Business Wire: Catch 23 Entertainment to Develop Feature Film of Acclaimed Comic Series ``Blackjack'

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2002

First Project for Catch 23's Alter Ego Entertainment,

the Recently Launched Urban Division Headed by Darryl Taja

Catch 23 Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce it has acquired the film rights to writer Alex Simmon's acclaimed graphic novel series "Blackjack" from Beverly Hills-based Platinum Studios, and has entered into a co-production agreement with Platinum for the development of a feature film based on the material. "Blackjack" is the first acquisition for C23's new urban entertainment division headed by Senior Vice President Darryl Taja, recently christened Catch 23's Alter Ego Entertainment. Michael Jai White ("Exit Wounds;" "Universal Soldier: The Return;" "Spawn;" John Woo's upcoming "Honor Among Thieves") is in preliminary negotiations to star. The announcements were made today by Jeremy Barber, President of Catch 23 Entertainment.

"'Blackjack' represents the exact kind of crossover material I hoped to develop at Catch 23's Alter Ego," said Taja.

Alex Simmon's comic book series "Blackjack," which debuted in 1996, follows the exploits of independent African-American soldier of fortune Arron Day -- a man called "Blackjack" -- as he roams the globe in search of a life of adventure and danger, from mysterious lost treasures to the schemes of power-mad dictators in a world on the brink of war. Blackjack is thrust into the middle of political warfare in China in order to protect the life of an important Chinese dignitary and lives in a milieu of looming world hostilities, cultural renaissance, and brutal assassins.

Marc Danon, Catch 23's Vice President of Production and Acquisitions, who brought "Blackjack" to Taja's attention, will develop the project with Taja.

Catch 23's Alter Ego Entertainment is aggressively ramping up its development slate, under the direction of Darryl Taja, Senior Vice President of Catch 23 Management, who continues to operate in a dual role as both talent manager and production executive. C23's Alter Ego will focus primarily on developing projects for the urban-crossover market, but will seek out a wide variety of genre-specific material. In addition to "Blackjack," Taja and Danon are currently developing the family-comedy "Mr. Momma," described as an African-American Mr. Mom, with screenwriters Joe Forristal and Dirk Wittenborn. In addition to his responsibilities with C23's Alter Ego, Darryl Taja is also producing the action-comedy "Indiana Jackson" for Disney, and recently produced the urban-comedy "Higher Ed," to be released by the Urban World label of Columbia at Sony, and the comedy "Go For Broke," to be distributed through New Line this year.

"I am very pleased with the aggressive growth of our new label under Taja's direction and I am gratified by Taja and Danon's collaboration," said Barber.

About Platinum Studios

Headquartered in Beverly Hills, Platinum Studios is Hollywood's premier company for comic book to film adaptation. Platinum Studios was established in 1997 by Chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, following a successful, high-profile career in the comic book industry as the founder and head of Malibu Comics. As principal of Malibu Comics, Rosenberg gained an industry-wide reputation for translating comic titles into feature film blockbusters when he developed "Men in Black" for Columbia Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. Platinum Studios' comic book-to-feature productions include "Nathan Never," a futuristic buddy/action film based on the popular Italian comic book, with DreamWorks SKG; "Ghosting," with Miramax/Dimension Films, and "Mal Chance," a blend of Hong Kong action and romantic comedy, with Miramax.

About Catch 23 Entertainment

With offices in Los Angeles and London, Catch 23 Entertainment is a film production and management company formed by financier Robert B. Sturm in 2000, which has since then secured a domestic distribution deal with Universal Pictures. Pre-production is imminent on the Reese Witherspoon starrer based on Marc Klein's adaptation of short stories from best-seller "Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing," among other projects. Catch 23 Entertainment's first feature film release, the psychological thriller "One Hour Photo," starring Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Gary Cole and Eriq La Salle, won critical acclaim at its world premiere at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. "One Hour Photo," written and directed by acclaimed video director Mark Romanek, will be released theatrically by Fox Searchlight this year.