We all know (or we should) that Mattel's current DC license is up in 2012. I suspect, although I don't have official confirmation, that the reason we don't see any high end 12" product sold direct to the US market is because Mattel has that tied up as part of their agreement with WB.
Mattel has the license for the smaller figures but the large scale figure license for DC characters both film and comic were held by DC Direct, the reason that Reeve for example is being done by Mattel is because it is a different scale but also because it had to be leased from DC Direct according to what I've read online at the time the first Superman 78 figure was announced.
If that is possible, what would you like to see? Hot Toys get the license? Medicom? Sideshow? or some combination of Sideshow and Hot Toys as a joint venture?
Sideshow has wanted the DC license for years. In the 2007 SDCC chat they made it clear that it was a dead horse and they stopped trying even though they still wanted. I would say that Sideshow alone is a longshot really. Hot Toys has expressed interest in the Comic license for a long time but they already have most of the International film licenses locked up and so I don't see them particularly needing it or going after it with so much on their plate already. Medicom is a possibility as is Enterbay but I'm doubtful on both.
Georg Brewer was quoted while he was still at DC Direct that the line itself (DCD 13") needed to be revitalized. Many people speculated that they'd just simply farm out the license to another company but there was a strong rumor that was floating around that they would scrap the 13" all together, allow some time in between the end of that and the introducing of a new actual 12" line with a new body styling (or one purchased) and have the line start over. That is where I'm placing my chips.
If Sideshow could produce them in the $80 range, I think WB would be more interested, but buyers will want them to up their game, especially in the area of human head sculpts. People are going to want HT quality even at the lower price point, because we've gotten spoiled...so what do you think?
The $80 pricepoint is only for items that can be heavily reused like Clones or soldiers in the JOES line. For every other figure they crest at about $120, I would expect that a DC line from Sideshow would follow suit at $120 if not higher. Superman for example could probably be at $120 but someone like Saint Walker or Metallo or even Killer Croc who have humanoid styling so a new body may not be necessary but arms, heads, accessories would have to be molded and could not be used again would without a doubt pull a higher pricepoint.
And so far HT seems to have no interests in comic book figures, or else I'm sure they would have been all over Marvel by now. Best chance at HT comic looking figures would be figures from Arkham Asylum/City I would think.
That is actually wrong. HT has expressed interest in both Marvel and DC comic licenses the thing is they are separate licenses. I can't speak for DC but the SSC reps have made it clear on these boards that each Marvel property is a separate license. There is the 616 Comic license, then the Ultimates universe is a separate license they'd need to get as is the Zombies as is each of the film versions. HT works the same way, each license they have get it's not automatically locked up, the Marvel comic license would have to be a license that they get on their own and I wonder if Hasbro's 12" license even though they are mixed media has been a stumbling block. I would imagine though that with HT announcing so many licenses that they can't even keep up with showing the protos or new info that they just wouldn't go after it until they can clean house a bit.
I didn't specifically say anything about comic book figures - Mattel has the license for movies as well all tied up. I'd like to see comic book figures, but I think movie based ones would be more likely to start, since I think WB sees the wider appeal that they have. WB and Mattel have already been poking around with that market with Matty Collector, with their Reeves and Luthor. They're already charging almost $70, and not getting the quality for it. I think that's a good indicator that the WB thinks there's potential, but that Mattel can't give them what they are looking for.
HT already has the 12" license for Superman 1978, Batman 89, Nolan Batmans, etc. If your looking to film versions then HT is already there. I don't see any other company other than HT and possibly Medicom who had the Nolan stuff doing any film stuff.
When is the DC Direct license up? I'd love to see some DC movie PF's...
I read somewhere that the new DC Entertainment was currently looking at all licenses and considering farming some out. I'm not sure though that DC Direct would lose anything since that company itself is going through restructuring and have locked up releases already bleeding into 2012 in informal announcements.
The only real examples of DC films HT hasn't released figures from recently is Jonah Hex and Green Lantern, and Mattel's influence may or may not be a factor there. As for non-1/6th scale, it would be a dream come true if Sideshow got the 1/4 scale statue rights.
I think Jonah Hex never got made because it bombed out fast, GL I think it part an engineering issue and part they want to see if it'll be successful since the last string of non-Batman DC movies haven't been. I seriously doubt Matty had anything to do with those decisions or any decisions on Hot Toy's or DC's part in the near future.
Would DC Direct even have a license for their own properties since it is their own in house company?
They do, it makes it all official but DC Entertainment's announcement hinted at the breaking apart of DC Direct to license out but nothing has happened on that front yet.
Plus, DC may have issues with Sideshow's cozy relationship with Marvel, and may not want to go there.
I have a feeling that DC Direct is more the stumbling block with a DC/Sideshow partnership than that. Sideshow still imports some DC product and HT is cozy with both companies.
The legal complexities of subsidiaries, etc. Can be daunting, so whether there is an actual license or not can depend on a whole lot.
I have a feeling just to make everything kosher there is one but I'm sure it was the easiest licensing agreement to hammer out.
That said, who handles the 13" figures? Doesn't DCD market them as 1/6?
Yes, they do. They still did up until the last Batman: Justice release. Until we know what has happened to DCD's 1/6 line there isn't anything to talk about in terms of another company taking it and I'm sure that DCD will take another crack at it and is just giving some breathing room to not piss off potential buyers.
HT's license agreement isn't clean for US rights which is why Mattel is also doing reeves superman work.
I guarantee you that HT
DOES NOT have a US right license for Superman 1978. They didn't for TDK, DCD had it and HT had the International rights. I guarantee you it's the same here only Matty has the US rights. They get imported domestically via DC Direct and I'm sure that the Superman 78 and the Batman 89 will be as well, they were still importing Jor-El figures not too long ago. Any DC license that HT has I'm sure will get the "International" branding even though it's not that difficult to get domestically.
And while I've only heard rumors, I think some things are going to shake up at dc direct sometime this year.
Those rumors have been bubbling for a while now with nothing really coming of it. I'm interested to see where it takes off. While DCD hasn't done a 13" figure in a while which is their 1/6 they are doing 1/4 busts which is usually HT territory and was an interesting a new offering for the GL film line...
