In an age where studios can release a list of calendar dates that fuel the online blogosphere for months, should we really be surprised by today’s news? After Marvel released the details of their cinematic schedule up until 2019, fans immediately began to ponder what those unannounced titles might be. The matter of inking in preliminary dates for movies five years in advance was itself news. Crackers, right? Things have stepped up to an even nuttier level of projected financial earnings with a press release from the Turner network, TNT, who have already bagged the rights to Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Captain America 3.
Don’t worry, you didn’t just leave the universe – they’re not released. In fact, of the five movies TNT secured today, only two have officially been announced. That means they’ve paid to have the premiere broadcasts of Marvel’s next biggest hitters, before they even know what they are. Our guess? It’s likely they’ll be Thor 3, Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Ant-Man or Doctor Strange. Now, granted, this is a wise move. TNT aren’t blindly throwing money at a flailing enterprise. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven to be a dependable earner – its current worldwide income stands at $2.9 billion.
Here’s what TNT’s VP of Acquisitions had to say about it:
“Marvel’s brand of entertainment is a thrill ride for audiences, and we’re excited to be adding their next five blockbusters to TNT’s arsenal of high-quality genre fare. These movies will play a key role in TNT’s long-term success, especially among key adult demos.”
What’s possibly the maddest part of the transaction is the fact that TNT won’t be able to broadcast them until TWO YEARS after their theatrical release. Fair enough, a lot of movie fans can’t afford the skyrocketing price of a multiplex ticket. But that seems a long way off, especially when you consider that means they’ll be unable to screen one of those movies until 2019.
What do you reckon? Will you hold off on seeing Avengers: Age Of Ultron next year at the cinema and wait ’til it hits TNT in 2017?
