Look out Eminem — Superman and Batman are heading to Detroit. The Michigan Film Office today announced that Warner Bros’ untitled Man Of Steel sequel has been awarded a state incentive of $35 million to film there in early 2014. The office says that the sequel — in which Ben Affleck debuts as Batman and Henry Cavill reprises his Superman role from this year’s blockbuster — is expected to have $131 million worth of in-state expenditures when it films in and around Motor City. The now-bankrupt Detroit will serve as both Metropolis and Gotham in the first feature team-up between the two top DC Comics heroes. “Detroit is a great example of a quintessential American city, and I know it will make the perfect backdrop for our movie,” said director Zack Snyder in a statement Thursday. “Detroit and the entire state of Michigan have been fantastic collaborators and we are looking forward to working together on this film.” The Man Of Steel sequel is set to be released July 17, 2015.
Related: Why Ben Affleck As Batman Is Good Move For Warner Bros
With the state estimating 426 full-time jobs, $5.1 million in hotels and 500 local vendors being use for the film, the Warner Bros production is another big get for the economically ravaged city and state. Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful was shot at Pontiac’s Michigan Motion Picture Studios and Detroit is standing in for Tokyo in Transformers 4. Once one of the leading production locations in the country after California and New York, Michigan had slipped in recent years over amid the political uncertainty surrounding its film incentives and the lucrative offerings of other states like of Georgia and Louisiana. The first Man Oof Steel, which has made more than $290 million domestically since its June 14 release, was shot primarily in Vancouver, with additional production in Illinois and California. Part of the move to Michigan for the superhero sequel could be in part because Vancouver saw uncertainty of its own in recent months as the provincial government resisted calls from Hollywood to increase its incentive program. Man Of Steel 2 is expected to shoot in Toronto as well.
Well, at least the casting of Detroit as Gotham City is inspired.
#NoBatfleck
#rememberheathledger
I wish people would remember that Heath had just delivered a revelatory performance in Brokeback Mountain when he was cast as the Joker. Let’s see Batfleck pull off a closeted gay cowboy.
#NoBatfleck
#rememberMichaelKeaton
I’m tired of the Keaton-Ledger comparisons. Fact of the matter is that both men were cast because they were inspired choices by visionary directors, and the only reason Botox Ben is wearing the cowl is because he threw is weight around and threatened to up and follow Robinov off the Warner lot if he didn’t get his way.
#NoBatfleck
Hollywoodland, The Company Men, and State of Play weren’t revelatory performances, but he was still decent. More than enough to pull off Bruce Wayne/Batman — if people wait to see how he does when they actually see the film. And of course Ledger was always great, but at the time a lot of people didn’t seem to realize that.
They will probably save more money because Detroit already looks like a city where two super beings fought . . . *rim-shot*
I’d roll my eyes at that joke except the new Transformers just shot in Detroit doubling for a bombed-out Hong Kong. Kind of depressing when you think about it.
Not depressing. Just karma.
I hope the cast and crew get plenty of security because they’re going to need it. Hell, the cops don’t even want to walk the streets in certain parts of Detroit because it makes Escape from New York look like Disneyland.
As Gotham? I just assumed part of the movie would take p,ace on Apokolips and they didn’t want to spend the money building sets from scratch.
Well… it’s a start; filming in USA. Now, the next step is to hire “American” actors, which there are plenty of good ones to choose from. However, Ben’s still NOT the best choice for Batman. BTW, how much – if any – of this movie will be shot in CA?
Call it what it really is: a bribe.
I guess Detroit isn’t very good at math. Full-time jobs for how long? Six to eight weeks? The last thing Detroit needs is an even smaller tax base.
The PREproduction will be longer than six to eight weeks. In fact, it’ll likely be three times as long. The actual shooting will be months and months. Not to mention the wrap out time. This will be a huge infusion of money and attention to an area no one other than the film industry is helping.
If anything, LA and the Sacramento lawmakers should be ashamed downtown LA isn’t being used because they’re all too greedy and stupid to keep ANY industry in the state.
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The above comment brought to you by Michigan Film Office staff.
