Don’t expect the flow ofDC moviesto slow down any time soon. WarnerMedia is about to ramp up production on comic book adaptations from the legendary publisher in the coming years. Not only will we be getting more movies designed as theatrical releases but the studio is also planning to release two new DC movies per year that will be released exclusively on the HBO Max streaming service.
DC Films president Walter Hamada, who is one of the high-ranking studio chiefs within the Warner Bros. infrastructure at WarnerMedia, was recently interviewed regarding the superhero movie output expected in the future. As part of the piece, it is explained that the goal is to have two DC movies annually released onHBO Max, which launched earlier this year. This would be in addition to any other adaptations that are produced by the studio. The piece notes that there could be as many as four DC movies hitting theaters per year starting in 2022. That means, if all cylinders are firing at max capacity, we could be gettingsix DC Films releases in a single year.
No titles have been settled on yet butStatic Shockand the long-gestatingBatgirlmovie are named as projects that arepossible candidates to become HBO Max exclusive releases. One would imagine marquee characters such as Batman and Wonder Woman will continue to get the big screen treatment. So don’t expect to seeWonder Woman 3, which has been put on the fast track, to skip theaters. It is also likely that these streaming-only movies will come with comparatively smaller budgets.
Recently,Wonder Woman 1984was released on the service while debuting simultaneously inmovie theaters. WarnerMedia shook the industry in a big, bad way several weeks ago when it was announced the studio would be doing the same for its entire 2021 slate. Though there has been a great deal of pushback, withDunepossibly going back to a full-on theatrical release andGodzilla vs. Kongup in the air, as Legendary Pictures, who co-financed the projects, are unhappy. But these are not exclusive streaming releases. Plus, the studio heads have stated that this plan does not extend beyond 2021. That makes sense, as it is estimated they are sacrificing billions at the box office by releasing these movies on HBO Max.
