UPDATE: Warner Premiere, Distributor Of Direct-To-Video DC Adaptations To Close

UPDATE: Warner Premiere, Distributor Of Direct-To-Video DC Adaptations To Close

The subsidiary of Warner Bros. responsible for the creation and distribution of among other things, adaptations of Batman and Superman DC Comics characters for direct-to-video release is reportedly closing down.

By MarkJulian - Aug 13, 2012 06:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Animated Features
Source: The Wrap

The Wrap have learned exclusively that due to the current downturn of the home entertainment industry, Warner Bros. has shut down its direct-to-video label Warner Premiere this summer.

"Given the continuing decline in the direct-to-video film market and shifting business models in the production of digital series, the decision was made to close Warner Premiere," the studio said in a statement to TheWrap.

The site goes on to report that the division will finish production on its remaining film and digital series slate this Fall.

Since 2007, Warner Premiere has released Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier, Batman: Gotham Knight, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Batman: Under the Red Hood, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and most recently Superman vs. The Elite.

This announcement won't effect The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1 but your guess is as good as mine on whether this news affect the release of Part 2.

More details as the story develops.

UPDATE:Deadline has reported that although Warner Premiere is closing, WB will still release animated features.

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Asterisk
Asterisk - 8/13/2012, 6:36 PM
No! Those weren't selling well?
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 8/13/2012, 6:40 PM
It really hurts when you can find all these movies online weeks before they come out.
SteveBosell
SteveBosell - 8/13/2012, 6:46 PM
No!!! This means that we will probably never get a Flash film now, animated or live action. WTF Warner Bros?!
Intothepoop
Intothepoop - 8/13/2012, 6:48 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
LAWLZY96
LAWLZY96 - 8/13/2012, 6:50 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boogie138
Boogie138 - 8/13/2012, 6:50 PM
BOO-URNS!!
StormLoganSummers
StormLoganSummers - 8/13/2012, 6:51 PM
Oh no!
GoILL
GoILL - 8/13/2012, 6:53 PM
Damn this new sucks but it also explains why I haven't been able to get on that site this past week.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 8/13/2012, 6:54 PM
They aren't shutting down their animation films. This is actually good news for those who those. They are putting more resources into the direct to dvd animation features, and not making shitty Free Willy sequels.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 8/13/2012, 6:55 PM
http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/13/warner-closes-doors-on-direct-to-video-unit


It's unclear if the final film project mentioned above was the recently announced sequel to A Christmas Story, arriving on home video in October. The studio will continue to focus their efforts on digital distribution and animated projects, like DC's upcoming release of The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1. The employees of Warner Premiere will be transferred to other departments.
flannelmandude
flannelmandude - 8/13/2012, 6:56 PM
They should have all been CGI instead of cartoon animation. That would've boosted sales I bet. Same goes for Marvel's Ultimate Avengers 1 and 2. I own them and they are good but they could've been better. Ya gotta spend money to make money. Know what I'm sayin?
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 8/13/2012, 6:58 PM
[frick] [frick] [frick] [frick] fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 8/13/2012, 6:58 PM
@FanBoyDeamands The Wrap didn't report that but IGN had it in quotes as if they did.
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 8/13/2012, 7:01 PM
I hope that's true though.
ComicsCommando
ComicsCommando - 8/13/2012, 7:03 PM
Their animated movies won't stop. Just their direct to dvd live action movies.
MrBlueSky
MrBlueSky - 8/13/2012, 7:03 PM
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 8/13/2012, 7:07 PM
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO! This sucks. And there goes the announced Flashpoint film.
davidwiz
davidwiz - 8/13/2012, 7:08 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! sob i loved those movies more than any other movies!!!!! oh god, im gonna die!!!!!!!
Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon - 8/13/2012, 7:10 PM
Deadline's coverage of the same news from this afternoon said that:

"Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video will continue to produce and release animated films, such as Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry and DC Universe."
CaptainObvious
CaptainObvious - 8/13/2012, 7:13 PM
I hope A Christmas Story 2 fails.
JR
JR - 8/13/2012, 7:16 PM
so what about the Superman-Brainiac movie??????????? FK! the industries first the JL and JLU cartoons and now this whata ta HELL????
Skateanddestroy88
Skateanddestroy88 - 8/13/2012, 7:17 PM
I love how it sounds like there gonna pull the plug on the dc animated original films but then (which doesn't make any sense) upon further review of comments we see that this is not the case.

DC animated films kick ass. Expecially to people like me who are to lazy to read.
Minghagz
Minghagz - 8/13/2012, 7:18 PM
[frick] this shit.
ArtisticErotic
ArtisticErotic - 8/13/2012, 7:23 PM
That really sucks balls. Oh well it was fun while it lasted. Torrents and the internet killed these though, no one was buying them except fans.

I was really hoping they would do a Kingdom Come animated movie one of these days, now were probably get a shitty live action version of it.
TheBigBoss917
TheBigBoss917 - 8/13/2012, 7:24 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NerdyGeek
NerdyGeek - 8/13/2012, 7:24 PM
Boogie138: I love you for that comment
TheBigBoss917
TheBigBoss917 - 8/13/2012, 7:27 PM
Well maybe they can continue on Warner Bros. Animation
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 8/13/2012, 7:33 PM
That's unfortunate. They've done some great work. I love Under the Red Hood.
TheAcuario
TheAcuario - 8/13/2012, 7:34 PM
I want the animation to continue I enjoy the universe they created for DC
AlReg
AlReg - 8/13/2012, 7:34 PM
The article needs to be edited.
Durf
Durf - 8/13/2012, 7:36 PM
Wait, what? NOOOOOOO!
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