Videogame publisher Gazillion also will develop Marvel Universe, an MMO game for PC and consoles. Financial details of the licensing deal were not disclosed.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday's agreement is an exclusive 10-year deal between Marvel and Gazillion, whose investors include Allen & Co and Oak Investments.

Privately held Gazillion is backed by venture capital firms and runs four production studios.

New York-based media company Marvel, whose businesses include comic-book publishing, licensing and films, boasts a stable of more than 5,000 characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man and X-Men.

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