Blockbuster & Lucasfilm Team Up With Andretti Green Racing to Bring Indiana Jones to Indianapolis 500
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Blockbuster & Lucasfilm Team Up With Andretti Green Racing to Bring Indiana Jones to Indianapolis 500

Marco Andretti Gives Green Flag To '#26 Team Indiana Jones Presented By Blockbuster' Car For Race From Hollywood To Indy 500

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., May 2 // PRNewswire-FirstCall // -- INDIANA JONES™ is embarking on a daring new adventure, thanks to an alliance between Andretti Green Racing, Blockbuster Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. At a Hollywood BLOCKBUSTER® store this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. IndyCar driver Marco Andretti will unveil the #26 Indiana Jones-themed car he will drive at the Indianapolis 500 on May 25. The car, sponsored by Blockbuster and Lucasfilm Ltd., celebrates Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull™, opening in theaters worldwide on May 22.

"Both Indiana Jones and the Indy 500 are legendary," said Andretti. "The Indy 500 is the biggest, most exciting race in the world, so it's the perfect place for Blockbuster and Lucasfilm to celebrate the world's favorite action hero in his new film."

The unveiling will be held at the BLOCKBUSTER store at 330 North La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles at 5:30 p.m. The event marks the start of a 10-city tour by the "#26 Team Indiana Jones Presented by Blockbuster" car as it makes it way across the country from Hollywood to Indianapolis.

The sponsorship and show car tour are both part of a unique Blockbuster program that not only brings Indiana Jones to the Indianapolis 500, but also brings Indiana Jones into Blockbuster stores nationwide through an in-store merchandising program that includes exclusive Indiana Jones and "Indiana Jones at the Indianapolis 500" merchandise available for sale to the public only at Blockbuster stores.

"Blockbuster is excited to have this unique platform to promote movies, both theatrical releases and DVDs," said David Podeschi, senior vice-president, Blockbuster Inc. "Racing is a great way for us to get our brand in front of thousands of loyal fans who love to be entertained, either by the thrill of the race or by the silver screen. Plus, this agreement gives us another way to give our content providers increased visibility for their product, be it film or games."

Andretti's show car will be featured at local community events at BLOCKBUSTER stores in Las Vegas (May 4), Phoenix (May 6), Denver (May 9), Dallas (May 11), Chicago (May 14), Detroit (May 15), Philadelphia (May 17) and New York (May 18), with its final stop in Indianapolis (May 21) before hitting the track at the Indy 500 on May 25. For complete information on appearance times and locations, visit www.blockbuster.com/.

The 10-city tour and participation in the Indy 500 anticipates the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the long-awaited fourth movie featuring the intrepid archaeologist. The film, a Paramount Pictures release of a Lucasfilm Ltd. production, stars Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent and Shia LaBoeuf and is directed by Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by David Koepp, based on a story by executive producer George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson.

Andretti, the 2006 IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, scored a runner-up finish in the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 in the second-closest finish in the history of the event.

The Indiana Jones program is just one way in which Blockbuster is sponsoring the #26 Marco Andretti car during the 2008 IndyCar Series season. Blockbuster is a full-season major associate sponsor and serves as Andretti's primary sponsor at four events. With its first marketing effort in the motorsports industry, Blockbuster plans to use its relationship with Andretti Green to promote both theatrical and rental films.

About Blockbuster

Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI)(NYSE: BBI.B) is a leading global provider of in-home movie and game entertainment, with over 7,800 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company may be accessed worldwide at www.blockbuster.com/.

About Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations, the company's global businesses include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound; LucasArts; Lucas Licensing; Lucasfilm Animation; and Lucas Online.

About Andretti Green Racing

Founded in December 2002, Andretti Green Racing® (AGR) is based in Indianapolis, Ind., and is owned and operated by partners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. The winningest team in Indy Racing League history, Andretti Green Racing fields a series-high four full-time entries in the IndyCar Series, two Firestone Indy Lights cars and a single-car entry in the American Le Mans Series. Andretti Green also features a promotional side to its business, owning and operating the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which saw its fourth successful running in April 2008 on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Fla.

INDIANA JONES and related film titles, character names and properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Blockbuster Inc.

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