The Mask (franchise)

Last updated
The Mask
Themask-logo.svg
The franchise logo
Created byMichael Fallon
Mark Verheiden
Original work The Mask (1994)
Owners Dark Horse Comics
Films and TV series:
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Years1994–present
Based on The Mask by Mike Richardson and Mark Badger
Films and television
Film(s) The Mask
Son of the Mask (2005)
Animated series The Mask: Animated Series
Games
Video game(s) The Mask (1994)

The Mask is an American media franchise based on the comic book series of the same name by Dark Horse Comics. It revolves around a mask that gives various individuals cartoonish and god-like superpowers. The individuals are ultimately faced with the challenge of overcoming the obstacles and conflicts they create while wearing it.

Contents

The first film, The Mask, was released in 1994 after six years of development, with a stand-alone sequel, Son of the Mask , released in 2005. An animated series was also produced and ran for three seasons. The first film was widely successful, while the second film was critically panned and a box-office failure.

Background

In 1989, Mike Richardson and Todd Moyer, respectively the founder and Executive Vice President of Dark Horse Comics, first approached New Line Cinema about adapting the comic series The Mask into a film, after having seen other offers. The main character went through several transformations, and the project was stalled a couple of times. [1]

With New Line Cinema initially intending for The Mask to start a new horror franchise, the company offered the job of directing the film to Charles Russell, known for directing such films. [2] However, Russell found the violence of the comic to be off-putting, and wanted the film to be less grim and more fun than the source material. [3]

Films

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
The Mask July 29, 1994 Chuck Russell Mike Werb Michael Fallon and Mark Verheiden Bob Engelman
Son of the Mask February 18, 2005 Lawrence Guterman Lance KhazeiErica Huggins and Scott Kroopf

The Mask (1994)

Unfortunate bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) finds a magical mask that transforms him into a mischievous, good-hearted gangster with cartoon-like superpowers.

Son of the Mask (2005)

After Loki (Alan Cumming) is dispatched to Earth to retrieve the Mask, cartoonist Tim Avery (Jamie Kennedy) inadvertently uses it to conceive a child, who inherits its powers.

Possible third film

On the possibility of a direct sequel to the 1994 film with Carrey reprising the role of Stanley Ipkiss and Diaz as Tina Carlyle, Mike Richardson said in a 2014 interview: "We've been talking about reviving The Mask, both in film and in comics. We've had a couple of false starts". [4] In December 2024, Carrey revealed that he was still interested in portraying the Mask a sequel as long as the idea is good. [5]

Television

SeriesSeasonEpisodesFirst releasedLast releasedShowrunner(s)Network(s)
The Mask: Animated Series 354August 12, 1995August 30, 1997 Duane Capizzi CBS

The Mask: Animated Series (1995–1997)

Stanley Ipkiss (voiced by Rob Paulsen) continues to use the magical mask to fight crime and the supervillains as the mischievous, cartoonish, good-hearted superhero known as the "Mask", while having fun and partying at the same time. In this continuity, Stanley still has the mask. He either pretended to throw it away, or Milo retrieved it from the river. As well, in this series, Stanley can use the mask during both day and night, whereas in the film, it only worked at night.

Cast and characters

Key
CharacterFilmsAnimated series
The Mask Son of the Mask The Mask:
Animated Series
Season 1Season 2Season 3
Stanley Ipkiss
The Mask
Jim Carrey Rob Paulsen V
Dr. Arthur Neuman Ben Stein Ben Stein V
MiloMax Frank Welker V
Lt. Mitch Kellaway Peter Riegert Neil Ross V
Detective Doyle Jim Doughan Jim Cummings V
Charlie Schumaker Richard Jeni Mark L. Taylor V
Peggy Brandt Amy Yasbeck Heidi Shannon V
Mayor Mitchell "Mortimer" TiltonIvory Ocean Kevin Michael Richardson V
Dorian Tyrell
The Mask
Peter Greene
Tina Carlyle Cameron Diaz
Niko Orestes Matacena
Loki
God of Mischief
Alan Cumming
Tim Avery
The Mask
Jamie Kennedy
Alvey Avery
Son of the Mask
Ryan and Liam Falconer
Joyce Kurtz V
Mona Marshall V
Mary Matilyn Mouser V
Neil Ross V
Tonya Avery Traylor Howard
OtisBear
Bill Farmer V
Richard Steven Horvitz V
Odin Bob Hoskins
Daniel Moss Steven Wright
Jorge Kal Penn
Chad Ryan Johnson
Betty Magda Szubanski
Doctor Septimus Pretorius Tim Curry

