Thomas Roach examines why Batman vs. Superman could not have made its original release date…
One of the most anticipated films to come out over the next few years is Batman vs. Superman, the sequel to Zack Synder’s Man of Steel. As you may remember the film was due for release in July 2015, but after alleged delays with the script it would be pushed back almost an entire year and is now due for release in May 2016, making fans wait another two years. Why is this though? There is no reason that the film could not be finished in time for a 2015 slot, and that would mean not facing up against the release of Captain America 3.
So let us lay out what we allegedly know about the production for Batman vs. Superman. This is mere speculation and guesswork but it leads to a conclusion many expect – the back-to-back shooting with the Justice League movie, which has been announced but with no set release date of yet.
Batman vs. Superman started second unit photography in the last month and is due to commence principal photography with the all the cast members in Detroit this very week. As this is a big budget film with lots of actions sequences it is fair to say that it will be a solid sixth month shoot and likely wrap up principal photography by the end of November or early December in time for Christmas. It could take a lot less time, but we will give them a solid six month shoot.
As Christopher Nolan pointed out whilst talking about Man of Steel back in 2012 a great deal of work will be done in post-production; this includes adding effects such as CGI and the illusion of Superman’s flight. It’s also fair to assume that work on the CGI elements will take place alongside the shoot. If they have something fully shot then why waste time leaving it? Likely someone will be working on effects as soon as the shots are in the can.
Even if reshoots are required, which is likely on a big production like this, it would only take a month maximum as a big budget film would be far more organised than a low-budget indie flick. So let’s imagine reshoots take place in mid-January and finish mid-February. By this time a great deal will have been done is post production. From March the filmmakers have a solid four and a half months in order to complete post. Realistically with all the work that will have already been done putting things together, four months is plenty of time to complete the whole film.
With this factors in mind, the only conclusion is that Batman vs. Superman will be shooting back-to-back with Justice League. This also means that Justice League will likely have a 2017 release date so that the audience is only waiting a year rather than make them wait any longer. This is merely speculation but if Warner Bros. and DC want to catch up with Marvel they cannot make fans wait for long periods of time between their films. There are already rumours these two films would shoot back-to-back and by pointing out Batman vs. Superman has plenty of time to make its original release date, then shooting the two movies together would be logical and allow only a single year between release dates, rather than fans waiting two or even three years.
Do you think this is correct? Or was it simply impossible to make the film in time for its original release date? Let us know your thoughts…
Thomas Roach
Originally published May 13, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
