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Smurfs 2 nets $150 million in sponsor deals
Production budget likely to have been made back with corporate tie-ins
'Smurfs 2' has hauled in a huge $150 million (£95 million) in sponsorship deals and corporate tie-ins before it's even shown a second of film.
The Columbia Pictures and Sony Animation sequel is due out on July 31, but the pressure of a great opening weekend will no doubt be eased by the money it's already made.
The film has more than 100 'partners' buying in, and thus helping out with the film's marketing push for the school summer holidays.
[Man of Steel almost recoups budget before its even released]
All manner of companies from McDonalds and Haribo to Toys R Us and Wal-Mart have joined in with the production.
Details of the sequel's budget are not currently available, but the first film was made for $110 million, meaning that it's more than likely the film is already heading for profit.
The first film, released in 2011 and starring Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry and Sofia Vergara, was an unexpected smash, earning $563 million (£360 million) in box office takings worldwide.
The new film features many of the returning voice and live-action cast, plus Brendan Gleeson, John Oliver and Christina Ricci.
It follows news that 'Man of Steel' studio Warner Bros had made back a sizeable chunk of its $225 million production budget by doing commercial deals worth $170 million (£109 million) with brands like Gillette, Nokia and Chrysler.
