At one time Marvel reserved May 6, 2016 for the release of an unnamed feature. Meanwhile, at Warner Bros. the Man of Steel sequel was sitting on a July 17, 2015 premier date in a year crowded with blockbusters. And all was seemingly right with the world. Then the sequel added Ben Afleck as Batman and the internet cried the ugliest cry face in the history of hero casting. The internet's misogyny index spiked when little known Gal Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman. There was fear and confusion as how could you have so many heroes in one film (please disregard that The Avengers movie was ever made). This is chaos! Bloggers were beside themselves. So WB perhaps deemed things were moving too fast and they moved the release date to...May 6, 2016 in order to “help fully realize the vision.” Curious date but life went on.
It was a bold move by WB to knowingly face a Marvel movie head-to-head but the speculation was that it could be an unproven character like Doctor Strange for example. Clearly, fans would flock to the drawing power of DC's holy trinity than another obscure Marvel hero (Iron Man was an obscure hero at one time too lest we forget). Anyway, speculation was removed today when Marvel announced that after Captain America: The Winter Soldier just broke April box office records over the weekend it now would release Captain America 3 on, you guessed it, May 6, 2016.
So it would appear the gauntlet has been thrown but could they really keep the May 6 date and basically divide audiences and box office receipts? I suspect one will move the date. We're still two years away and anything could happen. The Winter Soldier just proved April is as ripe a time to release a blockbuster as any during the summer. With over $96 million earned domestically and over $200 million worldwide TWS has paved the way for the tentatively titled Man of Steel sequel, 'Batman vs Superman', to beat Cap 3 to theaters and moviegoers if it debuted in April. Would there be childish name-calling of WB as scared and running from a good fight? Of course, the internet thrives on cynicism and asshole-ry. It would make more sense for both franchises. They're both going to be hits so why divide the same people going to see them.
If they both release on the same weekend I see Batman vs Superman taking it in the short term. There is no doubt that Captain America is a formidable franchise with a good first film (The Fist Avenger) and an even better sequel (The Winter Soldier) but now Cap and friends are very familiar to audiences. Folks could put off seeing Cap 3 because in BvsS you have the first live-action film pairing of Superman and the hero that helps keep DC Comics and Warner Bros. afloat in it's billion dollar baby, Batman. Not to mention the expected cameo of Wonder Woman and if rumors are remotely true many others. This could plant the seeds of an eventual Justice League movie. This is what fans want but it's incumbent on WB to make sure it's a supremely made film. Good early buzz will be crucial. Cap 3 will make its money even if it releases a mixed bag of a film like Iron Man 3 turned out to be. The pressure is all on Superman. The future of DC movies relies on it and its success.
If one moves their release date then everyone wins. Fans will have time to view and judge both movies separately and fairly without stretching their dollars over one weekend. The studios get the audience they deserve because while there are hardcore Marvel fans they also rely on casual comic book fans as well as the general public to fill those theater seats. Even giving them a week between movies helps people plan their time and money.
Some meaningless face off doesn't benefit anyone. This peeing contest just splits receipts so does winning the weekend by $5 million, $10 million or so worth the match-up? I don't think so. Studios love bragging rights but winning a weekend, coming in first, and plastering that all over TV ads "#1 movie in America" is far easier if you're not going against a similar big tentpole film. Someone will cave because no matter what in 2016 these two movies are competing whether they open on the same day or not.
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