Disney Consumer Products (DCP) President Bob Chapek today announced Josh Silverman as executive vice president of global licensing for Disney and Marvel. Silverman is currently senior vice president of global strategy, business development and brand management for Marvel Entertainment.

In his new role, Silverman will ensure business maximization through collaboration with internal partners, licensees, and the newly combined retail organization throughout The Walt Disney Company. Internationally, he will work closely with regional licensing teams to leverage DCP’s scale and best practices.

Silverman began his career at Marvel Entertainment in 2001 as a corporate attorney in the business and legal affairs group and by 2006 was vice president, business affairs, responsible for structuring strategic partnerships and licenses. In 2008, Silverman was promoted to senior vice president, global business development and licensing operations, and again in 2010 to his most recent role, where he has been responsible for leading integration into Disney; working across Marvel divisions on global strategic and tactical matters; and corporate brand management. Currently based in New York City, Silverman will soon relocate to Southern California and will be based in DCP’s Glendale headquarters.

Debra Restler has been named associate vice president of business development & marketing at Beanstalk. She is responsible for forging new client relationships for the agency across multiple industries, including corporate brands, celebrities, and entertainment properties. In addition, she oversees all aspects of the agency’s corporate communications, continuing to build awareness of Beanstalk as an innovator in the licensing industry.

Restler, who previously held the role of director of business development & marketing, has worked for Beanstalk for the last 12 years. She will report to Allison Ames, senior vice president of brand management.

Today, Discovery Communications, Exhibits Development Group announced the launch of MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition, in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago and Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates. The exhibition, set to debut March 15, will explore the truth behind popular myths by mixing scientific method with curiosity and old-fashioned ingenuity, creating a hands-on interactive experience for guests of all ages.

The Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated series, co-hosted by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, has taken science to a new level, mixing their extensive backgrounds in special effects and curiosity to test every myth for its falsity or truth, and can now be enjoyed by the masses.

In the exhibit, guest will learn about myths, the MythBusters, and what experimenting is all about by participating in a series of fun, hands-on experiences and live demonstrations. Experiments will cover topics such as flight, friction, gravity, speed, and combustion.

The exhibit will also showcase a Blueprint Room, based off the real-life operations room of MythBusters; a Workshop Room, where guests turn into investigators and use real science to test myths and answer a series of challenging questions; and the Live MythBusters Demonstration Stage, which gives guests the opportunity to view and participate in live science demonstrations that dissect myths with the help of MythBusting facilitators.

Tickets for the exhibition at MSI go on sale December 1 and will also tour 14 additional cities in the U.S. and Canada. For an extensive list, visit www.exhibitsdevelopment.com.

—Ericka Johnson

The mega chain 7-Eleven is known for 24-hour service, hot dogs and the famous Slurpee. For the month of April, the Slurpee is getting a facelift in the form of Thor superheroes. A promotion for the Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures May 6 release, select 7-Elevens in the U.S. and Canada are carrying 10 different collectible cups for its Slurpee and Big Gulp beverages, including two limited-edition molded plastic mugs featuring Thor and the Destroyer, one of the villains in the movie. Among the eight collectible cups are featured Thor’s nemesis and stepbrother Loki, and Sif, a goddess who carries a big sword.

In addition, during the month of April, the recently launched Slurpee app will be re-imaged with a Thor overlay, and visitors will be invited to check in via Foursquare at 7-Eleven stores around the country. With every check-in, Slurpee fans will accumulate prizes and Slurpee Rewards points redeemable by phone or at www.slurpee.com.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this is the first full-length feature film about Thor. A 7-Eleven store will also make a cameo appearance.

Gotta love product placement, right?

Merchandise for the 3-D animated Twentieth Century Fox comedy RIO hits Toys “R” Us shelves across the country next month. The exclusive merchandising program will feature movie-inspired products, including an exclusive toy line, video games and books. Transforming into the ultimate retail destination for RIO, Toys“R”Us customers can find a selection of exclusive RIO extras and sneak peeks of the movie before it lands in theaters April 15.

The RIO merchandising assortment will include a toy line from ToyQuest, including poseable 3.75-inch mini figures in two packs, 8-inch basic plush pals, 10-inch animated talking plush, 9-inch feature plush and beanies. THQ Inc. is releasing a RIO game for Xbox and Wii April 12.  A game will also be available for PlayStation 3.

At Toys“R”Us and Toysrus.com/RIO, families will find storybooks from HarperCollins, color and activity books from Modern Publishing, and a Look-and-Find book from Publications International.

Last night, Elizabeth Reid of the Toy Book and I went to a press screening of the new Morgan Spurlock documentary, The Greatest Story Ever Sold.

