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Dune, Carnival Row and Lost in Space merchandise in the works?

By John Freeman on January 16, 2020

Legendary Entertainment has appointed Rocket Licensing to manage the consumer products programme for the upcoming event feature film Dune.

The deal is part of a wider licensing programme that also includes the fantasy drama Carnival Row (airing on Amazon Prime in the UK, with a second season in the works) and Lost in Space (which has been revamped for Netflix, now in its second season), which will also both be spearheaded by Rocket Licensing in the UK and Ireland.

Rocket Licensing has outlined target consumer product categories including apparel, dress-up, gifting, social stationery, games and homewares – but no comics, it seems.

Set for release on 18th December 2020, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Dune is based on the eponymous novel by Frank Herbert, renowned as one of the greatest science fiction works of all time.

The new film, helmed by director Denis Villenueve, stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and Josh Brolin alongside Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Stephen Henderson, Chang Chen, Charlotte Rampling, with Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

Dune tells the coming-of-age story of Paul Atreides, a young man who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family.

Carnival Row, the hit neo-Victorian fantasy television series from Amazon Studios and Legendary Television, features Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, among an ensemble British cast, and has already enjoyed more than 11 million viewers since its premiere in August 2019.

Set in a world where mythological immigrant creatures are struggling to coexist with humans, the series follows a war-hardened human detective as he investigates a string of gruesome murders threatening the uneasy peace of the Row and a refugee faerie who returns to his life and forces him to reckon with a past he is trying to forget, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Finally, and following a successful first series that has racked up more than 30 million viewers in the US since its premiere in April 2018, Lost in Space returned for series two, launched globally on Netflix last month.

The long-awaited next instalment of the popular reimagining of the 1960s classic science fiction television show by Irwin Allen offers brand new adventures for the Robinson family, as well as bringing a wealth of new opportunities for licensing.

An independent licensing and brand development company launched in January 2007, Rocket Licensing also handles licensing of the Beano, Horrible Histories, Robocop, Vikings and more

Rob Wijeratna, joint managing director of London-based Rocket Licensing, said: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Legendary and working on this raft of great brands. Each of them is very different and together they create a wealth of potential for licensing partnerships. We’re excited to showcase these brands to the industry.”

• Rocket Licensing is online at www.rocketlicensing.com | Twitter

• Buy Frank Herbert’s Dune and more on AmazonUK

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.