max. Shrek
The Shrek series is one of the most merchandised and cross-promoted in memory (the first DVD release was promoted with Burger King; by part 3 we had Shrek McFlurries at McDonald’s, ads for Hewlett-Packard, Shrek Go-Gurt and Go-Tarts, boxed Shrekaroni and Cheese, and dozens more – to the point that the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood organized a complaint against the meaty ogre’s image being used simultaneously by the Department of Health and Human Services for fitness-related public service announcements* and to sell French Toast sticks.
*Though HSS did yank the ads temporarily to avoid being seen as advertising a current film, an issue similar to that of the Fantastic Four quarter.
This summer certainly seems to be one of the most merchandised – beyond the obvious Transformers and Bratz toy sales, the width of promotion seems much greater, particularly for the big three: Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Shrek. A walk down your local cereal aisle should confirm this.
Like Spider-Man, in an effort to achieve maximum Shrek, this franchise too will be brought to Broadway. Announced back in 2004, it’s been mentioned for a release as early as 2008, though official word is still simply “in development.”
Writing the score is David Yazbek, no stranger to the adaptation scene – he wrote music and lyrics for the musical version of The Full Monty in 2000, as well as the musicalization of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Shrek 4 is planned for 2010. Shrek the Halls will come to TV in the winter.
I don’t like musicals.