RUSSELL BRAND TO RECEIVE CINEMACON COMEDY STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD

WARNER BROS. PICTURES TO RELEASE “ARTHUR” ON APRIL 8, 2011

Washington, D.C. (March 9, 2011) – Russell Brand will receive the “CinemaCon Comedy Star of the Year Award,” it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of CinemaCon, which will be held March 28-31, 2011, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Brand will be presented with this special honor at the inaugural “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, March 31st, in The Colosseum of Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, Official Presenting Sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.

“Since his hilarious turn as rocker Aldous Snow in 2008’s ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall,’ Brand has been making audiences laugh around the world with his unique character portrayals and unforgettable comedic timing,” noted Neuhauser. “Brand is one of the most entertaining comedians on the big screen today and we could not be more honored to present him with the CinemaCon Comedy Star of the Year Award.”

Brand will next star in the title role of the April 8, 2011 romantic comedy “Arthur,” from Warner Bros. Pictures. In this fresh new look at a classic story, he re-invents the role of loveable billionaire Arthur Bach, an irresponsible charmer who has always relied on two things to get by: his limitless fortune and the good sense of lifelong nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren) to keep him out of trouble. Now he faces his biggest challenge of choosing between an arranged marriage to ambitious corporate exec. Susan (Jennifer Garner), that will insure his lavish lifestyle, or an uncertain future with Naomi (Greta Gerwig), the woman he really loves. With Naomi’s inspiration and some unconventional help from Hobson, Arthur will take the most expensive risk of his life and learn what it means to be a man. Brand also serves as an executive producer on the film.

Russell Brand first shot to fame in the U.S. starring as rocker Aldous Snow in the Judd Apatow-produced hit comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” He later reprised the role in the hit comedy “Get Him to the Greek,” starring opposite Jonah Hill. Most recently, Brand lent his voice to the Easter Bunny in “Hop,” and Dr. Nefario in the hit animated feature film “Despicable Me.” He has also starred, alongside Helen Mirren, in Julie Taymor’s adaption of “The Tempest,” and in “Bedtime Stories,” with Adam Sandler and Keri Russell. His writing debut, My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up, became a huge success in the United Kingdom, before being released in the U.S. where it stayed on the New York Times’ bestseller list for five consecutive weeks. The follow up, My Booky Wook 2: This Time it’s Personal, was published in 2010.

About CinemaCon

Held March 28-31, 2011 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, CinemaCon is expected to play host to more than 6,000 motion picture theater industry professionals. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 50 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too. For more information visit www.natoonline.org or email nato@natodc.com.

Media Contacts:

Heather Lewandoski
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8147
hlewandoski@rogersandcowan.com

Jessica Erskine
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8129
jerskine@rogersandcowan.com