The video Get Smart’s Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control was released on July 1, 2008 in order to coincide with the theatrical run of Get Smart, which was released a week earlier on June 20. Is this the first time a “sequel” has been made and released at the same time as its original?
It’s my understanding that the events of Out of Control occur parallel to the events of Get Smart.
That’s why I put sequel in quotes. I didn’t want to get technical and use a term like derivative work in casual usage.
I’m not sure if it was a first, but it was certainly an interesting product tie-in.
When I saw this released (I bought it for my son, and it was mediocre to decent), I immediately thought of a better use. I think they should use this method with superhero franchises.
How cool would it be to have a Gotham City PD direct to DVD film put out featuring Gary Oldman or some of the lesser known (or concocted) supporting characters?
It would be low budget, because you save the FX for the big screen offering.
It could drive the subplots of the series, while generating revenues for the studios.
If they maintain some form of quality, it is win-win.
Well there’s Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood which was just released on DVD - also not a ‘sequel’ per se, just extra stuff that didn’t fit into the theatrical release.
*The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury *came out four days after The Chronicles of Riddick, if IMDB is to be believed.