Waterworld franchise

The **Waterworld franchise** (also spelled **WaterWorld** and **Water World**) is a multimedia franchise owned by Universal Pictures. The franchise follows the exploits of the nameless Mariner, a drifter and survivalist in a dangerous, post-apocalyptic world covered entirely by ocean.

## History

The franchise began with the blockbuster 1995 film starring Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper.

The film release coincided with a wide range of tie-in material, including branded clothing and clothing pins, a drinking pouch (or bota bag), and a 150-set of trading cards by Fleer Ultra. The company Gottlieb made 1,500 pinball machines based on the film.

There is also a soundtrack album by James Newton Howard (which has been released in varying editions), a novelisation of the film written by Max Allan Collins (both in young adult and adult editions), an audio book of the novelisation narrated by R.D. Call, and a production diary by Janine Pourroy, "The Making of Waterworld".

Among the tie-in merchandise were a range of video games which has also included later titles over the years. There is also a board game by the Milton Bradley Company, and an extensive action figure and play sets from toy maker Kenner.

The most enduring legacy of the film is the ever popular live stunt show, Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular, which has been running concurrently since 1995 at Universal Studios in Hollywood City, California. As of 2021, the stunt show is running at four different locations around the world.

In 1997, a comic book series entitled "*Waterworld: Children of Leviathan*" was released. The comics were published by Acclaim, an imprint of Valiant comics, and the series ran for four issues. The comics acted as a sequel to the film, and also explored the fictional universe and the origins of the Mariner further.

In late 2012, the Syfy channel announced that it was seeking to acquire the rights to produce a television series based in the same universe, although this would never develop beyond pre-production. It was announced in 2021 that the television series has once again gone into pre-production by Universal Television, with John Davis among the producers, who was also a producer on the original 1995 film.

## Galleries

### Film titles and logos

The title card and font of the 1995 filmPromotional film titleDVD menu titlesThe logo of the film, used in home video artwork, reminiscent of Enola's tattoo
### Film artwork

Film posterUlysses cut featuring original film artworkIllustrated artworks by Drew StruzanConcept artwork by Drew StruzanAlternate coverArrow release 2-disc editionArrow released 3-disc editionAlternate cover/poster
### Video games

The Waterworld logo on the instruction manual of *Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland*
### Franchise logos

The logo used in the wider franchise; comics, video games, board game ect.Variant
## Similar works

* The Drowned World - a 1962 dystopic novel by acclaimed British author J. G. Ballard. The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic future whereby the ice caps have melted, however it is more scientifically plausible than *Waterworld* in that not all land is covered by ocean, although most of the planet is still uninhabitable.
* Future Boy Conan - a Japanese steampunk animated television series by Nippon Studio from the late 1970s, and subsequent anime films and video games. The setting is one in which a devastating World war was fought with 'ultra-magnetic' weapons, causing most of the land to be destroyed and/or flattened below sea level.
* Oil Rush - a 2012 strategy/tower defence video game for PC and mobile developed by UNIGINE Company. It is set in a flooded, post-apocalyptic world where the survivors war over the last remaining resources.
* Age of Water is an upcoming ocean-based MMORPG video game in development by Gaijin Entertainment and The Three Whales Studio, featuring fully customisable vessels and settlements. The setting is a "rustpunk aesthetic" in a flooded world that has been strongly compared of the *Waterworld* franchise.

## References

1. ↑ https://gaijinent.com/en/news/276/current
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUsgXDegsI8
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivUTIg0Dp9E

## External Links

* r/Waterworld - a subreddit on Reddit for the Waterworld franchise
* The Atoll - a YouTube and Instagram channel dedicated to deep-dives into Waterworld lore and merchandise

*to be completed*