Green Lantern Box Office Prediction Thread - Part 1

[Kahran Ramsus]

Yes the rights to Superman is tied up in legal matter, although I don't know much about it so I can't tell you much.

In regards to JL, I believe Poni_Boy has stated that if WB does make that movie, Superman and Batman would only be mentioned by name. This way the rest of the league would get more exposure to the GA. But I agree a JL movie without Superman and Batman does not sound appealing.

A Justice League movie without Batman & Superman isn't worth doing. That is the whole selling point of the concept.

 

[DW4]

Yes the rights to Superman is tied up in legal matter, although I don't know much about it so I can't tell you much.

In regards to JL, I believe Poni_Boy has stated that if WB does make that movie, Superman and Batman would only be mentioned by name. This way the rest of the league would get more exposure to the GA. But I agree a JL movie without Superman and Batman does not sound appealing.

Think about it...if you aren't a comic book fan and a Justice League movie with Wonder Woman, Flash, GL...etc etc....and no Batman and Superman. I would have little to no interest. I don't know these characters very well, I wanna see more Batman and Superman.

Obviously we would have interest but Batman and Superman are a necessity for a JL film being a success.

 

[Liam_H]

By 2013 the 9th Circuit will have to make a final ruling on the case or so it seems.

Whatever that ruling is, one or the other side r both will appeal.

In such cases where rights use a product are at stake and n appeal is made to the SCOTUS, the Circuit Court usually stays it' order until the Supreme Court makes a final decision.

A stay means that if say the 9th, as expected, returns control of Superman to the heirs, the Court will abey the heirs from using the rights that very Court said they had until the SCOTUS confirms those rights. But in the interim WB/DC no longer own Superma and can't use him in any way. The Court will simply block whomever it finds in favor of from using Superman also.

Bottom line, the franchise will be frozen for years.

I'm not sure but did this whole thing begin because WB did not want to pay Siegel and Shuster families, so they're suing now?

Like the two creators own Superman's mythology along with Lois Lane etc.
But DC only owns his ability to fly and the term 'kryptonite'?

 

[Poni_Boy]

As I understand it (in broad strokes).....if WB and the Siegel & Shuster heirs don't come to an agreement over the amount of royalties shared from all things Superman, then WB can't use the elements of Superman that were created by Siegel & Shuster prior to their sale of Superman to National (I believe). Things such as the name Superman, his alter ego Clark Kent, a reporter named Lois Lane, and others. They can have a character who flies and a villain named Lex Luthor and Braniac. Basically, either side can only make money off of their 'parts' of Superman unless they come to an agreement. So WB can still make a movie with a guy who has that S and flies, but he can't be named Superman or Clark Kent, and he can't know a reporter named Lois Lane, and he can't be from a planet called Krypton.

So yeah...there is a chance that WB can't make another movie or comic with Superman as we know it...if a royalties agreement can't be reached.

Never fear, Florida has the answer

 

[Poni_Boy]

Think about it...if you aren't a comic book fan and a Justice League movie with Wonder Woman, Flash, GL...etc etc....and no Batman and Superman. I would have little to no interest. I don't know these characters very well, I wanna see more Batman and Superman.

Obviously we would have interest but Batman and Superman are a necessity for a JL film being a success.

WB's (initial) take was that if it worked in the first few issues of the comics it could work for the first film. But that means we'd also get Starro as the villain *shutter*

 

[KalMart]

I'm not sure but did this whole thing begin because WB did not want to pay Siegel and Shuster families, so they're suing now?

Like the two creators own Superman's mythology along with Lois Lane etc.
But DC only owns his ability to fly and the term 'kryptonite'?

It had to do with the original copyright term expiring and new laws awarding creators' heirs at least part ownership, I think....at least the parts that were created solely by S&S prior to the sale. The ability to fly and Lex Luthor were added after DC or whoever owned it.

 

[DW4]

WB's (initial) take was that if it worked in the first few issues of the comics it could work for the first film. But that means we'd also get Starro as the villain *shutter*

Ew. haha

That seems to be changing in August though, with their origin tale being retold. Batman bringing these superheroes together to face a bigger threat.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

By 2013 the 9th Circuit will have to make a final ruling on the case or so it seems.

Whatever that ruling is, one or the other side r both will appeal.

In such cases where the rights to use a product are at stake and an appeal is made to the SCOTUS, the Circuit Court usually stays it's order until the Supreme Court makes a final decision.

A stay means that if say the 9th, as expected, returns control of Superman to the heirs, the Court will abey the heirs from using the rights that very Court said they had until the SCOTUS confirms those rights. But in the interim WB/DC no longer own Superman and can't use him in any way. The Court will simply block whomever it finds in favor of from using Superman also.

Bottom line, the franchise will be frozen for years to come.

It is not unprecedented either. Issues over the rights held up James Bond for 6 years following Licence to Kill.

 

[KalMart]

What're we talking about here...this is a GL thread!

 

[merced]

I'm not sure but did this whole thing begin because WB did not want to pay Siegel and Shuster families, so they're suing now?

Like the two creators own Superman's mythology along with Lois Lane etc.
But DC only owns his ability to fly and the term 'kryptonite'?

