Warner Bros appears ready to do Lantern 2 AND the Flash

[thunderbolt]

Interesting... break even on the box office. Make money on the merchandising, DVD/Bluray, digital downloads etc.

Note that they are doing Ghost Rider 2... I'm assuming because the first Nick Cage movie plays perpetually on cable (just like the first Swamp Thing eventually led to a direct video Swamp Thing 2 and cable TV show)

GL is nowhere near breaking even. The gross figures don't go up against the budget, that's the take before the theatre's get a piece of the pie. Ghost Rider did ok at theatres, lower budget. If WB's only into branding, expect more of the same stinkburger the first GL was. QUality is not an issue with them. The next Batman cycle has me a little nervous, as does Superman.

[Hector]

Jesus...GL hasn't even broken even...

[thunderbolt]

Here's the quote...

'Toys tied into movies typically sell well, but Mattel, which also sells tie-ins to "Green Lantern," says they've been especially popular this summer.'

I would say that was a fairly definitive statement that was not giving exception to Lantern, as much as inclusion.

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

[Brazoo]

Here's the quote...

'Toys tied into movies typically sell well, but Mattel, which also sells tie-ins to "Green Lantern," says they've been especially popular this summer.'

I would say that was a fairly definitive statement that was giving more inclusion than exception to Lantern.

Yeah I read it like thunderbolt - admittedly that's a convoluted sentence, but I don't read that as meaning GL toys were "especially popular".

[thunderbolt]

Jesus...GL hasn't even broken even...

Nope, nowhere near breaking even. 200 mil on the budget with an extra 100 mil on promotion.

[samurainoir]

GL is nowhere near breaking even. The gross figures don't go up against the budget, that's the take before the theatre's get a piece of the pie. Ghost Rider did ok at theatres, lower budget. If WB's only into branding, expect more of the same stinkburger the first GL was. QUality is not an issue with them. The next Batman cycle has me a little nervous, as does Superman.

According to the article, there are still 22 international markets GL is to be released in, so I'm sure by the time that rolls around they get to break even and get into profit position for DVD/Blueray/digital download. Otherwise why go ahead with a second one?

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.

Warner/DC really needs to start taking a page from Marvel/Disney's formula for success.

[Hector]

I think they will make the GL sequel, because WB really wants to copy Marvel by getting the JLA together...the way Marvel is doing with the Avengers.

That seems to be the only reason GL 2 is being made...the JLA connection...otherwise...it'd be dead in the water.

At the current rate...not even DVD/Blue-ray sales will make GL remotely a hit.

I mean...think about it...GL has made a total worldwide take of $154,462,444

Compare that to Superman Returns' take of $391,081,192 million...and that's 2006 box office numbers right there.

Green Lantern had a budget of $200 million

Superman Returns had a budget of $270 million

So deduct $70 million to make the budgets even...Green Lantern still comes out way behind.

Green Lantern should thank the JLA stars.

[Hector]

According to the article, there are still 22 international markets GL is to be released in

Yes...

The Samoan Islands, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Belize, Mongolia, Turkestan, Bangladesh, Yemen, etc...

Yeah...Green Lantern might still make one billion dollars...

[samurainoir]

50 million is not an insurmountable gap once you toss in the DVD, Blueray, digital downloads. There is obviously a profit model at work here (and don't forget creative studio accounting). Otherwise, just go ahead with the JLA film... like with The Incredible Hulk (he's in the Avengers). There doesn't need to be a second movie if they are losing money on this first GL.

Yes...

The Samoan Islands, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Belize, Mongolia, Turkestan, Bangladesh, Yemen, etc...

Yeah...Green Lantern might still make one billion dollars...

[Hector]

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.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Just going off the first weekend numbers is short sighted, a lot of movies do well the first weekend than sink like a stone, just ask Harry Potter.

Deathly Hallows part II has made it to 1 billion faster than any movie...EVER. Yes, just about everyone went to see it that first weekend, but that was due to it's event nature. It's drop off was to be expected. I don't think even Warners could have expected the numbers they made that first weekend though. WB could have pulled it after week 2 and still been in black for the whole year.

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

[aquatroy]

This is where Marvel studios is way ahead of WB. They understand that they need a person in charge that understands, or at least respects the source material.
It's no surprise that DC's only recent big screen success is Batman. Doesn't take a lot to understand the Bat's motivations.
I don't remember who wrote this first, but DC should let Timm & Co. take a shot at live action.

[thunderbolt]

That seems to be the only reason GL 2 is being made...the JLA connection...otherwise...it'd be dead in the water.

At the current rate...not even DVD/Blue-ray sales will make GL remotely a hit.

I mean...think about it...GL has made a total worldwide take of $154,462,444

Compare that to Superman Returns' take of $391,081,192 million...and that's 2006 box office numbers right there.

Green Lantern had a budget of $200 million

Superman Returns had a budget of $270 million

So deduct $70 million to make the budgets even...Green Lantern still comes out way behind.

Green Lantern should thank the JLA stars.

That number for GL is gross, too. That's not what WB gets to put in its pockets. Not sure what the theatres' cuts are for it or any others that get a cut of the gross. Beyond the 200 mil budget there is another 100 mil spent on promotion of the movie.

[Hector]

True dat.

[Figuremod73]

Bruce Timm and Paul Dini SHOULD get a chance at live action. They practically rejuvinated animation with Batman: the animated series, and brought Batman and Superman back to a level of quality that had been missing for a number of years.