Batman nears 2 million as Warner realigns DC

Last week, The Walt Disney Corporation announced its $4 billion acquisition offer for Marvel Entertainment. Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the deal gives Disney Interactive Studios access to some 5,000 new characters with which to integrate into games. Now, it appears as if Marvel's significant upheaval will be matched by longtime rival DC Comics.

Warner Bros. Entertainment, parent company of DC Comics, has announced the establishment of DC Entertainment, a new company designed to better leverage DC Comics' IP across a breadth of media, including games, TV, and movies. No new projects were announced as part of the reorganization.

"Based on the great success we've had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful superhero films of all time, I've long believed that there was much more we could do across all of Warner Bros.' businesses with this great body of characters and stories," Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov said in a statement. "The prioritization of DC and the creation of DC Entertainment is a great opportunity that reaches far beyond the film group."

The division will be led by Diane Nelson, who previously served as president of Warner Premiere, a studio-based production company. Nelson's credits also include representing Warner Bros.' interest in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter franchise. Current DC Comics president Paul Levitz, best known for writing many classic DC characters, including Batman and Wonder Woman, will transition to a role as contributing editor and consultant with DC Entertainment.

The move comes following the success of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Eidos, and Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum, which debuted to glowing reviews on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on August 25. (A PC edition is expected later this year.) According to the Los Angeles Times, Arkham Asylum has sold nearly 2 million units since launching less than a month ago.

The LA Times did not indicate whether Arkham Asylum's sales were on a global basis or if the figure represents units sold through to consumers or shipped to retailers. WBIE had not responded to requests for clarification as of press time.