International
Warner Bros Consumer Products launches global licensing programme for ‘Man of Steel’
MUMBAI: As the legendary DC Comics superhero Superman returns to the big screen, Warner Bros Consumer Products has teamed up with a slate of global licensees for a broad, multi-category licensing program to support ‘Man of Steel‘.
In anticipation of ‘Man of Steel‘, global master toy licensee Mattel unveiled its toy line, including action figures, vehicles, playsets and collectible figures, highlighted by the Movie Masters line, which aims to capture the superior accuracy and details of the film‘s characters. Mattel will also introduce ‘Man of Steel‘ QuickShots, a new way to play with Superman, incorporating elements of flight and strength into the toy.
Also supporting ‘Man of Steel‘ are global licensees such as Lego, with construction sets inspired by memorable scenes from the film; and Rubie‘s Costume with a new line of ‘Man of Steel‘-inspired costumes and accessories for both kid and adult fans.
Warner Bros Consumer Products president Brad Globe said, "With a Super Hero as iconic and beloved as Superman, it is no surprise that fans worldwide are excited for Zack Snyder‘s new vision of this classic story. We are thrilled to be a part of the phenomenon as we work closely with our licensees to offer fans a variety of products that bring ‘Man of Steel‘ to the world beyond the big screen."
Additional toys, games, and collectibles partners bringing the ‘Man of Steel‘ products to life include Thinkway Toys, with a full role-play line, interactive figure and other toys; Jakks Pacific, with a 31-inch collectible Superman figure; and Cardinal Industries, with games and puzzles; among many other licensees.
There will also be statues from sideshow collectibles; authentic prop replicas from The Noble Collection; an 18-inch articulated figure from NECA; fun, stylised plush and vinyl figures from Funko; and high-end creations from Kotobukiya and SquareEnix.
The roster of licensees includes categories like apparel, accessories, stationery and publishing. Perennial partner Bioworld brings a line of ‘Man of Steel‘- inspired apparel and accessories, utilising a number of graphics and icons; high-end t-shirt label Kinetix offers statement S-Shield t-shirts; New Era Cap Company with a range of hats; and Under Armour with high-end sportswear. Publishers include Insight Editions, with an official ‘Man of Steel‘ guide and a behind-the-scenes look at the film; Titan Books, with the film‘s official novelisation; and HarperCollins, with a range of children‘s books based on ‘Man of Steel‘. Additional licensees include Mead Westvaco, Hallmark, Bakery Crafts, and many more.
Around the world licensees have started to celebrate the debut of ‘Man of Steel‘ with offerings in their local markets. Throughout the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, partners supporting ‘Man of Steel‘ include TV Mania, FCUK, Prenatal, Aquarapid, Leomil and others, with fun designs in apparel and accessories. D‘Arp?je and Maverix offer outdoor fun with ‘Man of Steel‘ outdoor products; while Pyramid, Proburo, and Cartorama bring the fun indoors, with themed back-to-school and paper products.
In Asia and Australia, fans can listen in style with Gavio‘s ‘Man of Steel‘ digital lifestyle collection, or collect their favorite scent with the Heat Group‘s ‘Man of Steel‘ eau du toilette, among other fun products. In Latin America, apparel from Aurimoda and Distribuidora de Textiles Avante is sure to delight, and kids can‘t wait to get back-to-school with fun items from Targmex.
International
Utopai Studios unveils 4K three-minute video generation for PAI platform
New Story Agent and editing tools aim to streamline AI-led filmmaking workflows
MUMBAI: Utopai Studios has announced a major upgrade to its PAI storytelling AI platform, introducing what it claims is an industry-first capability to generate three-minute videos in 4K resolution, alongside enhancements to its Story Agent feature.
The update, rolling out from April 15, expands the platform’s capabilities across the filmmaking process, from early concept development to post-production. The company said the new features are designed to help filmmakers maintain continuity across characters, scenes and visual styles, a key challenge in AI-driven storytelling.
At the heart of the release is a next-generation model that enables more structured narrative development, allowing creators to move more seamlessly from idea to execution. With tools such as multi-shot sequencing and multi-turn editing, the platform aims to give both studios and independent creators greater control over complex storytelling workflows.
Commenting on the launch, Utopai Studios co-founder and CTO Jie Yang said, “The next phase of AI in media will not be defined by isolated tools, but by systems that can carry story, continuity and collaboration across the full creative process.” He added that the update is a step towards enabling more practical, end-to-end narrative development at a professional level.
Echoing this, Utopai Studios co-founder and chief scientific officer Zijian He said, “Generative video is opening the door to a new production model, where creative ambition is less constrained by traditional cost and complexity.” He noted that the platform combines multimodal models with iterative editing to give creators more speed, control and consistency.
The company said PAI is already being used in professional film and television productions, particularly in Hollywood, for tasks such as pre-visualisation, scene design and post-production refinements. The latest update adds features including improved voice options, character consistency, unlimited editing and more flexible asset management.
Utopai also emphasised that its models are not trained on copyrighted material, positioning the platform as a cleaner alternative for creators and rights holders navigating the evolving AI landscape.
As AI continues to reshape content creation, Utopai’s latest push signals a shift from standalone tools to integrated systems, aiming to make high-quality filmmaking faster, more flexible and increasingly accessible.
