Excelsior! First Stan Lee Universe Projects Announced
Published: 11th February 2025
11 February 2025 – Along with Kartoon Studios, GFM Animation has set Heroes At Large and Silver Sentinel as the first two features from our joint Stan Lee Universe slate of CG animated movies. Chris Jenkins (Surf’s Up, 10 Lives) is writing & directing Heroes At Large, and Silver Sentinel will be written by Todd Edwards & Timothy Hooten (Hoodwinked!, Humbugged!).
See the full press announcement below:
GFM ANIMATION AND KARTOON STUDIOS
ANNOUNCE FIRST TITLES
UNDER STAN LEE UNIVERSE SLATE
GFM Animation and Kartoon Studios (NYSE American: TOON) are delighted to announce the first two CG animated movies for their Stan Lee Universe slate. Details of the films, currently in development, will be presented to distributors at Berlin’s EFM.
The Stan Lee Universe slate, which was announced at Cannes 2024 by GFM Animation (GFMA) & Kartoon Studios, primarily consists of five feature films developed from short-form stories & ideas created by visionary filmmaker Stan Lee.
The first two features originate from Stan Lee’s concept ideas titled ‘HEROES AT LARGE’ and ‘SILVER SENTINEL,’ current working titles for the films. Chris Jenkins (Surf’s Up, 10 Lives) is writing and will direct ‘HEROES AT LARGE,’ and ‘SILVER SENTINEL’ is being written and directed by Hardy Howl’s Todd Edwards & Timothy Hooten (Hoodwinked!, Humbugged!). Scripts for both are scheduled to be delivered by the end of February, and distributors will be treated to a sneak peek at first production designs during an exclusive filmmaker presentation at the market. Mainframe Studios in Vancouver, a sister company to Kartoon Studios, is providing CG animation for Heroes At Large.
HEROES AT LARGE – Best friends Bill & Joe, two ordinary dads & electrical repairmen, have everything they want: loving wives, fabulous kids, New York pizza, and the big game on TV. But all that normality & comfort is about to go out the window…. In a story that takes them from zeroes to heroes, Bill and Joe strain to remain friends whilst fighting the most powerful force in the galaxy, only to ultimately discover that friendship is their true superpower.
Commenting from Los Angeles, writer/director Chris Jenkins said “I’m thrilled to be working with Stan Lee’s remarkable genius on a project that reunites me with my friends at GFM Animation. We’re going to shine a spotlight on the family & comedic virtues of two ordinary guys who find themselves with extraordinary powers.”
SILVER SENTINEL – By night, Sentinel is a masked crime-fighting superhero. By day, a business exec and PTA mum. Her daughter, 14-year-old Joey’s coming-of-age battles are further complicated by the unexpected onset of superpowers. The typical mum/daughter conflicts are amplified as Sentinel’s powers decline and Joey’s blossoms. The two must find a way to overcome their differences and reconnect to defeat an absurd old foe.
“The heartfelt mother/daughter story of Silver Sentinel is bursting with comedy, action, and a style all of its own,” stated Hardy Howl Producer Katie Hooten. “s storytellers and parents, we’re thrilled to explore such timely themes that are as inspiring as they are fun.”
GFM’s Head of Production, Sean Feeney, explained that GFM Animation has previously worked with Chris Jenkins on Duck Duck Goose and 10 Lives, and is currently working with Tim and Todd on another title from the GFMA slate, Humbugged! “Having worked with them all previously and having spent many months developing how we can authentically bring to life & expand upon Stan’s original ideas, we are confident they are the perfect choice for these important first two films. With previous animation experience & success, they are 100% on board our aims of creating fun-packed superhero adventure stories with strong family audience credentials. This is an exciting moment for us all!”
GFMA Founder and Chairman Guy Collins continued, “Having the opportunity to secure the unique Stan Lee slate in partnership with Kartoon Studios fits perfectly with our business plans to be a proactive creator of family movies targeted for initial cinema distribution. As a business, we put a lot of emphasis on entertaining the full family and wider audience – fun stories, strong messages, and now superhero characters. It’s a perfect combination.”
Andy Heyward, CEO of Kartoon Studios, commented: “Stan Lee’s boundless imagination continues to inspire generations, and we’re thrilled to bring his visionary ideas to life through these exciting new animated films. ‘Heroes at Large’ and ‘Silver Sentinel’ embody the heart, humor, and heroism that define the Stan Lee Universe. Alongside our partners at GFM Animation, we can’t wait to introduce these stories to audiences worldwide.
With the two scripts imminent, CG production is scheduled to commence this year, with both films delivered in 2027.
End./
About GFM Animation
We are a production, financing and distribution sales company focused on working with first class filmmakers to create a pipeline of quality animated movies, with engaging stories, that can delight family audiences worldwide.
Current titles on the GFM Animation slate include: Stitch Head, based on the book series by Guy Bass and featuring the voices of Asa Butterfield and Joel Fry; The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck which will be released via Ketchup Distributors in the US on 14th March; Humbugged! from the team behind smash-hit independent animated feature Hoodwinked!; and Sneaks, an animated adventure featuring the voices of Laurence Fishburne, Martin Lawrence, Anthony Mackie, Roddy Ricch, Ella Mai, Macy Gray, Swae Lee, and Chris Paul.
Great Family Movies…it’s what we’re all about.
About Kartoon Studios
Kartoon Studios (NYSE AMERICAN: TOON) is a global end-to-end creator, producer, distributor, marketer, and licensor of entertainment brands. The Company’s IP portfolio includes original animated content, including the Stan Lee brand, and post-Marvel Stan Lee content of over 200 characters through its controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe, as well as “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Kartoon Channel! and Ameba; “Shaq’s Garage,” starring Shaquille O’Neal, on Kartoon Channel!; “Rainbow Rangers” on Kartoon Channel! and Ameba; the Netflix Original, “Llama Llama,” starring Jennifer Garner, and more. In 2022, Kartoon Studios acquired Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media, and a material financial interest in its subsidiary, Mainframe Studios, which is one of the most successful animation service houses in the world, producing top brands for 3rd parties, including “Cocomelon,” “Barbie’s Playhouse,” Unicorn Academy,” and “SuperKitties.” Additionally, the company made a strategic investment becoming the largest shareholder in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG (FRA:RTV), one of Europe’s leading distributors and broadcasters of high-quality programs for children and families. Toon Media Networks, the Company’s wholly owned digital distribution network, consists of Kartoon Channel!, Frederator Network, and Ameba. Kartoon Channel! is a globally distributed entertainment platform with near full penetration of the U.S. market. Kartoon Channel continually is ranked by viewers in the Apple app store at the top of user entertainment apps. Kartoon Channel! and Ameba are available across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android Mobile, Web, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, Pluto TV, Comcast, Cox, Dish, Sling TV, Android TV, Tubi, Xumo, and Samsung and LG Smart TVs. Frederator Network owns and operates one of the largest global animation networks on YouTube, with channels featuring over 2000 exclusive creators and influencers, garnering billions of views annually. For additional information, please visit www.kartoonstudios.com.