Gatsby77

It's not about weeks of release; it's about revenue. The DVD for Knives Out was released after the weekend of Feb. 21-23, in which the film grossed $1,069,000 at the domestic box office. The DVD for Ford v. Ferrari was released after the weekend of Feb. 7-9, in which the film grossed $650,000 at the domestic box office. Last weekend, Birds of Prey grossed $571,000 at the domestic box office. Even if you charitably double that gross on the assumption that it was hurt a bit by COVID-19, Warner Bros. would not have been out-of-bounds to release it on DVD by next Tuesday anyway.

Virtually - yes. And I wasn't being facetious. Even if theaters *weren't* shutting down, this was its last week at my local $2 theater. And Knives Out, for instance, was already available for rental at Redbox and on VOD while it was still in theaters like, two weeks ago. Ditto Ford v Ferrari. Both are technically still in theaters (# 21 and # 40 on last weekend's list of top films) and both have been on DVD/VOD for a few weeks.

Cute how it's using the pandemic as an excuse. Could just as easily have come out next week on VOD normally as it wraps its theatrical run.

BS. BoxOfficePro had it tracking at $12-$17 million as of Jan. 17. https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-tracking-bloodshot-i-still-believe-and-my-spy/ And that was down to just $10 million by three weeks before release. The fact that it finished with $9.3 million vs. its long-held $10 million tracking amidst the coronavirus scare is a miracle.

It's a simple "yes or no" question: Does Bloodshot's performance last weekend make a Harbinger film more likely? If your answer's anything but "no" you're deluded or truly don't understand this business. And btw - Chronicles of Riddick was . Glad it was my buddy who wasted the rental fee on it; not me. I'd rather re-watch *any* of the Mad Max films, or even Ice Pirates.

Both those articles (both the one you linked to and the one *it* linked to quoting the supposed source of the 5-picture plan) date from after Justice League was released and bombed. So...unreliable. Snyder and company could have said anything at that point to try to save face. I'm looking for any citations of a planned "Superman trilogy" prior to BvS's release.

Oh, hey - look, kids! It's my boy Scott Mendelson noting how Bloodshot's failure has damaged the prospects for a Valiant Cinematic Universe! https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2020/03/16/box-office-bloodshot-bombed-because-vin-diesel-is-only-a-draw-in-fast-and-furious-films-and-xxx-movies/#552a726f5b3d "Yes, theaters all over the world are being hit by the coronavirus. However, Bloodshot was projected to open with around $10 million domestic and came through with $9.3 million. Especially with poor reviews and indifferent buzz, Bloodshot (about a dead soldier who gets brought back to life and injected with nanobytes) was almost certainly doomed. It’s not going to kickstart a Valiant cinematic universe, at least not in theaters. It’s another failed attempt by the star to create a new franchise outside of the Fast & Furious sandbox, joining Babylon A.D. and Tha Last Witch Hunter."

Exactly. And here's where you're wrong. Justice League is in no way, shape or form a "Superman" movie. So it cannot, definitionally, complete a "Superman trilogy." Is he critical to the plot? Sure - but he's not the driver. He's not the villain, or the reason Batman forms the league. He's in (effectively) two scenes (three, if you count the Kansas scene with Lois). Most importanlty, he has *far* less screen-time than any other member of the Justice League. Because it's a Justice League film, not a Superman one. See: https://www.comicbookmovie.com/justice_league/spoilers-justice-league-how-much-screentime-does-each-member-of-the-league-get-a155517 Batman: 45:33 Wonder Woman: 43:47 Flash: 33:13 Cyborg: 32:33 Aquaman: 28:11 Superman: 16:32

There you go. Trilogies are (definitionally) either planned from the jump (i.e., pre Man of Steel) or (usually) after the success of the first film. I don't believe there was *ever* a "Superman trilogy" planned before the release of Man of Steel, particularly given the prior failure of Superman Returns. And - even immediately after Man of Steel, the plan was to go forward with Man of Steel 2, *not* BvS. So...per the portion quoted above, I could (potenitally) buy that Snyder *at one point* planned a "Superman" trilogy that consisted of: Man of Steel --> BvS --> Man of Steel 2. With Justice League 1 + 2 as companion pieces. But that's not what you claimed a page ago. You claimed the "Superman trilogy" was: Man of Steel --> BvS --> Justice League Pt. 1. That's hogwash. Somewhere between wishful thinking and revisionist history. Give me proof that this was the plan (via contemporary direct quotes from Snyder or Nolan) and maybe you've got something. But absent that, I will *never* believe that the three films we got were planned as a cohesive "Superman trilogy" -- especially since Justice League 2 AND Man of Steel 2 were still planned the day before Justice League's release.

