Warner Bros. opens office in Beijing, China

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March 22, 2017

Shutterstock - Kevin Tsujihara - Featurflash Photo Agency

Warner Bros. opened a new office in Beijing, China today. CEO Kevin Tsujihara was on hand to celebrate.

“Warner Bros. has been producing world-class films and TV shows for almost 100 years, and we look forward to sharing our expertise with our partners in China as well as with up-and-coming talent to benefit the entire entertainment industry,” said Tsujihara in a statement at the reception. “In the spirit of true cultural exchange, we are eager to learn from our partners and share great Chinese stories with audiences around the world.”

China, the second largest movie market, accounted for nearly $100 million of Batman v Superman's $873 million worldwide box office gross last year. Suicide Squad never had a chance to benefit from Chinese audiences, as the movie was banned in their country for unknown reasons.

Hopefully with their new office in Beijing, Warner Bros. can develop the relationships necessary to avoid DC Comics movies being banned in the future.

SOURCE: Variety

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66 comments

Omar C
March 22, 2017
Suicide Squad was probably banned for having super natural or paranormal elements with Enchantress. Thats why Ghost Busters was banned.
1. BatmanNewsChris
  March 22, 2017
  Yeah, that's probably our best bet. I wish they'd just come out and say why though.
  1. residentgrigo
    March 22, 2017
    The Chinese censorship boards will never acknowledge what they don´t... well acknowledge and WB will be doubly silent, as this ain´t their first film that skipped China. TDK wasn´t "banned" but it never saw their cinemas either (due to a major Chinese villain).
    Ant-man though made more money over there than BvS or the new Star Wars films.
    That´s why The Force Awakens couldn´t overtake Titanic in the end. It´s a "new brand" for them, dito for DC. The country also only allowed 34 foreign films into their cinemas each year but this is changing extremely slowly: https://www.theguardian.com...
    "Cultural exchange projects", lol. Better than only 20 before 2012 though!
    This also means that other DC films will skip them too, due to market realities, occult content or anti-establishment characters as protagonist. Yeah.. good luck WB.
    1. Mark
      March 22, 2017
      "... anti-establishment characters as protagonist"
      So, shall we assume that audiences in Beijing will be denied the Lobo movie? ;)
      1. residentgrigo
        March 22, 2017
        Especially if he teams up with Deadshot. The bigger question is if Lobo will be allowed to smoke.
        Sirens could be grilled too if the Squad is involved in a major way and good luck wit JLD. So, 100+ mil $ Specter movie when?
      2. towblerone
        March 22, 2017
        The Main Man don't care.
2. Origami Rose
  March 22, 2017
  But they have mermaid movies
residentgrigo
March 22, 2017
DC was never a properly established brand in China, dito for Potter. Both are WB´s biggest current guns, so they will have their work cut out for them.
Edit: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them came out in China, interesting. A rather strong debut with nearly 86 mil. too: http://www.boxofficemojo.co...
Deathly Hallows Part 2 finished with nearly 61 mil.
Sense
March 22, 2017
They ban anything featuring a witch
TØM
March 22, 2017
Ok
Rawr
March 22, 2017
chinese superman getting his own movie confirmed
1. Hello
  March 22, 2017
  Obviously they have their culture heroes and icons like Sun Wukong and such over there. Could be interesting if Kong Kenan actually became a thing in China. He's a great character, so New Super-Man could actually become "their" Superman.
2. towblerone
  March 22, 2017
  It's kind of weird because it seems like taking a Chinese character and overlaying Western mythology on top of it wouldn't work for the Chinese market but I have no idea how that comic is selling over there.
Jesse Hernandez
March 22, 2017
Suicide Squad = Witch craft or something like that but I'm calling it now that WW will make at least 700 million and JL will probably crack 1 Billion depending on WW success, if not then 900 Mill
1. towblerone
  March 22, 2017
  Interesting. This could very well happen. Casual female audiences may be drawn in to see WW and that would certainly boost the numbers. I know I'm taking the whole family to see it, likely multiple times. JL is the big one for me. It HAS to break a billion, just for the sake of numbers. WB has to be able to say that their big tentpole DCEU movie is in the billion-dollar club.
