Warner Brothers Withdraws ‘The Batman’ From Russia In Light Of Crisis

Image via The Batman

The Dark Knight will not rise in Russia, as Ukraine continues to suffer a full-scale Soviet invasion. The decision was made by Warners Bros just three days before The Batman was poised for release on March 3 in the country.

The move is a significant one, considering that Russia ranks among the top global box office markets for Hollywood releases, notes the Hollywood Reporter.

“In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film The Batman in Russia,” a spokesperson told entertainment media outlets. “We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros was still heavily deliberating on whether to show the Robert Pattinson-starring movie in Russia over the weekend, and had almost settled on going through with its usual plans “as of late Sunday.”

For now, it’s unclear if the studio will also pull upcoming titles like Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which is scheduled for an April 14 debut, and DC League of Super-Pets, expected to reach theaters on May 19. 

The decision follows Disney’s expressed intent to pause Russia-bound film releases for the foreseeable future. The company, which also owns Pixar, was the first major Hollywood studio to halt its release calendar due to dire circumstances.

“Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar,” a representative from The Walt Disney Company said on Monday. “We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees.”

Netflix, too, may pull out from operating in Russia. Under local law, it is required to stream content from 20 state-owned television channels—a condition it has outrightly turned down in the wake of the conflict. 

[via The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, cover photo via The Batman]