A little over two months after his death, a public and private memorial event will be held in Stan Lee‘s honor. At the age of 95, Lee passed away suddenly due to heart and respiratory failure on November 12th. “Excelsior! A Celebration of the Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible & Uncanny Life of Stan Lee” is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, January 30, at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre. The event will be presented by filmmaker and fan Kevin Smith, crowd-funded film financing company Legion M and video game Agents of Mayhem, partnered with Lee’s company POW! Entertainment.
Smith announced in a statement:
“Thank you, Stan, for making me not only the boy I was but also the man I am today. You had great power and you always used it responsibly, fostering billions of dreamers who all know your name – a name written in the stars for all time. You were not just the literary titan of comic books, you were our modern-day Mark Twain.”
The public remembrance will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt, and will include “fan-favorite speakers,” an exhibit by artist Rob Prior, a selection of props and costumes from Lee’s various “cameos and creations,” a musical tribute and a “special moment of remembrance around Lee’s hand and foot imprints.”
Afterward, a private, invitation-only event will be held within the IMAX Theater, hosted by Smith, preceded by a red carpet arrival.
Smith will moderate a discussion of Lee’s life and work with speakers such as Mark Hamill, Rob Liefeld, Michael Uslan (executive producer of ‘The Dark Knight’), Vincent D’Onofrio (who played Kingpin on ‘Daredevil’), rapper RZA, Tom DeSanto (producer of the ‘X-Men’ franchise), and others. The evening will wrap with performances of Lee’s favorite music and poetry.
POW! Entertainment CEO Scott D. Williams stated:
“We are honored for this chance for Stan’s fans and friends to come together in a celebration of his remarkable life. Despite his passing, Stan’s name, work and legacy will continue to flourish and be revealed to the world. We are committed to honor Stan’s extraordinary life and work.”
Lee’s business partner Gill Champion added:
“Stan was a unique and unforgettable human being, truly adored worldwide. He loved coming to work and creating endless new ideas and stories and in spite of his genius he was a relatable and kind man that his admirers could relate to with ease. He will be dearly missed and his legacy will live on now and for many more generations to come.”
Finally, Legion M’s David Baxter said:
“Stan Lee played a major cameo in all the lives of the fans he loved, be it through his writing, his acting or his personal interactions. We feel this tribute is a perfect opportunity for Stan’s beloved fans to unite with celebrities and friends of Stan to give the man the grand sendoff he deserves.” Agents of Mayhem founder Darren Passarello called it a “personal honor to be a part of this tribute.”
Tickets to the public memorial can be purchased from Legion M. Proceeds will go to the Hero Initiative, a legal charity that dedicated to helping comic book creators.
