Voice insiders at a Louisiana-based studio are working on an ambitious project for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and DC Studios in the Batman universe to join forces with IATSE.
The creators at Swaybox Studios, who is currently working on it Dynamic duo About Batman’s former sidekicks (aka Robins) Dick Grayson and Jason Todd voted to join the crew union IATSE in the election that concluded on Tuesday. 84 eligible workers at the New Orleans-based studio voted in favor of joining the union, while 35 voted against the move.
Dynamic duo It is set to be created with the help of Swaybox Studio’s “Momo Animation” technology, which is described as a combination of CGI animation, stop-motion animation and live-action performance using puppets. Unless real challenges are presented, a group of 137 workers at the studio, including animators, digital puppet artists, CG designers and other workers, will soon join the union.
The union said in a press release that the organizing campaign — dealing with a film that IATSE claimed had a budget of $90 million — was “one of the largest organizing campaigns in film and television production undertaken by IATSE in recent years.”
Hollywood Reporter I have reached out to Swaybox Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation to comment.
According to Local 478 Business Agent Simonette Berry, workers began organizing because they wanted to have a “voice in the business.” The group also sought wages and benefits in accordance with union standards, as well as changes to working conditions. “Today, by standing together across crafts and divisions, they showed that productions coming to Louisiana to build world-class films cannot expect success by lowering standards or ignoring the people whose talent and dedication bring these projects to life,” Perry’s statement continued.
In a statement, IATSE International Vice President Mike Miller called on Swaybox Studios to quickly negotiate a contract with its workers. “Workers have now spoken clearly, and we expect Swaybox and Warner Bros. to reach an industry standard agreement immediately,” he said.
Founded in 2014, Swaybox Studios produced a commercial for the NFL and worked on a canceled project about Catwoman, another major character from the Batman universe. The company got another chance to work in Gotham City with her Dynamic duoa film about Dick Grayson (the first Robin) and Jason Todd (the second) when they were flying high, before Todd was apparently killed by the Joker.
Director Matt Reeves’ production company, 6th & Idaho, is involved. Reeves, director of Warner Bros. Batman and executive producer of HBO Max PenguinIt’s being worked on Batman Part TwoIt is scheduled to be released in early 2028.
In a statement about the organizing drive, puppet specialist Matthew Laird said: “When you grow so quickly from a small-scale operation to a big-budget movie, you need help. People and concerns get left behind. So it’s exciting as an employee to join the union. This is a force that legitimizes Swaybox.”
