DIC buys global rights to Josie and the Pussycats

DIC Entertainment has formalised its agreement with Riverdale Productions, the film and television arm of Archie Comic Publications and MultiModal Media Group, to co-produce, distribute and merchandise a new animated series based on the popular comic book, Josie and The Pussycats.

Soon to be a major theatrical release from Universal Pictures starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson, Josie and the Pussycats follows the adventures of an all-girl rock n' roll group who travel the world playing gigs and solving crimes.

Josie began her career as an Archie comics character in the late 1960's, starring in her own self-titled book. The stories followed the day-to-day adventures of Josie and her girlfriend Melody. Later, the title was expanded to Josie and the Pussycats, turning Josie and Melody into a rock band, along with new friend Valerie.

The Josi series will be produced by Riverdale Productions' producing partners and principals Chuck Grimes and Tony DeRosa-Grund, vice chairman and chairman & ceo respectively of MultiModal, as well as DIC's chairman & ceo Andy Heyward and chief creative officer Michael Maliani.

DIC and Archie Comics have previously collaborated on three animated television properties: The New Archies (Toon Disney), Archie's Weird Mysteries (syndication) and Sabrina, The Animated Series (ABC and UPN).

{The release of Josie and the Pussycats as a film was the first step Archie Comics took in bringing its characters groups, who have long been American icons, into the 21st century,{ said DeRosa-Grund.

{The feature film release, combined with the launch of the Josie animated series and associated music projects, shows what levels of simultaneous multiple modality exploitation these internationally recognised brands can and do support.{