When BATMAN VS SUPERMAN announced it was being delayed a full year to allow for additional lead time on the production, many speculated that it could have to do with the potential JUSTICE LEAGUE movie that has been in the works. Whatever the reason was, moving the release to May 6, 2016 also put the film directly against an untitled Marvel film slated to release that same weekend. For months now we have heard nothing as the studios have played chicken with the release date and now we may have our flincher.
According to Brazilian website Judao, the release date for BATMAN VS SUPERMAN is tentatively set in South America for April 28th, 2016. While earlier international release dates have become the norm in recent years for big studio films, the site is unofficially reporting that the domestic release will be shifted as well to April 29, 2016.
It may not seem like that big of a deal, but if this is true it would be the smart move for Warner Bros. While BATMAN VS SUPERMAN is going to be huge regardless if it goes up against a Marvel movie, neither studio wants to lose profits to the other. Getting a week lead on Marvel’s film will maximize the opening weekend gross for the film that would otherwise have been split. Now, both films win but WB gets a slight advantage if buzz reaches a high enough level that opening weekend.
It also makes a difference what that particular Marvel film will be. Firmly in Phase 3, this could be almost anything from CAPTAIN AMERICA 3 or THOR 3 all the way to DOCTOR STRANGE, BLACK PANTHER, or something completely unexpected. Depending on if it is a sequel or a fresh property, I still think BATMAN VS SUPERMAN will be the bigger draw.
For now, BATMAN VS SUPERMAN starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, and Jesse Eisenberg opens May 6, 2016.