VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - April 28, 2016) - Rainmaker Entertainment Inc. (TSX VENTURE: RNK) ("Rainmaker" or the "Company") President and Chief Creative Officer Michael Hefferon, announced today that Ratchet & Clank will open wide on 2,890 screens across North America on Friday, April 29, 2016, distributed by Gramercy Pictures in the U.S. and Universal Pictures Canada.Rainmaker Entertainment is the co-producer and lead investor of the CG-animated Ratchet & Clank. The feature film is based on the iconic PlayStation video game franchise from Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC (SCEA), created and developed by Insomniac Games, and was produced in parallel with the latest video game release for PlayStation 4, which just topped the U.K. sales charts securing the #1 spot as best-selling retail game (week ending April 23, 2016, according to GfK Chart-Track) and claiming the first #1 in franchise history. In the international market, Ratchet & Clank releases today
in Germany (Constantin Film), Argentina (Sun Distribution), Brazil (PlayArte Films), CIS (All Media Company), Ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz Film), and Greece (Tanweer Films).
Coinciding with the North American release on April 29th, Ratchet & Clank debuts internationally in the U.K. (Vertigo Releasing), Spain (Precision Comunicacion), Bulgaria (A Plus Films), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Indigo Films), Iceland (Sena), Middle East (Eagle Films), and Vietnam (Phuong Nam CC). The feature film was released earlier in the month in France (LaBelle Company), Netherlands (Entertainment One Benelux), Israel (United King Films), Poland (Kino Swiat), and South Africa (Times Media Films).
In May, Ratchet & Clank will rollout on May 4th in Belgium (eOne Benelux), May 5th in Hungary (ADS Service), Portugal (Outsider Films) and South Korea (Joy n' Contents Group), May 13th in Indonesia (MVP, Soundspace International), May 25th in the Philippines (OctoArts Films), and May 26th in Chile (Sun Distribution), Malaysia and Singapore (Film Kingdom). In June, the film will be released in Australia and New Zealand (Village Roadshow) and Italy (Lucky Red), and in August, Japan (IPA Asia Pacific). Several additional territories have yet to be announced.
Leading International Sales Agent, Cinema Management Group (CMG), spearheaded the international sales for Ratchet & Clank.
"Ratchet & Clank is the first feature film to have been produced in tandem with a video game, and it has been incredibly exciting to be a part of a constant flow back-and-forth among extremely creative talents, sharing assets with the goal of creating an extended experience for fans," commented Hefferon. "The movie and the new game complement one another, and we are confident that Ratchet & Clank will prove to be the full entertainment package for old and new fans alike."
Ratchet & Clank features the voice talent of an all-star cast including Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner PAUL GIAMATTI (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Saving Mr. Banks, Cinderella Man, Sideways) as "Chairman Drek;" Golden Globe Award winner JOHN GOODMAN (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, Argo) as "Grimroth;" Young Artist Award winner BELLA THORNE (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, The Snow Queen 2, Blended) as "Cora;" ALMA Award winner ROSARIO DAWSON (The Lego Batman Movie, Marvel's Daredevil,Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Sin City) as "Elaris;" and Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee SYLVESTER STALLONE (Creed, Rambo, The Expendables, Rocky) as "Victor." The celebrity cast members join the voice talent from the successful Ratchet & Clank video game franchise: JAMES ARNOLD TAYLOR (Star Wars: Clone Wars, TMNT) as "Ratchet"; DAVID KAYE (Up) as "Clank;" ARMIN SHIMERMAN (Bionicle: The Legend Reborn, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) as "Nefarious;" and JIM WARD (The Fairly Odd Parents, Escape from Planet Earth) as "Captain Qwark.
Ratchet & Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Ratchet is the last of his kind -- a foolhardy "lombax" who has grown up alone on a backwater planet with no family of his own. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way, they will learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one's own identity.
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC released a companion Ratchet & Clank® video game, a re-imagination of the origin story for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system prior to the release of the film. The game was developed by franchise creator, Insomniac Games. Since the first Ratchet & Clank video game was released in November 2002, the franchise has been a massive success, quickly becoming one of the most popular franchises in the SCEA portfolio, selling over 27 million copies worldwide.
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About Rainmaker Entertainment
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Rainmaker Entertainment Inc. is a multifaceted animation studio and one of Canada's largest producers of CG animation. Rainmaker's first feature film, Escape From Planet Earth (distributed by The Weinstein Company), opened on 3200 screens across North America. Originally established as Mainframe Entertainment, the company produced the first ever CGI animation series, ReBoot, and over the course of its 15+ years of innovative history, Rainmaker has continued to break new ground in animation, telling engaging stories and creating compelling characters for all media. In addition to projects Rainmaker has produced with partners and clients including Mattel, The Weinstein Company, Hasbro, Lionsgate and Sony, Rainmaker also develops proprietary projects. Since announcing its return to television development and production in 2013 under the Mainframe Entertainment banner, two animated series are currently in the pipeline: in Fall 2013, the company announced its plans to develop a new version of its iconic CG-animated ReBoot series; and in April 2014, the company began production for HIT Entertainment of 104 10-minute episodes of the new CG-animated Bob the Builder series. For more information, visit www.rainmaker.com.
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About Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) has revolutionized home entertainment since the first PlayStation® console launched in 1995 in the United States, followed by the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system launch in 2000. SCEA continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, PSN(SM), PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) handheld entertainment system, and the recently launched PlayStation®4 (PS4™) computer entertainment system. SCEA also launched PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device mobile platform using Android-based PlayStation® certified devices in October 2012. Recognized as an undisputed industry leader, SCEA markets the PlayStation® family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for PSP, PS3, PS Vita, and PS4 systems in North and South America. Based in San Mateo, California, SCEA serves as headquarters for all North and South American operations.
PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Ratchet & Clank is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC.
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