ADV Films, which consistently tops all other American companies in the number of anime releases, announced the acquisition of video rights to the live action TV series BeastMaster. Expanding from its base in anime, ADV has acquired the rights to a number of live action science fiction/action adventure TV series including Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, the late lamented Farscape, and most recently the Tribune Entertainment's Marvel-based Mutant X series (see 'ADV Snags Mutant X'). 

 

Tribune Entertainment also produces BeastMaster, an eco-fantasy saga, which is filmed in exotic locations in Queensland, Australia.  With a hero who can communicate with animals and is often pitted against the forces of dark magic, BeastMaster has an ecological theme (the preservation of the forests) that is reminiscent of the underlying message of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy.   ADV plans to appeal BeastMaster fans with a series of DVDs that will include extensive extras such as commentary tracks from stars and staff, outtakes, and bloopers.  Although ADV has not set a release date, ADV CEO John Ledford indicated that the first BeastMaster DVD would be out in 2003.