HBO readies new American Girl
DVD premiere movie to bow after doll launch
By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 9/12/2008
SEPT. 12 | Just months after its first theatrical movie reaches DVD, the popular American Girl doll brand will debut its first-ever DVD premiere movie starring next year’s doll.
HBO will release American Girl: Girl of the Year 2009 on DVD Jan. 6 (prebook Dec. 2), days after the new 2009 doll and her book hit store shelves on New Year’s Day.
The live-action film will be the first in the American Girl series to be based on a contemporary doll. The popular American Girl brand features high-end dolls, historical fiction books and other merchandise aimed at girls ages 3 to 12.
The Mattel-owned American Girl company has released three made-for-TV movies on DVD in the last few years as part of a four- to five-film deal with the now-defunct WB network and Julia Roberts’ production company.
The first theatrical release, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, for which Roberts served as executive producer, failed to draw in large audiences in July, grossing just $17.4 million at the box office. However, the movie is expected to overperform on DVD and Blu-ray Disc when Warner Home Video releases it on Oct. 28 (prebook Sept. 23; DVD $28.98, BD $35.99) because of its all-star cast, which includes Little Miss Sunshine’s Abigail Breslin as Kit.
Kit Kittredge and the made-for-TV movies were all based on historical characters in the American Girl series and set during World War II, the Great Depression and other key times in American history. Details on the 2009 doll haven’t yet been revealed. Neither HBO nor American Girl are ruling out future films from the franchise.
“We’re hopeful we’ll do more entertainment and more movies with all of our characters,” said Stephanie Spanos, American Girl spokeswoman.
Spanos said the American Girl company will work with HBO as part of a coordinated marketing campaign for the launch of its 2009 doll.
