A Glimpse into the Origins of Zenescope Entertainment
Established in 2005 by co-founders Ralph Tedesco and Joe Brusha, Zenescope Entertainment has made a name for itself in the world of graphic novels and comic books. With its headquarters nestled in Horsham, Pennsylvania, the company specializes in publishing fantasy, action, and horror titles. Additionally, Zenescope also publishes educational and all-age titles under their imprint, Silver Dragon. In order to develop their captivating content, Zenescope has formed partnerships with renowned companies such as the History and Discovery Channel. The dynamic duo of Tedesco and Brusha initially came together to write and create screenplays, eventually realizing that the process of crafting graphic novels and comic books was strikingly similar.
As an avid reader of comic books, Brusha firmly believed that graphic novels and comic books would become an integral part of America’s mainstream culture. This belief led the pair to start writing and developing characters for their flagship series, ‘Grimm Fairy Tales’. The first issue hit the shelves in June 2015, and they later collaborated with writer Raven Gregory to work on the ‘Return to Wonderland’ series, which was released in 2007. But there’s more to Zenescope Entertainment than meets the eye. Let’s dive into some lesser-known facts about this innovative company.
From Page to Screen: Adaptations of Original Titles
Zenescope’s original works include titles such as The Piper, Wonderland, and Grimm Fairy Tales. In 2011, Mandalay Vision, an American film production company founded in 1995, acquired the film rights to ‘The Piper’ and teamed up with Adam Alleca to adapt it for the big screen. Released in 2007, the film tells the story of a high school student who plots to kill his teachers and classmates. In July 2012, Lionsgate Television secured the rights to the ‘Wonderland’ series.
Brian Robins took on the role of executive producer, while Tedesco and Brusha served as co-executive producers. In 2011, the duo met with director Jon Schnapp and partnered to develop the ‘Grimm Fairy Tales’. In March 2012, the trio organized a Kickstarter fundraiser to finance the pilot of the ‘Grimm Fairy Tales’. Upon reaching their funding goal, production began, featuring notable actors such as Chris Hardwick (Nerdist) and Lena Heady (Game of Thrones, 300). Since October 2012, Zenescope has hosted screenings of the pilot for their dedicated fans.
History Channel Collaboration: A Match Made in Heaven
In October 2012, Zenescope joined forces with the History Channel to release two volumes of graphic novels. The collaboration continued in July 2013 when Zenescope and the History Channel developed the free Vikings comic giveaway.
Exploring Licensed Properties
In addition to their original titles, Zenescope also publishes and creates licensed materials for various clients, including the Discovery and History Channel. In June 2010, the company began publishing the Charmed series, picking up where the television series left off. Other adaptations of licensed material include graphic novels based on ‘Final Destination’ for New Line Cinema and ‘Se7en’.
Exciting New Releases on the Horizon
Zenescope has big plans for the future, with two new series set to launch in February 2018: Peek-A-Boo and the Philadelphia Superhero series, The Musketeers.
Van Helsing TV Series: A Dark Fantasy Horror Drama
Based on Zenescope Entertainment’s Helsing, Van Helsing is a dark fantasy horror drama that made its debut on September 23, 2016. The series premiered on Syfy in America and was initially planned to air on Super Channel in Canada. However, due to the channel’s bankruptcy, the series instead debuted on Netflix on December 23, 2016.
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