BY Thomas K. Arnold

{Hollywood Reporter} - Call it "cult meets cult." Shout! Factory, the independent DVD supplier known for its affinity for cult movies and TV shows, has secured worldwide home entertainment and digital download rights to the long-running cult TV series "Mystery Science Theater 3000."

The multiyear deal gives Shout! Factory exclusive physical and electronic distribution rights to all "Mystery Science Theater 3000" branded properties -- including a vast library of original episodes that have never before been issued on DVD or available for digital download. 

Garson Foos, president of Shout! Factory, said "Mystery Science Theater 3000" lines up perfectly with his company, which has released such eclectic offerings as camp TV series "My Favorite Martian," the controversial documentary "Kurt Cobain: About A Son" and the direct-to-video "The Film Crew," a "Mystery Science Theater" spinoff.

The original "Mystery Science Theater" TV series was released on home video by Rhino Home Video, whose principals -- including Garson Foos and his brother, Richard -- later went on to found Shout! Factory after Rhino was sold to Time Warner.

" 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' is a true cult-classic series," Foos said. "Its high-camp rendition of B-movies to the small screen makes it one of the most memorable pop-culture shows of our time."

Jim Mallon, president of Best Brains Inc. and a producer, director and writer of "Mystery Science Theater 3000," agreed that the TV show and DVD supplier make "a great fit." 

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