Grumpy Cat snags movie deal

Grumpy Cat, the sourpuss that gained celebrity status on the Internet, may soon be pouting her way to the big screen, thanks to a Hollywood agent who brokered a major movie deal for her.

 

Talent manager Ben Lashes, most of whose clients are Internet cats, secured a movie deal for the popular feline, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, The Wall Street Journal reported.

 

Lashes was quoted by WSJ as saying he had helped Grumpy Cat’s owners earn a “low six-figure sum,” and taking a 20-percent commission.

 

“He is really good at helping us not get taken advantage of,” Bryan Bundesen, brother of Grumpy Cat’s owner Tabatha Bundesen, said of Lashes.

 

WSJ said Lashes helped negotiate the sale of a film option to Broken Road Productions, though the soon-to-be Hollywood feline star may not be too thrilled.

 

“She hates movies,” Lashes said.

 

Aside from the one-picture deal, Lashes forged a deal with Grenade Beverage LLC for a line of Grumpy Cat canned coffee and beverages.

 

Lashes became the sourpuss’ representative as early as October, saying he wants to help her owners capitalize on her fame without going overboard.

 

Tardar Sauce first shot to Internet stardom after her owner’s brother, cable technician Bryan Bundesen, took a photo of her and posted the photo on Reddit. The photo went viral.

 

Big-time cats

 

One of Lashes’ clients is Christopher Torres, creator of another popular Internet feline - Nyan Cat.

 

“When it comes to cats, Ben knows who is going to be big,” Torres said.

 

Meanwhile, Lashes said he also tries to help his clients protect their brands - Torres and Charlie Schmidt last month filed a lawsuit in California, claiming 5th Cell and Warner Bros., the developer and publisher of the Scribblenauts video game franchise, infringed on the copyright and trademark right of Keyboard Cat and Nyan Cat.

 

Having fun

 

Lashes also arranged for “fun” for his clients.

 

In March, he and tech site Mashable arranged a paid appearance for Grumpy Cat at the South by Southwest tech convention in Austin, Texas.

 

“For two-hour stretches over three days, the cat lay on a cushioned pedestal in Mashable’s tent and conventioneers waited in line for hours to have their photo taken with the nonplused puss,” WSJ reported.

 

Bundesen said he chauffeured Grumpy Cat around Austin in a black BMW.

 

Mashable, for its part, said it “know(s) for a fact, however, that Grumpy doesn’t mind public appearances.”

 

“She was crowned the Queen of Social at this year’s SXSW, where throngs of fans waited to meet their favorite celeb cat in person,” it said.

 

It added Grumpy was due in New York to promote her upcoming book, “Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book: Disgruntled Tips and Activities Designed to Put a Frown on Your Face,” at BookExpo America.  — TJD, GMA News