Additional crew and production details

FilmCrew/Detail
Composer(s)CinematographerEditor(s)Production
companies
Distributing
company
Running time
The Mask Randy Edelman John R. Leonetti Arthur Coburn New Line Productions
AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Dark Horse Entertainment
New Line Cinema 101 minutes
Son of the Mask Randy Edelman Greg Gardiner Malcolm Campbell, John Coniglio and Debra Neil Fisher Radar Pictures
Dark Horse Entertainment
New Line Cinema (United States)
Warner Bros. Pictures (Germany)
94 minutes

Video game

A side-scrolling action game based on the first film was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Carrey</span> Canadian-American actor and comedian (born 1962)

James Eugene Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian primarily known for his energetic slapstick performances. After spending the 1980s honing his comedy act and playing supporting roles in films, Carrey gained recognition when he was cast in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1994). He broke out as a film star after starring in a string of box office hits, such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, and Batman Forever. The success of these five films led to Carrey being the first comic actor to receive an upfront $20 million salary for performing in films, beginning with The Cable Guy (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark Horse Comics</span> American comic book and manga publisher

Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon, comic book shops known as Pegasus Books and founded in 1980.

Terminator is an American media franchise created by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd. It is considered to be of the cyberpunk subgenre of science fiction. The franchise primarily focuses on a post-apocalyptic war between a synthetic intelligence known as Skynet, and a surviving resistance of humans led by John Connor. Skynet fights with an arsenal of cyborgs known as Terminators, designed to mimic humans and infiltrate the resistance. A prominent model throughout the films is the T-800, commonly known as the Terminator and portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Time travel is a common aspect of the franchise, with humans and Terminators often sent back to alter the past and change the outcome of the future.

A mask is a covering worn on the face, or an object depicting a face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Dorkin</span> American comics artist

Evan Dorkin is an American comics artist and cartoonist. His best known works are the comic books Milk and Cheese and Dork, the latter of which features his comic Eltingville. His comics often poke fun at fandom, even while making it clear that Dorkin is a fan himself. Dorkin also served as a writer on the Adult Swim animated series Space Ghost Coast to Coast from 1994 to 1999, and created a pilot for an animated adaptation of Eltingville for Adult Swim in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IDW Publishing</span> American comic book publishing company

IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW) and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic book publisher in the United States, behind Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics, ahead of other comic book publishers such as Archie, Boom!, Dynamite, Valiant, and Oni Press. The company is known for its licensed comic book adaptations of films, television shows, video games, and cartoons.

<i>Son of the Mask</i> 2005 film by Lawrence Guterman

Son of the Mask is a 2005 superhero comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman. A standalone sequel to The Mask (1994), it is the second film in The Mask franchise, an adaptation of the comic book series of the same name by Dark Horse Comics. The film stars Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery, an aspiring animator whose child is born with the powers of the Mask. It co-stars Alan Cumming as Loki, whom Odin has ordered to find the Mask, alongside Traylor Howard, Kal Penn, Steven Wright, Bob Hoskins as Odin, and Ryan and Liam Falconer as Tim's baby Alvey. Ben Stein cameos as Doctor Arthur Neuman from the original film. The film was a critical and financial failure upon release, grossing $59.9 million against its $84–100 million budget.

<i>The Mask</i> (1994 film) Film by Chuck Russell

The Mask is a 1994 American superhero comedy film directed by Chuck Russell and produced by Bob Engelman from a screenplay by Mike Werb and a story by Michael Fallon and Mark Verheiden. It is the first film in the Mask franchise, based on the comic book series of the same name by Mike Richardson, published by Dark Horse Comics. It stars Jim Carrey in the title role along with Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck, Richard Jeni, and Cameron Diaz in her film debut. Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, an ordinary man who finds a magical wooden mask that transforms him into the titular green-faced troublemaker who can cartoonishly alter himself and his surroundings at will. Filming began on August 30, 1993, and concluded in October 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Niles</span> American comic book author and novelist (born 1965)

Steve Niles is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery, Simon Dark, Mystery Society, Batman: Gotham County Line, Kick-Ass – The New Girl, and Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Arcudi</span> American comic book writer

John Arcudi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work on The Mask and B.P.R.D. and his series Major Bummer.

