Well, here’s one less mega-sequel/franchise/tentpole to worry about in the already crammed calendar of summer 2015: “Batman Vs. Superman” has been pushed to 2016.
Variety has the news which is scarce at the moment, except to say that production has been moved back to the second quarter of 2015. The official word is that the delay is to allow “the filmmakers time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story.”
However, Batman News reported earlier today that Ben Affleck—aka Batman—sustained a leg injury that was serious enough to push production back six weeks. Crew members were apparently told of the hiatus in production earlier in the week. That said, this is unsubstantiated and according to Comic Book Movie, the actor was seen earlier this week walking in L.A. with this family. And even a six-week delay doesn’t seem enough to warrant moving a major tentpole back ten months.
Whatever the cause official or not, “Batman Vs. Superman” will now be hitting screens on May 6, 2016, squaring off directly against a still-untitled Marvel movie, with “X-Men: Apocalypse” opening a few weeks later on May 27, 2016. Brassy move, WB. And undoubtedly, this pushes other DC Comics movies from the studio, such as “The Flash” and “Justice League,” back as well.
And taking the place of “Batman Vs. Superman” next summer? Joe Wright‘s “Pan.”