Fan art for 'Superman vs Batman,' based on a Warner Bros./DC Entertainment design |
By now you’ve heard
the news: the much-anticipated sequel to Man of Steel, tentatively titled Superman vs Batman, will shoot on location in Detroit, Mich., and
other areas of Michigan in 2014.
That’s big news for
fans of filmmaking in the Midwest and further proof that shooting in the
Midwest is becoming even more viable and preferred.
For those taking
count, that’s four big superhero blockbusters filmed (or about to be filmed) in
the Midwest in the last few years. Pittsburgh played Gotham City in The Dark Knight Rises, Cleveland substituted for New York City in the
mega-hit Marvel’s
The Avengers, and work
recently wrapped on Captain
America 2: The Winter Soldier
in Cleveland, as well. This time, the city portrays Washington, D.C.
Speculation is that
Detroit will likely substitute for Gotham City. And with a first quarter 2014
shoot, that could mean a Gotham City during wintertime.
DC Entertainment
and Warner Bros. Pictures will benefit from state tax incentives, and the film
will bring with it production jobs for cast and crew and notoriety for the
city.
“This project will
further strengthen the reputation of Michigan and metro Detroit as a premier
film destination,” said Margaret O’Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office, in a
statement to the press. “We look forward to the spotlight shining on our
incredibly talented workforce and the businesses that support our film industry
here in Michigan.”
Superman vs
Batman was awarded an incentive of
$35 million on $131 million of projected in-state expenditures. The production
is expected to hire 406 Michigan workers, with a full time equivalent of 426
jobs, plus an additional 6,000 man/days of extra work. The production
anticipates using approximately 500 local Michigan vendors during the course of
production and spending $5.1 million on local hotels, as well as an additional
$3.5 million in out-of-town cast and crew per diem payments that will be spent
in the local economy but which fall outside of the incentive program.
Production on the new film is expected to begin in metro Detroit and
throughout Michigan sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Snyder is co-writing
the story with David S. Goyer, who is writing the screenplay. Charles Roven and
Deborah Snyder are producing the film, which will star Henry Cavill, Ben
Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.
"Detroit
is a great example of a quintessential American city, and I know it will make
the perfect backdrop for our movie," stated filmmaker Zack Snyder. "Detroit and
the entire state of Michigan have been fantastic collaborators, and we are
looking forward to working together on this film."
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