Detroit isn’t paying the incentive, the incentive is a Michigan tax credit – Detroit is just the specific part of MI they’ll be shooting in.
I believe in batfleck!
Ah, the incentives. The Golden Ticket. Who’s losing, who’s gaining? Budget cuts versus goods/services? A really tangled web. And guess who benefits most from these incentives? (Shhhhhh, the studios.)
Well, since Supes ‘n Zod leveled Metropolis at the end of Man Of Steel, Detroit is a pretty appropriate stand-in.
Burn!
Detroit is an interesting choice because the city is the setting for the first arc of the new Justice League comic book where Darkseid invades Earth.
Cut workers’ pensions to pay movie stars’ salaries!!!
It’s not talent against workers, come on. Look to studios (and really the parent corporations and their shareholders) and producers and foolish government folks. Check back in a handful of years and you’ll start seeing stories about similarities to public funding and tax breaks for building sports stadiums. The citizens always lose and the money guys always win.
426 “full time” jobs? How so? Will these jobs extend beyond the wrap of production?
I think you are confusing the term “permanent” with the term “full time”
Prepare for lots of inclement weather. Just sayin’.
Haters, don’t like it because it’s now too expensive to produce movies in La La… don’t hate the player hate the game.
^^^*DING* you are CORRECT, sir!
Love how a bankrupt rust-belt city has more to offer a production than a rich, connected L.A.
LA is nothing but a nightmare to shoot in: Expensive, miles of red tape, impossible to get production permits and a hostile citizenry who fire up lawnmowers and stereos when the words “rolling!” are called.
426 Lost Jobs in California. Untold millions lost to the CA economy. True trickle down economics for CA workers and businesses. If we don’t earn here, we don’t shop here. Everyone loses. Our schools, our local businesses and our families all suffer the loss of CA jobs.
If my hedge fund or investment bank was currently holding the next to worth-less DETROIT MUNI BONDS, I’d be suing the living SH!T out of MICHIGAN for promising tax payer money to finance a commercial movie vs fulfilling legal sovereign debt obligations…this move (the tax credit) is financially reprehensible and could possibly represent criminally irresponsible behavior by this state…I can’t wait to see the class action filings relating to this decision….even first year law students could see the ligation coming on this one….
No way in hell they are going to spend $131 million in expeditures in Michigan. May the overall economic impact (local business, temp job creation, housing…) will reach something in that range, but to make a blanket statement that 80% of that films budget is going to be spent in Michigan is a gross exageration.
My god people! Why should movies or productions in general be an “American” only enterprise? Some of the founding members of Hollywood have roots in Canada(seriously, check it out). If your economy becomes so dependent on one industry what does that say? We live in a global economy now. With all the post production jobs brought about by the digital age there are probably more jobs and work in the entertainment industry than ever before! They release more movies per year recently than the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s don’t they? All those movies/TV shows employ how many in North America? California needs them all? I don’t think so.
Michigan is my home state and I’m very proud that the most anticipated film of 2015 is going to be filmed here! I will try my damndest to be an extra on this film.
$35 million in cash (the “tax” credits are refunded for full cash value). And 436 full time jobs. That’s a cost-per-job of over $82,000 each. Madness.
Really, really hoping Affleck did not in fact land the BatWayne role by shrewdly negotiating on his own behalf. It’s a highly difficult play, which I’m certain he knows, and probably shouldn’t be approached like that.
I am excited for people to see the Motor City!! Maybe I will be able to be an extra :) Detroit has such a bad rap, but we are really trying to bring things around. There are lots of great things happening in the D.
Detroit gets saved by having Superman blow it up!
Gotham is a quintessential American city??? Batman’s going to be played by Ben Affleck??? Has Zack Snyder gone completely insane?
I live in downtown Detroit, and there is less crime here than surrounding neighborhoods. Lots of security and no different than NYC or Chicago. Making this movie here will give a much needed boost. However, there are many new projects going on here and in spite of the false image Detroit. Is a vibrant, creative real and yes gritty but reflects truthful america. Not phoney facade.