Editorial Staff
Is there hope for the Frog Brothers, yet?
Eagle-eyed viewers watching the newly-released trailer for “Deep Blue Sea 2” may have noticed the card that pops up before the fin footage unravels – yep, Warner Home Entertainment. With WB’s direct-to-video label Warner Premiere latent for years – Warner dropped it in 2013 – it’s surprising to see a direct-to-video sequel released from the crowd… It’s the first in quite some time. Years, in fact.
Is Warner back in the direct-to-video sequel business?
Warner Bros originally shut down it’s Warner Premiere department because of dwindling DVD sales. With digital releases now the go-to norm for at-home movie-watching, that department is seemingly up and running again, fixing on producing sequels for the streaming age.
The studio also has a deal with SyFy, who produced “Deep Blue Sea 2”. One might deduce that the sharky sequel is merely the first in a long line of new, low-budget sequels produced by WB and SyFy. For the iTunes crowd.
Some of the direct-to-video franchises that were active under Warner Premiere, before its collapse, included the “Lost Boys” series (there were two direct-to-video sequels to the 1987 hit; a fourth was also said to be in development before the label was axed), “Scooby Doo”, “Dukes of Hazzard”, “Get Smart”, “Ace Ventura”, “A Cinderella Story” and “House Party”. A number of animated superhero films, including “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights” and “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths”, were also released under the WP umbrella.
Is it possible that Warner’s renewed interest in direct-to-DVD sequels – particularly with newfound assistance from SyFy – could pave the way for new sequels to some of the films above, if not more from the Warner archives? Sure, nobody wants to see a low-budget “Gremlins 3” but a financially-friendly “Eraser 2”, new Frog Brothers adventure, or “Deadly Friend 2”? Yeah, I’d be curious.
Stay tuned.
