Warner Bros appears ready to do Lantern 2 AND the Flash

[samurainoir]

The name of the game is a mediocre hit at least...and GL sure ain't one....it's just a brake even type of flick.

Which was exactly what I said in my first post.

The profit model appears to be the licensing component if they are not making money off the box office.c

[samurainoir]

That may be another reason WB is being generous with GL. With a hit like Potter in the same summer, they can handle GL underperforming.

Chris

That is a very good point.

WB seems to have been alternating Batman and Potter as their tentpole pictures for the past few years, and they are desperately looking for the next Potter in exploiting the DCU.

[Hector]

Which was exactly what I said in my first post.

The profit model appears to be the licensing component if they are not making money off the box office.c

My bad...

[Random Axe]

I don't think anyone at WB is fooled into thinking the production they put on the screen was great. The lead may have been miscast or overrated by the casting department, the director didn't fully grasp the character's essence and the script was uneven. All of the above are plain, simple fact.

However, I think they also realize they have a HUGE potential for a follow-up with a definitive, badass villain. I think everyone is in agreement Sinestro was by far the best part of the film. A great majority of the design work is already done, so they can concentrate on just writing a great good guy-bad guy superhero flick. No more origins, no love interests, just beat the yellow and green snot out of each other action.

Sinestro has potential to be this young generation's Darth Vader. BTW, you ever wonder why the guardians gave a guy who's name is almost sinister a ring? Fail.

[johnmiic]

I recall something Kevin Smith once said. When he makes a film if the critics hate it they say Kevin Smith's career is over. He's finished. Smith counters by saying his films don't have to be blockbusters. If his films make even a little bit over what they cost to make there's no problem.

In GL's case depending on how you figure it, 50 or 150 mil to make-it's within reach. It can be done by end of this year if not by the 1st quarter of next year. Keep costs down on the sequel and have a better script and you're in great shape.

[madmarva]

What was telling was the comment about time spent on earth vs space in the sequel... which probably means they are slashing the budget for the second one and "grounding" it more on earth probably saves them some budget on effects... plus many of the CG assets were already developed for the first one.

Wow, I took that quote the exact opposite of you. I took it as more space less earth. The space stuff is what actually worked in the film. Really what held the film back was the Hector Hammond portions and forcing it to dovetail into the Paralax portion of the plot.

If the action in space is not going to be accentuated in the sequel, there's really no reason to make the film in my opinion.

[Hector]

Sinestro has potential to be this young generation's Darth Vader.

Ahhhhhhhhhh...no.

[ctc]

>The profit model appears to be the licensing component if they are not making money off the box office.

Yup. Hence the big push for “Cars 2.” Since the ‘89 Batman, studios have realized profit comes from more than the film. If the merch sells, there WILL be another film, even if the first tanked.

> I don't think anyone at WB is fooled into thinking the production they put on the screen was great.

I bet none of ‘em care, either. It’s about moving product. Content is AT BEST secondary.

Don C.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Wow, I took that quote the exact opposite of you. I took it as more space less earth. The space stuff is what actually worked in the film. Really what held the film back was the Hector Hammond portions and forcing it to dovetail into the Paralax portion of the plot.

If the action in space is not going to be accentuated in the sequel, there's really no reason to make the film in my opinion.

Me too. Honestly, if the whole thing is in space, they can green screen the whole frickin' movie. Saves money on sets, extras, location filming, you name it. They already have the software and hardware in their hands to do this. At that point, they are just paying salaries to the actors, technicians, etc.

Chris

[knight errant00]

I don't think anyone at WB is fooled into thinking the production they put on the screen was great.

Can we get Sandy to weigh in here on this thinking? As a movie fan and as-yet unpublished/unproduced writer, I've always been curious how studios can press forward when, at certain points, it's got to be clear some element isn't working and needs to be fixed -- and I know they monitor these big projects daily. I've often wondered if it's like politics, and different factions dig in on certain things, and the whole film-by-commttee thing is what kills the quality.

SC?

[Goblin19]

Yeah, I can't remember the exact number, but they made crazy money on the toy licensing. I think I read it in Forbes when I was waiting in the doctor's office.

[MIB41]

Mattel said movie tie ins in general are popular, the writer of the article threw in the bit about selling tie ins to GL.

Here is a more specific reference from Forbes...

A big boost came from the toymaker’s Entertainment business, which reported a 41% jump in sales thanks to tie-ins to films like Cars 2 and Green Lantern during the quarter.

[Brazoo]

Here is a more specific reference from Forbes...

A big boost came from the toymaker’s Entertainment business, which reported a 41% jump in sales thanks to tie-ins to films like Cars 2 and Green Lantern during the quarter.

Ah, that makes it much clearer for sure.

Still, it shows Mattel made money, but it begs the question about how retailers did - specifically with GL toys - no?

[thunderbolt]

says movies like GL. It was good for Mattel, but whatabout Target and TRU? Markdown at Target and pegwarmers at TRU for years to come. The GL brand hs been tarnished by this movie and it will be hard to get past that in a couple years, again, just ask the Hulk. The Ang Lee movie hurt the reboot a lot.

[Brazoo]

Yeah - thunderbolt is getting what I'm wondering too. If Mattel made a killing on GL toys it makes sense that they're excited about a new film, but are the retail buyers going to be lining back up for part 2? That's the question.