The future of Warner Bros. Pictures could rest upon the mighty shoulders of its greatest superhero,Superman. A new rumor suggests that the studio is looking to shake things up at an executive level if films continue to fail to turn a profit at the box office. Amidst the potential fallout is DC Studios, which could lose one-half of its chiefs if Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav decides to move the company in a new direction under DCU leadership.
Puck reports that not only is WBD considering the possible removal of Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy due to their costly movie slate, but Zaslav might be looking at DC Studio co-CEO Peter Safran (a longtime producer in his own right) as the next head of WB. The outlet also reports that Zaslav may also be looking elsewhere to fill out that role, but the signs are becoming clear — the hierarchy of Warner Bros. is about to change. Additionally, an insider told Puck the following about the current state of the studio, and how it all rests onJames Gunn’s upcoming DCU film.
“An essential element of the stock price is believing that the I.P. of DC is meaningful. David [Zaslav] bet big that they can show the world that the DC I.P. can have real value. ‘SUPERMAN’ is the first movie. That will set the tone. They have a tremendous amount riding on it.”
James Gunn Shares Best Look Yet at “Sinister” New DCU Villain
‘Superman’s most-underappreciated villain finally gets the spotlight from James Gunn.
The lengthy report repeatedly suggests that the films releasing in 2025, likeSinners,Mickey 17,The Bride,among others, have been seen as too big-budgeted by other execs and could spell disaster for WB in the long term. Despite De Luca and Abdy putting together a slate of movies bolstered by A-list talent and auteur filmmakers, the profit margins are truly what moves the needle for Zaslav and company at the end of the day. IfSupermanlives up to the anticipationand delivers a bonafide hit for the studio, it would not be shocking if WB learned the wrong lesson and simply focused on established IP instead of a mix of original concepts.
How Is 2025 Going for Warner Bros. So Far?
As of right now,Mickey 17, the first major blockbuster to be released by Warner Bros., is looking atan uphill battleto turn a profit from its reported $118 million budget. However, written and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, the Robert Pattinson-led sci-fi film remains a triumph for original moviemaking. Critics favored the film, garnering it a Certified Fresh 78% onRotten Tomatoes, while audiences are still warming up to it, giving it a 73% Popcornmeter score and a slightly underwhelming Cinemascore rating (B). Meanwhile, the current box office outlook forMickey 17might be a sign of things to come for the rest of the year for the studio.
Next up for WB isThe Alto Knights, a gangster drama featuring Robert De Niro in two starring roles, andMinecraft, a big-budget CGI take on the most popular video game of all time. Despite the major names attached and IP, things could get dicey for the company. Puck states, there is a fear that, if the 2025 slate goes “wrong” for WB, it could spell the end of the studio. “If Warners can’t finally make the DC franchise work, there is genuine fear that the studio will go the way of Fox, which was swallowed by Disney in 2019,” the report claims.
Source:Puck
