Hot Toys Announce Batman Returns License

[josemanuelr8212]

If hot toys could tell us on why the delay that could understand.. But they dont said nothing ..!!

 

[Hydeous]

If hot toys could tell us on why the delay that could understand.. But they dont said nothing ..!!

They've got competitors eyeing on their every move too, you know.

 

[CollectorGuy]

I would think HT already has it going by that old coming soon poster of theirs.

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk 2

1/4 scale BR figures! That wont happen anytime soon or is that whats causing the wait?

 

[franpincho]

I chose to get the DX-12 over the Keaton Batman, because i saw HT had the Returns license as well. The Returns suit was always my favorite. But now with them rereleasing the DX12 with the armory, and this nowhere to be seen, I wish I had made the opposite choice. I want my Keaton Batman!

You can still get one for a fairly reasonable price if you look hard enough. Hard to beat retail, I know. But it hasn't reach insane prices like the DX02 once did. Of even the dx12.


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[CloudN]

They can't since this isn't a specifically a licensed product. You can only argue that you are making a figure that resembles a certain actor. It's hard to prove that they are actually making a figure based on Batman. Same case with the costumes. A black turtle neck has and blue jeans are too generic to be copy righted.

 

[CloudN]

This is pure speculation, but I have a feeling one of the reasons for the Batman Returns not getting produced could have something to do with obtaining the likeness for Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman. I was talking to someone who is working on a line of upcoming official 1/6 scale maquettes of the 60s' Batman show. When I asked about the possibility of doing Batman '89 or BTAS he told me that WB flat said "No" to a Pfeiffer Catwoman.

But how I thought you were talking about Batman 1989 and BTAS. How did that bring up Catwoman?
Anyways, it shouldn't be a problem. If there's a problem with likeliness rights it just means we won't see an unmasked Catwoman.

 

[vito81]

But how I thought you were talking about Batman 1989 and BTAS. How did that bring up Catwoman?
Anyways, it shouldn't be a problem. If there's a problem with likeliness rights it just means we won't see an unmasked Catwoman.

If I remember correctly, only Nicholson got his own royalties, right?

I mean, If you pay WB you can reproduce everything from both movies except Joker&Napier.

 

[Dusty_Lane]

But how I thought you were talking about Batman 1989 and BTAS. How did that bring up Catwoman?
Anyways, it shouldn't be a problem. If there's a problem with likeliness rights it just means we won't see an unmasked Catwoman.

Yeah, I was asking about Batman '89 and BTAS. He was the one that brought up Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman. I didn't even ask about Batman Returns. However, it got me to thinking about what the hold up could've been all this time over the planned Hot Toys Returns line. I don't want to reveal who this is I've been talking to but you'll see their line of 1/6 scale statues based on the '66 Batman soon enough. Trust me, it's some of the best 1/6 scale cold-cast porcelain work I've seen in a longtime.

 

[TheFiend]

1/4 scale BR figures! That wont happen anytime soon or is that whats causing the wait?

I know. It's laughable now isn't it? HT went a little ballistic around that time with all kinds of 1/4 announcements etc.

Ugh, just noticed, why do they keep changing the Premium Freak emblem? I really like the Sideshow Ex. mock up.

 

[Rambler]

I would think HT already has it going by that old coming soon poster of theirs.

Have we ever gotten HT's definition for the word "SOON?"

 

[snoop101]

Have we ever gotten HT's definition for the word "SOON?"

Yeah you know, soon.

 

[VintijDroidGutzz]

Yes..

The silence till now is the definition.

 

[CloudN]

If I remember correctly, only Nicholson got his own royalties, right?

I mean, If you pay WB you can reproduce everything from both movies except Joker&Napier.

From what I understand back in the day there's no likeliness rights or royalties on the contract for actors and actresses. So for example if a company wants to make figures of Batman they will have to get the license for the Batman movie and then Michael Keaton's likeliness rights for Bruce Wayne head sculpt. However, Batman is wearing a mask and it's hard to tell that is Keaton(it can resemble him). Joker on the other hand doesn't wear a mask so they have to pursue Jack Nicholson for sure and Nicholson does charge more than a dime. Nowadays movies like Ironman are seen as a franchise that sells tons of toys so RDJ's contract already includes signing off his likeliness rights for merchandises.

At least that's how I think it works. Which is why I say it's possible to make a Catwoman figures that resembles Pferffer just not a unmasked head sculpt that would fully reveal her face. Btw Mattel is making a Returns Catwoman in 4" scale too so that should prove that a 12" Catwoman figure is possible

 

[The Iron Koob]

I think the DX09 had Michael Keaton's name attached to it though right?

 

[sallah]

I think the DX09 had Michael Keaton's name attached to it though right?

...and Mattel is making an unmasked Keaton Batman as well with his likeness.

Jack's licensing deal was unlike everybody else's and costs extra. This is why both Mattel and Neca aren't doing Jack Jokers and why Hot Toys made such a big deal about doing theirs. Pfeiffer's Catwoman shouldn't be an issue- Thus why Mattel is doing a $10 4" figure of her.

Sallah

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

As heavily marketed as Batman was when it came out, I'm pretty sure the studio obtained the likeness rights for Michael Keaton. Jack Nicholson's deal on that film at the time was pretty legendary, so it's no surprise he held onto his likeness rights. He was a megastar at the time and had the clout to make those kinds of demands, Keaton was not.

 

[lava206]

I would love to sit down with the hot toy shot callers and have them explain their decisions. Obviously I want this line to come out sooner rather than later, but I just think it would be interesting to hear how they decide what comes out and when. Surely it comes down to dollars and cents but I would just really like some insight into how those decisions are made.

 

[CloudN]

I think the DX09 had Michael Keaton's name attached to it though right?

Yeah. But my point is Batman is wearing a mask and you can only say that the face under the cowl resembles Keaton and can't fully confirm that it's exactly Michael Keaton. Therefore, you don't need to have Keaton's permission.
Law is just a really advance game for people that have lots of time or money or both.

 

[demorathis]

...and Mattel is making an unmasked Keaton Batman as well with his likeness.

Jack's licensing deal was unlike everybody else's and costs extra. This is why both Mattel and Neca aren't doing Jack Jokers and why Hot Toys made such a big deal about doing theirs. Pfeiffer's Catwoman shouldn't be an issue- Thus why Mattel is doing a $10 4" figure of her.

Sallah

So odd...wonder what kenner had to do when they made the joker from the film...kinda looked like him if I recall my figure...

 

[sallah]

So odd...wonder what kenner had to do when they made the joker from the film...kinda looked like him if I recall my figure...

I am guessing they paid for it... But mass market action figures generated A LOT more cash for a company back then. Up through the 90s, production runs on figures were far larger than they are today. For example- Star Trek's Tapestry Picard had an unheard of low production number for its time at only 1701 pieces. Today, many figures have production numbers in that range and are still easy to find, since the market is a fraction of what it was back then.

Paying for it back during the insanity of Batman '89 made sense, with a ton of units sold to divert the cost. Paying for it today only makes sense with a high dollar item to fold the cost into.

Sallah