Yup.

DC's and now WB's greed are to blame for this.

Add in the heirs' lawyer Toberoff who wants to control the rights they win back and it's a mess

WB does own Luthor and all the familiar villains. And the Reeve suit.

It's why WB under oath just a few years back said there were no more plans for Superman films. They changed their tune when the Court said OK but if a final fil isn't made before the end of 2012 then you are liable potentially for 10's of millions in damages.

It's why there can't be a sequel to MOS - it's why I wish WB would do a radical thing and kill off Superman in this film. Cause the character won't be around again for a long time. That would make for a 300 million plus domestic film.

Who knows, maybe they will kill him off in the books at the end of 2012.

 

[Liam_H]

It had to do with the original copyright term expiring and new laws awarding creators' heirs at least part ownership, I think....at least the parts that were created solely by S&S prior to the sale. The ability to fly and Lex Luthor were added after DC or whoever owned it.

Does this mean this all could have been avoided if they paid them?

 

[Liam_H]

Yup.

DC's and now WB's greed are to blame for this.

Add in the heirs' lawyer Toberoff who wants to control the rights they win back and it's a mess

WB does own Luthor and all the familiar villains. And the Reeve suit.

It's why WB under oath just a few years back said there were no more plans for Superman films. They changed their tune when the Court said OK but if a final fil isn't made before the end of 2012 then you are liable potentially for 10's of millions in damages.

It's why there can't be a sequel to MOS - it's why I wish WB would do a radical thing and kill off Superman in this film. Cause the character won't be around again for a long time. That would make for a 300 million plus domestic film.

Who knows, maybe they will kill him off in the books at the end of 2012.

You mean an All-Star Superman type of thing or have him die by doomsday's hand? That actually sounds pretty interesting, have him do something heroic for the planet and die in the process. But with what we know of Snyder's film they don't seem to be doing that. Superman is my favorite hero so having him killed off would be so awesome story-wise.

 

[merced]

You mean an All-Star Superman type of thing or have him die by doomsday's hand? That actually sounds pretty interesting, have him do something heroic for the planet and die in the process. But with what we know of Snyder's film they don't seem to be doing that. Superman is my favorite hero so having him killed off would be so awesome story-wise.

It would be spectacular. And solidify him as the greatest hero ever.

The classic Superman is over with anyway after 2012 so why not?

But so far it doesn't sound like they are doing that. But who knows - things are being kept under wrap.

I wouldn't be surprised however to see DC kill the Kal-El/Clak version off in the comics as they won't have him to use after 2012.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Come on, fellas. It's a Green Lantern thread. Superman has his own entire section. I'll see you guys there.

 

[KalMart]

Does this mean this all could have been avoided if they paid them?

Not necessarily. As I gather, the copyright law change dictated that the heirs get what they did...forcing at least two parties to negotiate and keep any creative property from being under sole copyright forever. So a deal is going to have to be made one way or another if they want to continue with Supes/Clark/etc with all the elements. The amount of 'pay' is what has to be determined between both parties. What adds some fuel to this fire is that apparently, the heirs' lawyer made some sort of deal with the heirs in which he would get ownership interest of Superman in exchange for his services...something that WB tried to sue him for, claiming it was illegal, while he says that the proof of it was obtained illegally...it's a big mess. Plus, the families/estates of S&S feel that they've been screwed over the years by the amount they were getting in royalties under the prior agreement, so there's probably some retribution at play...and so on. Just a big mess.

And as merced mentioned, a lot of this may be tied up in appeals once certain pending decisions are handed down which would put anything Superman-related in limbo until things are ironed out...and then more negotiating and on and on. There's a lot of bad blood.

 

[Poni_Boy]

So, who's taking bets on GL's 2nd weekend? I'm sticking to $18.1 mil total

 

[KalMart]

Come on, fellas. It's a Green Lantern thread. Superman has his own entire section. I'll see you guys there.

Agreed.

 

[MadVillainy]

Im waiting for a mad supporter of the film try and put a spin on the alleged percentage drop

 

[Liam_H]

So, who's taking bets on GL's 2nd weekend? I'm sticking to $18.1 mil total

I'll stick to $19.0 mil just to be optimistic. Once TF3 delivers the final blow, is next weekend gonna be like $8.0 million?

 

[HighFivingMF]

Im waiting for a mad supporter of the film try and put a spin on the alleged percentage drop

The low box office means I can buy the DVD sooner.

 

[Poni_Boy]

The low box office means I can buy the DVD sooner.

What, December isn't soon enough? Greedy bugger

 

[HighFivingMF]

What, December isn't soon enough? Greedy bugger

I'd be fine waiting whatever amount of time. But if it's sooner rather than later, that's cool.

 

[KalMart]

I'd be fine waiting whatever amount of time. But if it's sooner rather than later, that's cool.

Well, if it's considerably earlier than nov/dec, they could be missing out on the holiday season which could help boost DVD sales. It's probably a safe bet that Captain America will be cleaning up around then.

 

[Lighthouse]

Between Jonah Hex and Green Lantern, I wonder if they might let Diane Nelson go.

 

[Octoberist]

Green Lantern and Jonah hex were in development before she came on board.