  1. TØM
    March 22, 2017
    I'll be going to a midnight screening, then I'll go again with my mum (she's a 60 year old CBM nerd, but only see's Batman/DCEU in the cinema) ... probably drag more friends along for a 3rd showing if it's really good haha.
    1. Francois
      March 22, 2017
      That's one cool mom you got there.
      1. TØM
        March 23, 2017
        Haha thanks, she is. She's even seen more MCU movies than me, because I haven't watched the Thor movies and she has!
  2. Jesse Hernandez
    March 22, 2017
    Thats true, I mean you have Flash,Aquaman, Batman, Cyborg, WW, Some Superman, some of comic books biggest names in the movie, it would crack 1 Billion, probably more is the Marketing is done right
towblerone
March 22, 2017
Very smart of WB.
residentgrigo
March 22, 2017
Here is a topical editorial on China's limit on imported film:
http://variety.com/2017/biz...
The Trump presidency my cost Hollywood billions in the long run, if this expansion falls though.
PS: Articles as this is why i read Variety. THR can burn in hell.
residentgrigo
March 22, 2017
A bonus page from this week´s Doom Patrol, For You:
http://i.imgur.com/8rGDR7g.jpg
Captain DC
March 22, 2017
Good move, Tsujihara. We gotta make sure that the Suicide Squad ban, doesn't happen to another DCEU movie. I can't prove it yet, but Marvel Studios was likely behind the unfair ban. At least when The Dark Knight was banned, it was because Batman illegally infiltrated Hong Kong, and kidnapped a Chinese criminal. As if Chinese movie-goers would've been SO offended, that they couldn't possibly enjoy the awesomeness of the movie. LOL https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
1. OGmacrazy
  March 22, 2017
  "I can't prove it yet" this is the most laughable shit I've seen in a long while. As if you'll ever be able to prove anything you're claiming with that ridiculous statement. Ghostbusters was banned because the government thought the movie dealt with witch craft, so what do you think was the main reason behind Suicide Squad's ban?
  hint hint: the movie's main villain was called Enchantress.
  1. Francois
    March 22, 2017
    Wondering what the "obvious" reasons are that Dr.Strange was allowed to be released in China. It had magic and Tibetan influences, FYI, but did refrain from making the Chinese character, Wong, a servant to Strange as in the comics.
    1. OGmacrazy
      March 22, 2017
      Maybe next time WB will change a white character's race to a Chinese instead of a Black man. Pandering to the chinese has worked wonders for the Transformers franchise, and Marvel when they included extra, worthless scenes for Iron Man 3 and whatnot. Disney even went the extra mile with Rogue One. Frankly, I give props to Suicide Squad. Not only did they not make a big deal about their very diverse cast (way more diverse than Ghostbusters, which the stars and director couldn't shut up about it's "boldness" for being so diverse and different), but they actually didn't try to appease the chinese market (which most blockbusters try to do, in some way. If there's anything positive about Suicide Squad, then I'd say this was it. Now I guess it's just a matter of time.
dugzino
March 22, 2017
Is this what we've come to, Chris? You should be ashamed of yourself.
To redeem yourself, post the Justice League trailer already.
We, the people, know you've been hiding it from us for 2 months now. SHARE IT, DAMN IT!
On another note, water... wet.
BatmanNewsChris
March 22, 2017
Me too.
1. OmegaCorleone
  March 22, 2017
  Does this mean WBs films will more easily be accepted by China?
  1. Schuyler Finley
    March 22, 2017
    Maybe. I think Dark will still get banned though.
    1. OmegaCorleone
      March 22, 2017
      If Suicide Squads ban really was about the magic parts. I thought it was because of Katana's character lol, they'll never confirm that tho
      1. Schuyler Finley
        March 22, 2017
        It's really sad that they most likely hated Katana's race more than magic & demons.
      2. OmegaCorleone
        March 22, 2017
        China and Japan have been at odds since forever but I agree, doesn't mean they have to ban a film I mean wtf
        Keep in mind that they banned TDK for having a Chinese villain...
  2. OGmacrazy
    March 22, 2017
