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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.

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By Mark Julian - 8/13/2012
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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TWITTER BUZZ: The Dark Knight Returns
CBM Exclusive: Interview With Director Sam Liu Part 3

Source: The Wrap
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Asterisk - 8/13/2012, 6:36 PM
No! Those weren't selling well?
MarkJulian - 8/13/2012, 6:40 PM
It really hurts when you can find all these movies online weeks before they come out.
Marxman12 - 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 - 8/13/2012, 6:48 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
LAWLZY96 - 8/13/2012, 6:50 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boogie138 - 8/13/2012, 6:50 PM
BOO-URNS!!
StormLoganSummers - 8/13/2012, 6:51 PM
Oh no!
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 - 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 - 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 - 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?
HellsHammer - 8/13/2012, 6:58 PM
[frick] [frick] [frick] [frick] fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!
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 - 8/13/2012, 7:01 PM
I hope that's true though.
ComicsCommando - 8/13/2012, 7:03 PM
Their animated movies won't stop. Just their direct to dvd live action movies.
MrBlueSky - 8/13/2012, 7:03 PM
darkknight2149 - 8/13/2012, 7:07 PM
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO! This sucks. And there goes the announced Flashpoint film.
davidwiz - 8/13/2012, 7:08 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! sob i loved those movies more than any other movies!!!!! oh god, im gonna die!!!!!!!
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 - 8/13/2012, 7:13 PM
I hope A Christmas Story 2 fails.
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????
AmericanPsychoWolf - 8/13/2012, 7:16 PM
And who gives a shit about a GOTG film outside this site?
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 - 8/13/2012, 7:18 PM
[frick] this shit.
AmericanPsychoWolf - 8/13/2012, 7:21 PM
Batman: Under the Red Hood was awesome, such a shame
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 - 8/13/2012, 7:24 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NerdyGeek - 8/13/2012, 7:24 PM
Boogie138: I love you for that comment
TheBigBoss917 - 8/13/2012, 7:27 PM
Well maybe they can continue on Warner Bros. Animation
BIGBMH - 8/13/2012, 7:33 PM
That's unfortunate. They've done some great work. I love Under the Red Hood.
Cswag12 - 8/13/2012, 7:34 PM
I want the animation to continue I enjoy the universe they created for DC
AlReg - 8/13/2012, 7:34 PM
The article needs to be edited.
Durf - 8/13/2012, 7:36 PM
Wait, what? NOOOOOOO!
Netman0007 - 8/13/2012, 7:37 PM
What about Flashpoint?
NerdyGeek - 8/13/2012, 7:37 PM
How about I say NOOOOO like everybody else.................
SpideyQuad - 8/13/2012, 7:38 PM
Good! Now maybe DC will get serious about developing their stable for the big screen.
twiggy3634 - 8/13/2012, 7:38 PM
flannelmandude, I completely agree. Make the movies CGI instead of cartoon animation. It'd be more expensive, but well worth it. The CGI in Arkham City was amazing, who wouldn't wanna see a full movie of that? Even with X-Men Legends and Ultimate Alliance games had good looking CG cut scenes that I wanted to see more of.
Durf - 8/13/2012, 7:40 PM
Oh, wait this actually for live-action direct to DVD? Oh, well I retract my earlier "NOOOOOO!" if that is the case
NerdyGeek - 8/13/2012, 7:40 PM
Here's something to lighten everybody's mood!



:P
TChalla74 - 8/13/2012, 7:42 PM
smh@ this decision, sucks..
rubbish78 - 8/13/2012, 7:42 PM
awwww...well damn.
jaycr - 8/13/2012, 7:43 PM
The so called fans killed this... let's face it Comic Book fans are more about boobs and explosions than people that really enjoy good stories. No wonder Michael Bay does so well, he give the pigs what they want.
Tymminator - 8/13/2012, 7:44 PM
Damn.
Project8501 - 8/13/2012, 7:50 PM
that sucks.
Temple - 8/13/2012, 7:52 PM
Haha..hahaha. MWAHAHAHAHAH!
ComicsCommando - 8/13/2012, 7:58 PM
Some of you guys yelling "NOOOOOOO!" are idiots. The animated movies will continue to be made, just not the live-action direct-to-dvd movies.
DrainBamage - 8/13/2012, 7:59 PM
From what I've read on The Wrap and several other sites, this won't effect anything. All that's going to happen is that DC animated movies will fall under the WB Animation banner and will be released by Warner Home Video.

Think about it. If these DC animated movies weren't making any money, we wouldn't have had so many over the years.

Don't worry people. The sun will rise tomorrow. :)
DEATHbyEXILE - 8/13/2012, 8:00 PM
hope420 - 8/13/2012, 8:01 PM
First the AC at the house breaks and it's 100 degrees in here and now this! Where's my bong I gotta relax!
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