All-New Warner Bros. Television Programming Arsenal Featuring DC Comics and Vertigo Titles to Ignite Multi-Category Licensing Opportunities

Burbank, Calif. – June 16, 2014 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), on behalf of Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) and DC Entertainment, is thrilled to swoop into Licensing Expo 2014 with a powerhouse slate of primetime TV licensing offerings based on DC Comics’ and Vertigo’s pantheon of characters. Bringing fresh and innovative programming to fans, WBTV’s new DC Comics–based series “The Flash,” “Gotham,” “Constantine” and returning hit “Arrow,” along with new Vertigo-based series “iZOMBIE” will feature storylines and characters that will inspire an array of new products from licensing partners in every category. 

“On the heels of another successful season of ‘Arrow,’ WBCP is excited to introduce to its licensing partners an unparalleled, new slate of content that will cater to audiences looking for smart and inventive programming that explores a wide range of DC Comics and Vertigo characters,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Each new show stars an atypical hero who may not be conventional, but whose fight for justice will resonate with fans and licensees alike.”

“Consumer desire for sophisticated and entertaining genre programming continues to be incredibly strong, and Warner Bros. Television’s commitment to leadership in this area is clear, with five series based upon DC Entertainment properties set to air on network television next season,” said Lisa Gregorian, Chief Marketing Officer, Warner Bros. Television Group. “These signature shows will provide the foundation for consumer products offerings that will give fans a variety of ways to connect with their favorite characters and programs.”

“It’s an exciting time to be a comic book fan with five very distinct DC Entertainment shows slated for the coming TV season,” stated DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. “From the supernatural feel of Constantine to Gotham’s gritty take on big city crime, we look forward to bringing characters and stories from these shows to life in new ways.”

The all-new DC Comics-inspired WBTV programming lineup being showcased by WBCP during Licensing Expo 2014 includes:

“Arrow”

The #1 series on The CW among Total Viewers, “Arrow” is scheduled to return to television this fall for its third season.  A one-hour drama based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow, the hit program is a domestic and international success, particularly with Men 18-34 and 18-49.  After being marooned for five years on a remote island, billionaire Oliver Queen comes home with a mysterious agenda and lethal new skills to fight crime in Starling City. Oliver creates the persona of Arrow, a vigilante, to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society and restore Starling City to its former glory.  Among the licensees already supporting “Arrow” are master toy licensee Mattel, and global partners such as Rubie’s Costume Co. and Bioworld, among others.

ARROW: From left to right, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, Manu Bennett as Slade Wilson, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen and Colton Haynes as Roy Harper star in Warner Bros. Television’s Arrow, returning for its third season Wednesdays 8/7 on The CW this fall. (Photo Credit: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“Gotham”

Before there was Batman, there was “Gotham.” The origin story of some of DC Comics greatest Super-Villains and vigilantes, this one hour drama follows the rise to power of Detective Jim Gordon (series star Ben McKenzie – “Southland”) in a dangerously corrupt city that would spawn iconic characters such as The Penguin, Catwoman, The Riddler and a young Bruce Wayne. Coming to FOX Mondays 8/7c this fall, the “Gotham” pilot was written by Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”) and directed by Danny Cannon (“CSI” series, “Nikita”), both of whom serve as executive producers of the series along with John Stephens (“Gossip Girl,” “The O.C.”).

GOTHAM: From left to right: Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney, Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma/future Riddler, Clare Foley as Ivy Pepper/future Poison Ivy, Donal Logue as Detective Harvey Bullock, Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon, Camren Bicondova (above, on fire escape) as Selina Kyle/future Catwoman, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne and Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth star in Warner Bros. Television’s Gotham, airing Mondays 8/7c on FOX this fall. (Photo Credit: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“The Flash”

Speeding to audiences on The CW Tuesdays 8/7c this fall, this lightning-paced super hero drama from the creative team behind the action hit “Arrow” follows the high-speed adventures of the Fastest Man Alive. After an unexpected accident at a Particle Accelerator, police scientist and everyday guy Barry Allen (series star Grant Gustin – “Arrow”) finds himself suddenly charged with the ability to move at incredible speeds, which he uses to help the people of Central City. “The Flash” pilot was written by Greg Berlanti (“Arrow”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Arrow”) and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, and was directed by David Nutter (“Arrow,” “Game of Thrones”).

THE FLASH: Grant Gustin stars as the Fastest Man Alive, Barry Allen/The Flash, in Warner Bros. Television’s The Flash, airing Tuesdays 8/7c on The CW this fall. (Photo Credit: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“Constantine”

Premiering Friday, October 24, at 10/9c on NBC, “Constantine” is a drama about DC Comics character John Constantine, is a man waging war against the forces of darkness. An irreverent con-man and occult expert, he doesn’t come down on the side of either good or evil … but ultimately might be the only thing defending us against the dark forces from beyond. “Constantine” is executive produced by Daniel Cerone (“The Mentalist,” “Dexter”) and David S. Goyer (“Man of Steel,” “The Dark Knight” trilogy). The pilot was directed by Neil Marshall (“The Descent”), with teleplay by Cerone and story by Cerone & Goyer.

CONSTANTINE: Matt Ryan stars as John Constantine in Warner Bros. Television’s Constantine, debuting October 24 and airing Fridays 10/9c on NBC. (Photo Credit: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“iZOMBIE”

Based on characters published by DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, “iZOMBIE” follows a medical resident turned zombie (Rose McIver – “Masters of Sex,” “Once Upon a Time”) who works in a coroner’s office for access to the brains she must reluctantly eat, but with each brain she consumes, she inherits the corpse’s memories. With her medical examiner boss and a police detective, she now solves homicides to quiet the voices in her head. This new one-hour drama from executive producers/writers Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright (both “Veronica Mars”) comes to The CW in midseason. Thomas & Ruggiero-Wright co-wrote the pilot, which Thomas directed, and they both serve as executive producers of the series along with Danielle Stokdyk and Dan Etheridge (both “Veronica Mars”).

iZOMBIE: Rose McIver stars in Warner Bros. Television’s iZOMBIE, debuting midseason on The CW. (Photo Credit: © The CW/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

“Arrow,” “Gotham,” “The Flash,” and “Constantine” are based on characters from DC Comics. “iZombie” is based on the characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred for Vertigo.

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About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About DC Entertainment

DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.

About Warner Bros. Television

Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) is one of the entertainment industry’s most respected providers of original content, producing award-winning drama and comedy series for both broadcast network television and cable. As of June 2014, WBTV is producing and distributing more than 30 primetime series, with multiple programs on each of the five broadcast networks, in addition to shows on cable’s HBO, TNT, Showtime and Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. WBTV’s broadcast network series include The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, Mom, 2 Broke Girls, Two and a Half Men, The Mentalist, Person of Interest and Stalker for CBS; The Middle, Selfie and Forever for ABC; Gotham and The Following for FOX; Constantine, The Mysteries of Laura, A to Z, One Big Happy and Undateable for NBC; and Arrow, The Flash, Hart of Dixie, iZOMBIE, The Originals, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries and The 100, for The CW. WBTV’s cable series include The Leftovers for HBO, Major Crimes for TNT, Shameless for Showtime, and Childrens Hospital and Newsreaders for Adult Swim.