via Newsarama
The unexpected move sets up a game of chicken with Marvel Studios, who previously staked out that date for unannounced film. Marvel has traditionally released films the first weekend in May, including this past year’s Iron Man 3 and 2012’s The Avengers.
Sony and Fox have also released Marvel-adapted films on that weekend, and Sony will release next year’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 (May 2 2014) on that weekend. Of course comic book reader also know the first weekend in May as the traditional weekend Free Comic Book Day is held.
Warner Bros. pushing production on director Zack Snyder’s untitled Man of Steel follow-up that will also star Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman to second quarter 2014, after initially being scheduled to begin shooting this winter.
“We are happy to take advantage of these coveted summer dates, which are perfect for two of our biggest tentpole releases,” Warner Bros. president of domestic distributionDan Fellman said in a press release. “We share the fans’ excitement to see DC Comics’ most popular figures, Superman and Batman, together on the big screen for the first time, which will now be arriving in theatres in May 2016. Peter Pan has delighted people of every generation for more than a century, so we are thrilled to bring him back to the screen next summer for today’s moviegoers.”
“We know that there is already great anticipation building for the next super hero film from Zack Snyder, and we are equally eager to see what he has in store for Superman and Batman as they share the big screen for the first time ever,” Warner Bros. president of international distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg added in the press release.
Warner Bros. also announced they have moved their Peter Pan/Captain Hook origin storyPan, which will star frequent superhero himself Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, to the July 17, 2015 date.
X-Men: The (fan fic) Series 