Batman vs. Superman’s Michigan Budget Revealed

In recent years, superhero movies have become bigger and more popular, and as a result, they’ve become more expensive. It looks like Warner Bros. isn’t planning on messing with that formula for their upcoming blockbuster Batman vs. Superman, as the film’s Michigan budget has been revealed to be a whopping $131 million.

There was no question that this film was going to be massive. After all, Batman and Superman finally meeting on the big screen is as huge of a fanboy fantasy as imaginable, but now we have an actual number to place on the scope of this production. The figure is coming from Michelle Grinnell, public relations manager for the Michigan Film Office, who says this will be the largest production to ever take place in Michigan, surpassing Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful, which was filmed in the state in 2011.

Oz was almost entirely shot in the Michigan Motion Picture Studios in Pontiac, but Grinnell says that much of Batman vs. Superman‘s shoot will happen on-location around the area. The shoot in the Detroit area is scheduled to last several months.

While many Michigan fans are likely excited about the possibility of catching a glimpse of the Caped Crusader in their backyard, production will also be a boost to the economy, with an estimated 6,000 jobs and $5 million in revenue coming into the state. Grinnell says that jobs are still available both behind-the-scenes and on-camera (the positions available will be posted on the Michigan Film Office’s website), so now might be the time for that vacation to Michigan that you’ve been thinking about.

If $131 million seems low, especially compared with the estimated $225 million budget for Man Of Steel, it’s important to remember that the figure is only for the work in Michigan. There was already a small shoot in L.A. and it’s rumored that the film will shoot at least a small scene in Yorkville, Illinois. It’s likely there could be at least a few other locations involved too. Then there’s post-production costs, which likely won’t be incurred entirely in Michigan. We also don’t know how the actors’ salaries are factored into the equation. Needless to say, this is going to be one expensive flick. Hopefully the result lives up to the cost.

Batman Vs. Superman will land in theaters July 17, 2015. The film stars Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Galdot, and Amy Adams.