The film followed Spurlock in his attempts to secure partnerships and co-promotional opportunities for the film. The goal? Make a documentary about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising and product placement.

At the beginning of the film, Spurlock hit the ground running, going door-to-door pitching every company from Nintendo, to POM juice and even Mane ‘n Tail horse shampoo.

Although he received several “no” responses, he was able to secure backing from POM Wonderful (the official sponsor for a cool $1 million), Carrera/Solstice, Amy’s Kitchen, Mane ‘n Tail, JetBlue, Merrell, Old Navy, Movietickets.com, Petland Discounts, Seventh Generation, Sheetz and Thayer’s Natural Remedies.

Everyone knows brands play a key role in the film industry. Through comprehensive interviews with filmmakers (including Quentin Tarantino), branding executives and musicians, Spurlock adds much-needed insight into how it all works.

The movie opens in select cities April 22.

—Mackenzie Allison

Universal Pictures and Walmart have announced a retail program tied to the upcoming live action/CG-animated comedy Hop, which hits theaters April 1.

The Story
Hop is a comedy about E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. He encounters Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own goals, who accidentally hits E.B. with his car. Feigning injury, E.B. manipulates Fred into providing him shelter, and Fred finds himself with the world’s worst houseguest.

The Program
Walmart customers can build Hop-themed Easter baskets, and visit the movie-inspired “Candy Factory,” with 100 exclusive licensed products, including candy, toys, activities and apparel from Garan, Topsville, Hershey’s, Frankford, Bakery Craft, Create a Treat, Keystone Bakeries, Kool-Aid, Country Time Lemonade, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Funrise, Dalmation Press and Townley.

The program begins tomorrow at more than 3,000 Walmart stores.

Walmart will also offer Hop-themed video games for the Nintendo DS, DSi and 3DS, greeting cards and children’s books.

Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc., today announced Street Surfing as the pan European sponsor of the Nickelodeon 2011 Kids’ Choice Awards. Street Surfing’s new Wave Scooter will be featured in all promotional activity in a build up to the April 2 show.

Street Surfing’s new Wave Scooter, called the Whiplash Scooter in the UK, will be featured on on-air billboards, all marketing and press materials, and presence on KCAs international online destinations.

The sponsorship also includes an online competition with the chance for the winner and their family to attend the show in Los Angeles. The Grand Prize winner will also be the first to road test Street Surfing’s new Wave Scooter through a test course in Los Angeles the day before the show. Additionally, 11 runner-up winners will get a scooter.

The sponsor markets include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, UK, France, Ireland, Italy and Belgium.

Chorion has announced a range of activities for preschool character Spot as he celebrates his 30^th anniversary year.

In the U.S., BBC America released Where’s Spot? on DVD in April, and will release Spot Goes to School in August and Spot’s Magical Christmas in October. New licensing deals have been inked with Andover Fabric, Starry Story Art, Meri Meri, and the Zoobies. The Spot Zoobie will be featured on QVC for Christmas in July. Master toy licensee Kids Preferred is expanding its Spot product line to include puzzles, backpacks, bath toys, and wooden toys for next year.

In the UK, Abbey Home Media launched a special edition 30^th anniversary DVD in March. The Spot TV series began broadcasting on CITV in April, with further episodes scheduled to air this month. Storytelling and in-store events supported the Spot exhibition at Selfridges in London over the May bank holiday weekend. The touring Spot art exhibition will be featured at the Chelsea Library in London, Foyles book store, and regional museums throughout the rest of this year. An exclusive birthday party is planned for August 5^th in London for parents and children. Master toy licensee Rainbow Designs will introduce an expanded range of products including puzzles and wooden toys for next year.

Additional book titles for Spot from Warne include a 30th anniversary special edition of Where’s Spot?, plus Spot’s Birthday Balloon, and Spot’s Little Library. New publishing formats, touch and feel books, book and plush sets, and an 18-button sound book are planned for the holiday season.

In Australia, Spot appeared in several high-profile events in March and April including Gardening Australia Expo in Adelaide and Brisbane, with further appearances scheduled for the same Expo in Sydney from August 22-24 and Melbourne from October 1-3. The events will include costume appearances, craft activities, and retail opportunities.

Spot plush, through Australian Master toy licensee Jasnor Pty., launched in Japan this year, and new licensing partner Skillman will be creating personalized product. Spot public reading events and retail fairs were held from March through May at Kinokuniya bookstore outlets throughout Japan to celebrate Spot’s 30^th anniversary.  Further events are planned for the rest of this year.

Spot first appeared in Eric Hill’s original lift-the-flap book Where’s Spot? in 1980. To date, Spot has sold more than 50 million books and has a global licensing program that includes toys, apparel, gifts and DVD. The official Spot website features activities for parents and children, competitions, games, and information about the brand and author.