'Batman vs. Superman' Pushed Back To 2016
Credit: Warner Bros.
It's going to be a bit longer before we get to see Superman and Batman team up on the big screen.
Warner Bros. has announced that the hotly-anticipated sequel to Man of Steel has been pushed back to May 6, 2016, nine months later than its previously announced July 17, 2015 release date. That release date will now be home to Joe Wright's Peter Pan movie. This news comes just hours after rumors hit the web stating that Ben Affleck, who has signed on to play Bruce Wayne/Batman, suffered a severe injury that would require shooting to be pushed back at least six weeks. The rumors have not yet been substantiated, but one would think if they were true, the delay wouldn't be nearly as severe as ten months. But then, perhaps the injury would prevent Warner Bros. from making the original 2015 summer release date, which is why the studio has decided to just push the film back to the next summer? It's hard to know at this point, but the move will clearly have repercussions.
First and foremost, the delay means that Batman vs. Superman will now have a showdown with a new, untitled Marvel movie scheduled for the same May 6, 2016 release date. Marvel has long had success with early May releases, from the Spider-Man franchise, to the Iron Man film series, along with The Avengers.
DC and Warner Bros. are hoping to replicate that success with this latest move, but one has to wonder if the studio might not end up splitting its audience, particularly given the expense involved with heading out to a 3-D movie, doubly so if said movie is also in IMAX. Fans will have to make a choice, and given the overall box office power of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there's no guaranteeing that a new Superman movie will guarantee a huge audience, even if it does have Batman and Wonder Woman in it.
The delay in release date also means a delay to production start, as the studio has now moved the start of production to the second quarter. The film, to be directed by Zack Snyder and written Oscar-winning Argo scribe Chris Terrio from a draft by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight saga), had originally been scheduled to begin shooting this winter. it was initially slated to begin shooting this winter.
“We are happy to take advantage of these coveted summer dates, which are perfect for two of our biggest tentpole releases," Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said of the new May release date. "We share the fans’ excitement to see DC Comics’ most popular figures, Superman and Batman, together on the big screen for the first time, which will now be arriving in theatres in May 2016. Peter Pan has delighted people of every generation for more than a century, so we are thrilled to bring him back to the screen next summer for today’s moviegoers.”
The Man of Steel sequel, known colloquially among fans as Batman vs. Superman, in lieu of an official title, will feature Henry Cavill's Superman teaming up with Affleck's Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. In addition, Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa is also in talks for a role in the blockbuster.
"We know that there is already great anticipation building for the next super hero film from Zack Snyder, and we are equally eager to see what he has in store for Superman and Batman as they share the big screen for the first time ever," added Warners president of international distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg. "The summer release corridor is also perfect for Joe Wright’s ambitious new Peter Pan adventure, reimagining the ageless story of the beloved and forever-young hero for audiences worldwide.”
Ultimately, if the time is being used to more fully realize the vision behind the film, then I can't really complain about this decision. Better to be safe than sorry.