Anthony Hopkins NFT collection inspired by his film roles, artwork
Sir Anthony Hopkins spreads his wings in the metaverse.
The Oscar-winning actor and artist has teamed up with Orange Comet, a Web3 creative studio startup, to create and launch his first NFT series, called the Eternal Collection.
“NFTs are a blank canvas to create art in a new format,” Hopkins told reporters during an online press conference.
According to Hopkins, 84, the metaverse provides “an incredible opportunity to connect with an audience in a completely different way … I’m probably the oldest guy in the NFT community and on social media, which proves that anything is possible in all ages.”
The Eternal Collection digital collectibles are meant to “conceptualize” 10 different character archetypes Hopkins has portrayed during his film career — including Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs” and Odin in three of Marvel’s “Thor” films — and incorporate themes and styles from the actor’s artwork.
SEE ALSO: Ready or not, here comes Web3: How the Internet’s next evolution is shaping Hollywood’s future
The Hopkins NFTs will drop in mid-September on OpenSea, the industry-leading NFT marketplace, according to Dave Broome, CEO of Orange Comet. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to a charity to be designated by Hopkins and his wife, Stella Arroyave.
The NFTs will be released in three phases:
- Iconic Category: A single animated NFT, which will be auctioned to the highest bidder, that includes all 10 archetypes (The Giver, The Hero, The Jester, The Ruler, The Lover, The Explorer, The Creator, The Sage, The Rebel, and The Magician). The winning bidder will also receive framed prints of NFT art signed by Hopkins, an “intimate lunch/brunch” with the actor, and an autographed copy of “Dreamscapes,” featuring hundreds of full-color images of paintings and drawings by Hopkins.
- Legendary Category: 10 unique one-of-a-kind animated NFTs, each with a different character archetype. These buyers will also receive a personal discussion with Hopkins (via Discord) plus framed prints of NFT art signed by Hopkins and an autographed “Dreamscapes” book.
- Distinguished Category: 1000 unique one-of-a-kind images based on the 10 archetypes (100 variations for each). Includes a print of one of the NFT archetypes signed by Hopkins. In addition, 39 random buyers will receive an autographed “Dreamscapes” book and five buyers will be randomly selected for a Discord chat with the actor.
Hopkins emerged as a painter in 2005 with a solo exhibition curated by Harte International Galleries of his abstract works. The NFT project began when Margam Fine Art, the sole management company for Hopkins’ original art, contacted Orange Comet who wanted to bring his artwork to the NFT world. “This relationship is a superb symbiosis of technology and art from one of the greatest actors and artists of our time,” Broome said.
Orange Comet’s Broome is a television producer whose credits include “The Biggest Loser,” “Ultimate Beastmaster” and “Jennifer Lopez: Halftime.” He co-founded Orange Comet in early 2021, when the NFT craze first blossomed, with the idea that a winning strategy would be to develop original digital collectibles based on famous Hollywood properties. So far, the company’s biggest NFT project has been for AMC Network’s “The Walking Dead.”
Broome said Orange Comet is also partnering with filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld to produce 3D collectible NFTs based on his “Dinosaurs vs. Aliens” graphic novel. “He never got it sold to a movie studio,” Broome said. If Orange Comet can establish an eager community of fans for “Dinosaurs vs. Aliens,” Broome’s plan is to go back to pitch the film project to Hollywood: “I’m reversing the process.”
Broome acknowledged that the NFT sector today is like the dot-com boom of the late 1990s – full of speculators trying to make money. “The barrier to entry for NFTs is so low … There is an abundance of junk in NFTs,” he said. “The strong will survive, make no mistake. Web3 and blockchain technology is a game changer.” Broome said the company has more than 40 entertainment-related projects in the works, most of which he cannot discuss yet. Orange Comets supporters include Gloria and Emilio Estefan and NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.
Hopkins’ Eternal Collection NFT designs were overseen by Orange Comet chief creative officer Dante Ferrarini and Hopkins himself. While Orange Comet used reference images of Hopkins to create the NFTs, all of the animations and images in the collection are CGI-generated. More information is available at this link.
Watch Orange Comet’s trailer for the Hopkins NFT collection:
