'Angry Birds' to soar into cinemas

Rovio, creator of the blockbuster mobile video game Angry Birds, has announced a partnership with former Marvel Studios chair David Maisel, who produced Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, to launch the popular birds onto the big screen.

In transforming the global hit Angry Birds into an entertainment franchise, reports Variety, the strategy will bring the game to shorts, films, television shows, and more licensed merchandise, such as the plush bird collection which sold two million.

In its effort to build a media company, Rovio bought Finnish animation studio Kombo last month to create a series of Angry Birds short films leading to a full-length feature. In turn, the games will promote the film, as with the marketing of Rio, earlier this year.

Rovio has expressed interest in expanding the Angry Birds franchise from cell phones to Hollywood following the model of the animated film studio Pixar (Toy Story, Cars, Up) and Marvel's success with films.

The Angry Birds game has been downloaded more than 250 million times since 2009. Plans for a cookbook are also in the works.

source: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/angry-birds-to-soar-into-cinemas-2306932.html