Ina Fried

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Former Marvel Exec to Help Angry Birds Slingshot Onto Silver Screen

Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, is announcing on Monday that it has tapped David Maisel, the former chairman of Marvel Studios, to aid the game maker with its film aspirations.

Maisel, who was an executive producer of “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “The Incredible Hulk” and “Thor,” will serve the same role for Angry Birds’ film effort and will also serve as a special advisor to Rovio.

“David was instrumental in rebooting Marvel Studios and turning it into a blockbuster-producing powerhouse,” Rovio CEO Mikael Hed said in a statement. “We welcome his experience and vision as we continue broadening our entertainment production scope at Rovio.”

Rovio also noted that it has hit the 250 million download mark for its various Angry Birds games.

Transitioning from a game maker into a full-fledged media company is key to Rovio reaching the ambitions it — and its backers — have set out for the company. The company raised $42 million earlier this year in a funding round from Accel Partners and Atomico Ventures.

AllThingsD boss Kara Swisher notes that the company’s film effort would seem to have decent prospects, if her recent European trip is any indication. Swisher said her kids watched about 300 Angry Birds-related short films on YouTube.

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Another gadget you don’t really need. Will not work once you get it home. New model out in 4 weeks. Battery life is too short to be of any use.

— From the fact sheet for a fake product entitled Useless Plasticbox 1.2 (an actual empty plastic box) placed in L.A.-area Best Buy stores by an artist called Plastic Jesus