<i>Ace Ventura: Pet Detective</i> (TV series) Animated series, 1995–1997, 1999–2000

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is an animated television series based on the film of the same name. The series was produced by Morgan Creek Productions, Funbag Animation Studios, Nelvana Limited, for the first two seasons and Odyssey Entertainment for the third and final season. It aired for two seasons from 1995 to 1997 on CBS. A third season and reruns of previous episodes aired on Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2000.

Dark Horse Entertainment is a motion picture and television production arm of American comic book publishing company Dark Horse Comics, founded in 1992. They also have a sub-label, Dark Horse Indie. They have their headquarters in Milwaukie, Oregon.

<i>The Mask</i> (video game) 1995 video game

The Mask is a 1995 side-scrolling action video game created by American studio Black Pearl Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System which is based on the film of the same name. The film, in turn, was loosely based on the Dark Horse comic book series of the same name.

<i>The Mask: Animated Series</i> 1995 American TV series or program

The Mask: Animated Series is an American animated television series based on the 1994 film of the same title. The series aired for a total of three seasons and fifty-four episodes from August 12, 1995, to August 30, 1997. It spawned its own short-run comic book series, Adventures of The Mask. John Arcudi, former writer of the original comics, wrote two episodes of the series. The Mask was one of three animated series based on Jim Carrey movies that premiered the same year. These included the 1995–2000 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective series, and the 1995–1996 Dumb and Dumber series.

The Mask may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Richardson (publisher)</span> American publisher, writer, and producer

Mike Richardson is an American publisher, writer, and producer. In 1986, he founded Dark Horse Comics, an international publishing house located in Milwaukie, Oregon. Richardson is also the founder and President of the Things From Another World retail chain and president of Dark Horse Entertainment, which has developed and produced numerous projects for film and television based on Dark Horse properties or licensed properties.

<i>The Mask</i> (comics) Comic book series

The Mask is an American comedy horror comic book series created by Mike Richardson, developed by Doug Mahnke and John Arcudi, and published by Dark Horse Comics. Its artists include Mark Badger, Chris Warner and Keith Williams. The series tells the story of a supernatural mask that grants its wearers nearly limitless power, often at the cost of their sanity. The original trilogy of The Mask, The Mask Returns, and The Mask Strikes Back was published as a limited series, from 1991 to 1995, and has since expanded into various spin-offs and other media, including Itty Bitty Mask and the 2019 main series revival I Pledge Allegiance to the Mask!. The series is known for its dark tone and graphic violence.

<i>M.A.S.K.</i> (franchise) Media franchise constructed around action figures

M.A.S.K. is a media franchise created by Kenner. The main premise revolved around the fight between the titular protagonist underground task force and the terrorist organization V.E.N.O.M.. After its initial launch in 1985, the franchise spawned a variety of products and presentations, including four series of action figures, an animated television series, video games, and comics; as of 2018, a live-action theatrical film is in development by Hasbro and Paramount.

<i>Kick-Ass</i> (franchise) Media franchise

Kick-Ass is a media franchise based on the adventures of superheroes of the same name, created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. Set in the Millarworld, it began in 2008 with Marvel's Kick-Ass – The Dave Lizewski Years, followed by the anthology Millarworld Annual from 2016 to 2017, two stand-alone sequel series, Kick-Ass – The New Girl and Hit-Girl, from 2018 to 2020, and two crossover series, Kick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl and Big Game, in 2020 and 2023. In the series, Hit-Girl is a young vigilante going around the world stopping crime in violent ways, while Kick-Ass has had three people take the mantle, a hero, a sidekick, and a villain.

References

  1. Brennan, Judy (July 31, 1994). "'Mask' Makes Dark Horse Into Sure Bet for Spinoffs : The booming comic-book publisher gets a multi-picture deal before the Jim Carrey film even opens". Los Angeles Times . ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  2. THN Exclusive: Chuck Russell talks I Am Wrath, The Mask and Freddy Krueger Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  3. Shapiro, Marc (August 1994). "Mask Maker". Starlog . No. 205. pp.  32–35. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  4. Sunu, Steve (August 7, 2014). "EXCLUSIVE: Richardson Details Dark Horse's "Itty Bitty Mask" Plans". Comic Book Resources . Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  5. https://movieweb.com/jim-carrey-return-the-mask-3-sequel-right-idea/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0PukhWRHYBLnFlaW8OKshwb6LoVbChe7AuwzF9y4ET-Jr5vAeT_f242GA_aem_E-WEEOpqdoecR0HqZOwcig