Since taking up his position as Warner Bros CEO last year, former DVD executive Kevin Tsujihara has embarked on a mission to put the famed studio back on top of the global film industry. Warner is going to release eight new films on the big screen this year, a risky move when taking into account that other competitors like Paramount and Dreamworks are struggling or cutting down production, but the gamble might pay off despite the financial risks.
One of the main priorities it seems, is to compete with the successful Marvel superhero franchise. The formula that Marvel used was to generate interest with bespoke films for each of their main superheroes and then to deliver the knock-out with the Avengers films that bring them all together under the same storyline, a comic-con devotee’s wet dream. The Avengers took in £901m at the box office and Warner seem to have taken note.
Warner Bros are looking to build upon the same type of foundation. Superman Vs Batman will bring the most famous DC Universe characters together for the first time on the silver screen. Ben Affleck is tipped to take on the role of Batman, Israeli actress and Fast&Furious 6 star Gal Gadot will play Wonder Woman while Zack Snyder of 300, Watchmen and Man of Steel fame will direct. In a recent New York Times article Mr. Tsujihara together with Warner’s domestic film distribution chief, Dan Fellman is said to have moved the release date to May 2016, causing some friction with Marvel as they had also announced a release that month.
This might turn into a exciting new period of big league productions; the stakes have been set.