    It's more likely so they can just pander to chinese audiences like most of Hollywood is doing nowadays. Now they have an office there and can work more closely to and with the chinese people/filmmakers to increase their revenue in what is the world's second biggest movie market.
  3. BatmanNewsChris
    March 22, 2017
    I'm assuming that's what part of this is about.
    1. OmegaCorleone
      March 23, 2017
      https://twitter.com/_Flashp...
    2. OmegaCorleone
      March 23, 2017
      https://www.youtube.com/wat...
rtxj
March 22, 2017
Maybe this was part of an agreement to let WB shoot an upcoming DC or some other project in China. Maybe China said they would let WB shoot there if they built some new offices in China.
1. towblerone
  March 22, 2017
  They're definitely making moves. The DCEU is going to get BIG.
SB
March 22, 2017
Marvel already have full control over Korean and Chinese market. It's about time
krampe1995
March 22, 2017
anyone saw the black panther set pics?
It looks very very similar to the suicide squad photos...
the cars even look almost identical
1. John Johnson
  March 22, 2017
  Please remove your fingers from any keyboard!
  Just kidding. Black Panther is why I read comics. His was my first. I still have my first comic from the '70s. :-)
John Johnson
March 22, 2017
China is a big market. You know there's a Superman from China now, right?
I, personally, think it's a great idea to bring these characters into a bigger audience (Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Diana Prince, Barry Allen, etc.) They've never been a part of "America" to me.
But, most likely, WB will be releasing some (and other) properties into China for bigger bucks. It's not a dumb business move, in my opinion.
1. towblerone
  March 22, 2017
  Trying to expand into a market of over a billion consumers is always smart.
2. John Johnson
  March 23, 2017
  You ain't wrong about that.
  But Batman does fall under the WB umbrella, and there's potential for his solo movie to get a whole lot of renminbi.
  1. dugzino
    March 23, 2017
    You both forgot that DC Comics was build by Batman.
    https://youtu.be/GzVAiVt3Cc8
BatmanNewsChris
March 22, 2017
It's in the "Culture" section of the site where I talk about things related to Batman. In this case, Warner Bros. http://batman-news.com/cate...
1. OmegaCorleone
  March 23, 2017
  Chris, JL trailer coming saturday! https://twitter.com/_Flashp...
Robin Bankes
March 22, 2017
Fuckin A dude
Whosoever
March 22, 2017
Of course , China owns the majority of Hollywood studios now .
Ezee23
March 23, 2017
Live-action Kenan Kong movie, perhaps? https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
1. Ezee23
  March 23, 2017
  It wouldn't surprise me though.
OmegaCorleone
March 23, 2017
GUYS
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
TRAILER THIS SATURDAY
AQUAMAN FOOTAGE
PREPARE THE HYPE ENGINE
1. Schuyler Finley
  March 23, 2017
  https://media.giphy.com/med...
  1. OmegaCorleone
    March 23, 2017
    I guess Chris is still preparing the Hype Engine lol
    1. Schuyler Finley
      March 23, 2017
      It will be glorious once it's released.
    2. dugzino
      March 23, 2017
      Chris is sleeping, I think. It's like what 6 am in Murica?
2. dugzino
  March 23, 2017
  So, in 2 days, the trailer, right? This was an Aquaman teaser.
  Which means we might get a Flash teaser tomorrow?
  And a Cyborg one a bit before the trailer on saturday?
Adam Gallacher
March 23, 2017
Forget this China shit I want news on that justice league trailer
Adam Gallacher
March 23, 2017
China, where they chop up dogs and serve it on a plate but are offended by imaginary witches
Aruteru
March 23, 2017
So.. this thing is on the internet..
https://www.facebook.com/DC...
We're getting the trailer on saturday? :')
1. dugzino
  March 23, 2017
  I CAN'T THIS ANY LONGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!RGIQHGOUIHRGIUHSOIFHGIOEHJNGFIOHJGRSQGIHRSG
2. residentgrigo
  March 23, 2017
  Probabaly next Saturday, with this beeing a teaser. One of multiple teasers.
TheKillingJoke
March 23, 2017
Think the JL Trailer will drop on saturday NEXT week.
Because this Aquaman trailer is not realeased officially and the rumor was that we get a teaser of every league member each day in the week before the trailer release.
So ... i think the trailer will drop next week on Saturday.
1. dugzino
  March 23, 2017
  Dude. It says in the teaser "in 2 days".
  Now I know, the teaser was maybe way too epic so people may miss the message. XD
Bruce Wayne
March 23, 2017
Yay. More censorship in movies.

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