Wanda's Mtime deal adds what movie-mogul empire needs: toys

Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin's already got film and television production companies, theme parks and cinemas. Now, he's betting on toys.

Mtime.com Inc, the movie portal and trinkets seller Wang's Wanda Cinema Line Co bought in July, says sales of T-shirts and figurines related to Warcraft are booming. The company is now chasing licensing deals with other blockbuster films after signing China agreements for the rights to Star Wars, and Minions, said Mtime Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Hou.

"This is a global trend and China is part of it," Hou said in an interview in Beijing. Ancillary revenue including merchandise and streaming rights will probably grow to 70 percent of movie-industry sales in as little as five years, he said.