Creator and Producer). Other film credits include Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, James and the Giant Peach, Ed Wood, and Mars Attacks!
A multi-faceted businessman with a broad range of experience in entertainment, sports, and publishing, Todd McFarlane's career has run the gamut from comic book creator to toy manufacturer, from feature film producer to music video director. In 1999 alone, he's received nominations for a Grammy, an Emmy, and several MTV Video Music Awards.
The winner of the 1998 Ernst & Young Arizona Entrepreneur Award, Todd McFarlane is well versed in the creation and management of multiple companies and is the creative force behind Todd McFarlane Productions, McFarlane Toys, Todd McFarlane Entertainment, McFarlane Design Group, and McFarlane Toys Worldwide, Inc. McFarlane owns, writes, draws, and publishes Spawn, which is the #1 selling comic book in the U.S. and has been since its May 1992 debut. The award-winning comic continues today, with worldwide sales of more than 133 million copies. It appears in more than 120 countries, in 16 languages. Spawn has been depicted in the $100 million-grossing Spawn live-action movie. McFarlane produced the film and currently is developing the live-action sequel from New Line Cinema, scheduled for 2000 release. He also is the executive producer of the Emmy award-winning HBO animated series, which debuted its third season in May. The third season is also nominated for a 1999 Emmy.
Todd McFarlane Productions is launching six new series this year (including this summer's Spawn The Undead, Cy-Gor, and Sam & Twitch), and other comic book story lines. McFarlane Toys, the fifth largest action figure manufacturer, is currently releasing figures based on the video game Metal Gear Solid, three new Spawn lines, plus those listed above.
Recently, McFarlane purchased Mark McGwire's 70th home run baseball, along with nine other record-breaking McGwire and Sammy Sosa home run balls from the historic 1998 baseball season and other sports memorabilia from the home run heroes of the 20th Century. McFarlane currently is engaged in a 1999 tour, taking The McFarlane Collection to 25 Major League Baseball cities and the Triple-A All-Star weekend in Las Vegas. The tour began at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on June 4, with more than 20,000 fans viewing the exhibit in the first weekend. To date more than 150,000 fans have walked through the exhibit. The collection includes five of the ten highest-priced baseballs ever purchased including Mark McGwire's 70th home run baseball, which has been named the Most Valuable Baseball by Guinness World Records. For more information about Todd McFarlane and the McFarlane group of companies, visit www.mcfarlane.com. Also, visit www.70hrball.com for information about the baseball collection.
Viacom Consumer Products merchandises properties on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, and Viacom Productions, as well as third party properties. Viacom Consumer Products, a unit of Viacom Entertainment Group, is a subsidiary of Viacom Inc.
Sep 1st/99
PR News