Please list links that show contemporary proof of this plan -- preferably either citing a Warner Bros. exec, Christopher Nolan, or Zack Snyder *prior* to the release of BvS. And preferably, prior to the release of Man of Steel.

yeah - I don't buy it. If anything, it would make sense that the "Superman trilogy" would be Man of Steel, BvS, Man of Steel II. But Justice League was always planned as a two-parter, so that doesn't work for me (even if Part 2 was supposed to be more "Justice League-centric.") (And it better have been, because one of the [many] critical faults of Justice League is that Superman alone could have saved the day, with zero help from the rest of the team.)

I'm sorry...there was a planned "Superman trilogy?"

Ugh. That's just 2x the opening of Upgrade (2018) and 22% below the opening of Hellboy (2019). Will be lucky to finish at $30 million domestic.

Not at all. I just submit that Bloodshot's failure this weekend makes a Harbinger film less likely; you seem to maintain the two aren't connected.

Harbinger's not currently listed on original scibe Eric Heisserer's or supposed director Justin Tipping's IMDB pages. And Tipping has a grand total of 8 TV episodes to his name, and no movies. He's not exactly Brett Ratner.

Very little (hence "put aside"). But not zero. However, Bloodshot's failure will matter a lot. And...I was wrong above. The first time Paramount picked up Harbinger's rights was back in *2008.* Its troubled history is known, esp. within that studio. Bottom line: momentum matters. Had it turned out differently, Bloodshot's being a spring blockbuster could have fast-tracked Harbinger for a spring/summer 2022 release. Now? Nope - just more confirmation that Valiant superheroes aren't in-demand properties.

Absolutely. Put aside that Harbinger's been in development hell since 2013. The studios aren't stupid. The failure of a solid Valiant superhero property with an A-list headliner and screenwriter means they won't be rushing out to greenlight associated Valiant properties. (Full disclosure: I have 7 copies of Harbinger 1.)

Yeah -- I'm sure Paramount's fast-tracking Harbinger now.

Methinks you doth protest too much. Occam's razor, man. This isn't rocket surgery. The biggest news items at the ValiantFans boards over the last year were: 1) Dino's departure; and 2) Paramount's acquisition of the Harbinger properties, which basically makes a Valiant Connected Universe impossible, particularly with Bloodshot being the first (and most important) movie to kickstart it. This is well-known among Valiant's most die-hard fans (one of which, believe it or not, I am). Recall that the initial film announcement five years ago listed five initial movies -- Harbinger 1 & 2, Bloodshot 1 & 2, and Harbinger Wars, in which the properties would finally meet & collide. That plan died with the Paramount acquisition. And the lack-of-buzz for Bloodshot so far (even here on these boards, let alone among the general public) mean it's now less likely to get a sequel, and is not helping the cause for Paramount to invest in the three supposed Harbinger films (not counting the rumored Faith spin-off).

Bosco - that headline is more factual than negative. And that exact sentiment has been a constant reframe among the diehard Valiant folks over on Greg's ValiantFans boards since the announcement. Just sayin' - you're imputing negative intent here when even the most supportive fans knew the spilt of Sony and Paramount posed a huge risk to any impending VCU no matter how well the individual films did.

It's opening day, y'all! Five years after the first Valiant films were announced, we finally get to see one grace the big screen! https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/bloodshot-harbinger-comics-get-film-790433 It's a HUGE day for Valiant fans! Sucks that it's at just 34% on Rotten Tomatoes, though. At least it should hit at least double Upgrade's opening weekend of $4.7 million.

Dang. This movie is straight cursed.

Thanks for the review! Curious how it compares to either Upgrade or Robocop (2014). The Bloodshot trailers made it seem especially thematically similar to Robocop, what with the false memories and remote shut-down by his handlers.

Whatever makes you happy. Two sets I've been considering: Rai # 0-8. Only half of these have any real (slab-worthy) value in 9.8, but it would feel weird to stop at # 5, or # 7. Punisher War Journal # 1-19 CGC 9.8 Jim Lee Sig. Series. Would be a good 4-10 year challenge, I think, since some of these don't yet exist in sig. series at all.

That's *amazing* good sir! I mean, it *is* the answer...