MARVEL UNIVERSE TO MAKE HISTORIC DEBUT ON DISNEY XD (DSTV CHANNEL 304) IN SEPTEMBER

Generations of fans can now experience the epic storytelling of Marvel through a dedicated programming block, Marvel Universe, premiering this September on Disney XD (DStv Channel 304). With some of the most popular Super Heroes in the world – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk & Spider-Man – fans of all ages can enjoy an early taste of Marvel’s signature action, adventure and humor with new series, Ultimate Spider-Man, written and guided by the most star-studded creative team in Super Hero television history.

“The Marvel block on Disney XD will be the go-to destination for the excitement and energy of the latest Marvel series,” commented Tricia Wilber General Manager, Disney Channels Europe, Middle East and Africa. “The appetite for the Marvel Universe programming is evident from the incredible success ofMarvel’s The Avengers movie, andthe Disney XD audience will be thrilled by the fun, action, adventure and relatable characters that Marvel will deliver.”

“The Marvel Universe, which is exploding in theatres, comic books, games and online, bursts onto your TV with the top talent in comics and animation, and the premiere titles Spider-Man and The Avengers! We are bringing the fun, action and adventure known to Marvel fans and families alike,” exclaimed Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s Executive Vice President – Head of Television.

Marvel Universe will be home to all of Marvel’s action-packed animated series including hit programs The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Iron Man: Armored Adventures and the forthcoming Ultimate Spider-Man.

Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man (who also provides the voice of Stan the Janitor in Ultimate Spider-Man) said, “It’s a thrill to see that the highest standards in storytelling are so perfectly exemplified by Spider-Man leaping from the pages of the comic book onto the screen to be enjoyed by a new generation.”

The amazing team, made up of Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, and Marvel’s EVP – Head of Television, Jeph Loeb, Co-Executive Producers Man of Action Studios (Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Steven T. Seagle & Duncan Rouleau), Creative Consultant/Writer Paul Dini (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Lost”), and Consulting Producer/Writer Brian Michael Bendis (Marvel’s Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series), “Ultimate Spider-Man” marks firsts for one of Marvel’s most popular characters the world over. In the storyline, a teenage Peter Parker (voiced by actor Drake Bell) juggles the relatable challenges of high school with the extraordinary challenges of being a Super Hero. Nick Fury (voiced by actor Chi McBride) invites Parker to train with his S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, where Peter’s alter-ego, Spider-Man, will join forces with four other teenage Super Heroes – Nova, White Tiger, Power Man and Iron Fist, on the greatest action and adventure ever as they work to become Ultimate Super Heroes!

Ultimate Spider-Man – Executive Producers: Alan Fine (“Marvel’s Avengers Assemble”, “Iron Man”, “Thor”), Dan Buckley (“Marvel’s Avengers Assemble”, “Iron Man”), Joe Quesada (Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer), and Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s EVP – Head of Television) (Smallville, Lost, Heroes, Teen Wolf and Commando); Co-Executive Producers: Stan Lee (“Spider-Man”) and Eric Radomski (“Batman Animated”, “Spawn”); Supervising Producers: Man of Action Studios’ (creators of “Ben 10” and “Generator Rex”) Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle; other Supervising Producers: Dana Booton (“The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”) and Cort Lane (“The Super Hero Squad Show”); Creative Consultant (and Pilot Writer): Paul Dini (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Lost”): Consulting Producer: Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel’s Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series). Ultimate Spider-Man is produced by Marvel Animation.

Ultimate Spider-Man stars Drake Bell (“Drake & Josh”) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride (“Boston Public”) as Nick Fury, Clark Gregg (“Iron Man,” “Thor,” “The Avengers”) as Agent Coulson, JK Simmons (“Spider-Man”) as J. Jonah Jameson, Steven Weber (“Wings”) as Norman Osborn, Greg Cipes (“Teen Titans, Ben 10”) as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Ogie Banks as Luke Cage/Power Man, Caitlyn Taylor Love (“I’m In The Band”) as Ava Ayala/White Tiger, Logan Miller (“I’m In The Band”) as Sam Alexander/Nova, Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants”) as Doctor Octopus, Matt Lanter (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Harry Osborn/Flash Thompson, Tara Strong (“The Fairly Odd Parents”) as Mary-Jane Watson, Misty Lee (“Batman: Arkham City”) as Aunt May, and recurring guest star Stan Lee (“Spider-Man”) as Stan the Janitor.

The success of Marvel’s The Avengers movie has exploded beyond the box office. There has been a huge uplift in sales of the wide range of Marvel and Avengers products at retailers, the Facebook game “Marvel: Avengers Alliance” attracts more than 1.2 million daily users, and excitement is building for the release of Iron Man 3, the next film from Marvel Studios.