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Marvel Documentary Gets Big-Screen U.S. Premiere In Key West

"Marvel Renaissance: How the Superheroes Conquered Hollywood," a documentary by French filmmakers, will receive its big-screen U.S. premiere Thursday at the Tropic Cinemain Key West.

The film was a project of French fanboys, says Shirrel Rhoades, a former Marvel publisher who is interviewed in the movie -- and who will introduce it at the Tropic screening. Rhoades now lives in Key West, where he reviews films for the Key West Citizen and runs an ebook publishing company.

"I actually succeeded Stan Lee as publisher of Marvel," Rhoades said. "I worked closely with Stan, although he had not particular duties at that point in time. We thought of him as a 'living Walt Disney' and worked hard to preserve his legacy."

Rhoades was executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment and publisher of Marvel Comics "roughly from 1996 to 1999," before the company was sold to Disney, Rhoades said.

The film traces the company's route from comic book publisher to movie empire, Rhoades said. He said current Marvel employees did not cooperate with the filmmakers so it relies on former Marvel executives like him.

Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St., Key West. 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. screening. $11.50 general admission, $8.50 Key West Film Society members.

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