The Mask (franchise)

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 individuals cartoonish superpowers and the obstacles they must overcome while wearing it.

The Mask
Directed byCharles Russell (1)
Lawrence Guterman (2)
Written byMike Werb (1)
Lance Khazei (2)
StarringJim Carrey (1)
Jamie Kennedy (2)
CinematographyJulio Macat (1)
Donald E. Thorin (2)
Edited byArthur Coburn (1)
Malcolm Campbell (2)
John Coniglio (2)
Debra Neil Fisher (2)
Music byRandy Edelman
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
(New Line Cinema)
Release date
1994-Present
Running time
198 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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

Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(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 Khazei Erica 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.

Television

Series Season Episodes First released Last released Showrunner(s) Network(s)
The Mask: Animated Series 3 54 August 12, 1995 August 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
  • A V indicates the actor or actress lent only his or her voice for his or her film character.
Character Films Animated series
The Mask Son of the Mask The Mask:
Animated Series
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
Stanley Ipkiss
The Mask
Jim Carrey Rob PaulsenV
Dr. Arthur Neuman Ben Stein Ben SteinV
Milo Max Frank WelkerV
Lt. Mitch Kellaway Peter Riegert Neil RossV
Detective Doyle Jim Doughan Jim CummingsV
Charlie Schumaker Richard Jeni Mark L. TaylorV
Peggy Brandt Amy Yasbeck Heidi ShannonV
Mayor Mitchell "Mortimer" Tilton Ivory Ocean Kevin Michael RichardsonV
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 KurtzV
Mona MarshallV
Mary Matilyn MouserV
Neil RossV
Tonya Avery Traylor Howard
Otis Bear
Bill FarmerV
Richard Steven HorvitzV
Odin Bob Hoskins
Daniel Moss Steven Wright
Doctor Septimus Pretorius Tim Curry

Additional crew and production details

Film Crew/Detail
Composer(s) Cinematographer Editor(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.

References

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