The Game of Superhero Chicken Continues

Here's why Marvel and DC's game of Scheduling Chicken needs to end soon. 

Story by: Matt Cummings

While Captain America: The Winter Soldier continues to rake in the box office bucks, an impending release continues to garner almost as much attention.  As we all know, a certain DC film will be premiering on May 6th, 2016 which is the same date for the next Captain America film.  Recently, Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution for WB, said the cinematic version of Chicken is still on schedule over at his studio:

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense for two huge superhero films to open on the same date but there is a lot of time between now and 5/6/16. However at this time, we are not considering a change of date for ‘Batman vs. Superman.’” 

There's several levels which are readily apparent here, the first of which is more machismo than anything.  After the big delay by Director Zack Snyder, Warner Bros. is now locked into a brass knuckles fight with Marvel to retain their image and show the public that Marvel isn't a bully.  But, it was DC's decision to place BvS on that date, and so it's as much on them as anyone else.

But if neither budges, what does that spell for comic book fans who might have to make tough decisions come opening night?  With so many productions either set for premieres or in the pipeline, there's a concern about burn out and cannibalism.  We've been pontificating on this for some time, worried that fans might have to start making choices with their dollars and their schedules.  Sure, most will make the time, but what about passive fans who like (but not love) this genre?  If WB and Marvel's desire is to continually grow their product, will their key demographics be the ones who suffer first?

Our answer is simple: DC should move BvsS to another weekend.  Marvel has owned this date since it released Iron Man back in 2008.  They've established themselves, while WB's releases have all over the calendar.   Man of Steel worked because it re-introduced audiences to Superman, much like Director Jon Favreau did with Iron Man.  DC has more to lose here than Marvel, and their entire behavior since announcing the project has been almost one of desperation.  The addition of Wonder Woman into the film feels more like a worry over the potential shoe-horning than anything else, and rumors about Green Lantern seeing some action makes one think DC is trying to duplicate The Avengers without knowing how these things work.  We hope they aren't too short-sighted in trying to launch a universe that needs time to take hold, as another disaster like Green Lantern would spell doom for future prospects.

No matter how this works out, and there's still time for DC to see the light, we'll be here to report on the biggest day for nerds in...forever.

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