In breaking news it seems that the next Superman film - which in addition to Henry Cavill reprising the title role will also feature Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) - will now NOT be released in 2015 as originally planned. It's new date sees it move from July 17th 2015 to 6th May 2016 with Joe Wright's Peter Pan planned to take the original position in the schedules.
“We are happy to take advantage of these coveted summer dates, which are perfect for two of our biggest tentpole releases," Dan Fellman (Warner Bros. President of Domestic Distribution said in a statement. "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.”
No specific reaspn was given for the over nine-month delay, but there is a certain amount of pressure on Warners. / DC to get their 'baby' right. Many see the film not so much as a sequel to the successful but critically-divisive Man of Steel, but as a launch of DC's equivalent to their competitor's Marvel universe. The film will be directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Man of Steel) with Chris terrio writing a second draft of the script that was originally penend by David Goyer.
This may be a frustrating move for fans but a wise move for DC. Though the May 6th 2016 date also looks to have been on Marvel's radar for one of their releases (not named as yet), 2015 is already looking to be one of the most competetive year's in recent box-office memory. Even directly taking on one their superheroic rivals directly would prove a more savvy move than fighting an army of other franchise blockbusters with long legs and deep pockets (The Avengers, Star Wars, Mission Impossible... to name but three of about twenty films that are wanting to deliver the best bucks).
Equally, there's been some concerns that DC / Warners. were moving too fast in an effort to take on Marvel (who have spent the best part of the last six years constructing and planning their strategies) and the extra nine-ten months may take just enough pressure off and to make sure that the script is as good as it can be, rather than merely on time and against the kryptonian clock...
Time will tell...
