Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Moves Release Up to March 25, 2016

Averting a potential standoff with Captain America 3, Warner Bros. have shifted the release of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice up more than two months to March 25, 2016.

It was also announced that the film will be released in 3D, although after Man of Steel that was more or less a foregone conclusion.

The move is part of an aggressive slate released by Warner Bros. today that includes nine untitled DC Comics movies between now and June of 2020.

Many of Batman V Superman director Zack Snyder’s films have come out in March in the past, leading some to speculate that the move was his choice. Originally, the movie was expected in theaters in July of 2015, but was moved when an injury by star Ben Affleck slowed pre-production.

At the time, Warners moved the film into May 6, 2016, the slot of an as-then-untitled Marvel film, which was later revealed to be Captain America 3, widely expected to loosely adapt the “Death of Captain America” storyline. Since then, there has been speculation as to who would “blink” first and move their film. Much of the speculation centered around Batman V Superman moving into an earlier spot, since Affleck’s injuries were never serious enough to justify a ten-month delay and it didn’t seem that there were other significant obstacles to getting the film done on time. Marvel had repeatedly reiterated that they wouldn’t retreat from the time slot and suggested they’d rather take a hit on their box office and stick to their guns, having called “dibs” on the date.

It’s been speculated that Warner Bros. needs the “win” more than Marvel did, and that any move that hurt the financial take of both films would be considered a loss for Batman V Superman, even if it made (as is expected) significantly more than Captain America in its opening frame.