A new trademark filing by Fox could reveal the intended name of the service that observers have dubbed ‘Spulu’ for lack of a better name.
So long, Spulu? Media analysts have adopted that moniker — a portmanteau of Sports and Hulu — for the joint venture sports streaming platform being developed by Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as a way to nod to its three-way ownership structure which is similar to the arrangement used by Hulu when it first launched. This week, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch revealed to the public that the service does indeed have a name, though he declined to disclose what that name actually will be. But a new report indicates that Fox has filed to trademark the name of its Australian sports streaming services in the United States, which could point to the name for the Jv, or indicate that Fox is planning to bring another sports streaming option to the U.
So long, Spulu? Media analysts have adopted that moniker — a portmanteau of Sports and Hulu — for the joint venture sports streaming platform being developed by Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as a way to nod to its three-way ownership structure which is similar to the arrangement used by Hulu when it first launched. This week, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch revealed to the public that the service does indeed have a name, though he declined to disclose what that name actually will be. But a new report indicates that Fox has filed to trademark the name of its Australian sports streaming services in the United States, which could point to the name for the Jv, or indicate that Fox is planning to bring another sports streaming option to the U.
- 5/9/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Less than 24 hours after unveiling exclusive Wicked footage in Las Vegas, filmmaker Jon M. Chu found his way into the spotlight of another CinemaCon stage inside Caesars Palace, this time for a special luncheon in his honor at which he revealed secrets about filming the two-part epic musical.
“It was pretty magical last night,” Chu told The Hollywood Reporter’s co-editor-in-chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody, who moderated a fireside chat with the filmmaker after he was presented a trophy for cultural impact in filmmaking (by his In the Heights star Ariana Greenblatt). Chu has been in the editing room while managing a full household of four young children, so he said that being in Las Vegas where he could sleep and hang out with others, “I’m, like, ‘Let’s go.’”
Chu, fresh from the Colosseum stage where he appeared during Universal Pictures’ slate presentation, opened up on the 30-minute Wicked...
“It was pretty magical last night,” Chu told The Hollywood Reporter’s co-editor-in-chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody, who moderated a fireside chat with the filmmaker after he was presented a trophy for cultural impact in filmmaking (by his In the Heights star Ariana Greenblatt). Chu has been in the editing room while managing a full household of four young children, so he said that being in Las Vegas where he could sleep and hang out with others, “I’m, like, ‘Let’s go.’”
Chu, fresh from the Colosseum stage where he appeared during Universal Pictures’ slate presentation, opened up on the 30-minute Wicked...
- 4/11/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jon M. Chu revealed it was “heartbreaking” and “very hurtful” for him when he learned his 2021 musical “In the Heights” was being released in theaters and on streaming via HBO Max on the same day.
Speaking to a crowd of exhibitors at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas on Thursday, Chu lamented the “Project Popcorn” campaign put in place by former Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar back in 2021, in which Warner Bros. took its entire theatrical slate for the year, including films like “In the Heights,” “Dune,” and “The Matrix Resurrections,” and put them in theaters and on streaming day-and-date, all as a means to drive subscribers to HBO Max.
When he was asked how “In the Heights” prepared him for thinking about his next film “Wicked,” another movie musical adaptation, this time for Universal, he said it made him realize the importance of theatrical.
“We would’ve made that choice early,...
Speaking to a crowd of exhibitors at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas on Thursday, Chu lamented the “Project Popcorn” campaign put in place by former Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar back in 2021, in which Warner Bros. took its entire theatrical slate for the year, including films like “In the Heights,” “Dune,” and “The Matrix Resurrections,” and put them in theaters and on streaming day-and-date, all as a means to drive subscribers to HBO Max.
When he was asked how “In the Heights” prepared him for thinking about his next film “Wicked,” another movie musical adaptation, this time for Universal, he said it made him realize the importance of theatrical.
“We would’ve made that choice early,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Brian Welk and Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The latest installment in Warner Bros. Discovery’s MonsterVerse franchise is rolling out in cinemas this weekend.
Make sure you order the extra-large popcorn at the concession stands this weekend if you go to your local theater to catch “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” This movie could be the ultimate popcorn flick, and it officially hits cinemas in the United States on Friday, March 29.
Critics say the new “Godzilla x Kong” is a bit silly at times, but is also packed with monster fighting action. As a Warner Bros. Pictures film, “Godzilla x Kong” will stream on Max once it leaves theaters. The film will not follow the release schedule of “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which got a day-and-date release on streaming. Sign Up $9.99+ / month Max.com
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” picks up after the events of “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Following their explosive showdown and eventual team-up against Mechagodzilla,...
Make sure you order the extra-large popcorn at the concession stands this weekend if you go to your local theater to catch “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” This movie could be the ultimate popcorn flick, and it officially hits cinemas in the United States on Friday, March 29.
Critics say the new “Godzilla x Kong” is a bit silly at times, but is also packed with monster fighting action. As a Warner Bros. Pictures film, “Godzilla x Kong” will stream on Max once it leaves theaters. The film will not follow the release schedule of “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which got a day-and-date release on streaming. Sign Up $9.99+ / month Max.com
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” picks up after the events of “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Following their explosive showdown and eventual team-up against Mechagodzilla,...
- 3/29/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Maybe Jason Kilar was just really into customer service.
A new poll by HarrisX, exclusive to IndieWire, found that 34 percent of U.S. adults prefer to watch movies in theaters, which means a solid two-thirds would rather wait for them to be released on streaming.
“The competition continues between streaming services and the Hollywood engine. While we still see evidence of loyal movie-goers in recent box office numbers, our study shows that 2 in 3 movie watchers prefer to stream movies at home,” Alli Brady, VP at HarrisX, told IndieWire. “Despite this causing some upheaval for the industry, it also means that the demand for content is only increasing – nearly half of consumers say they stream movies weekly, more than 7x as frequently as those who do so in theaters.”
Brady’s pollsters also found that 30 percent of us stream a movie two or more times per week — the same percentage of...
A new poll by HarrisX, exclusive to IndieWire, found that 34 percent of U.S. adults prefer to watch movies in theaters, which means a solid two-thirds would rather wait for them to be released on streaming.
“The competition continues between streaming services and the Hollywood engine. While we still see evidence of loyal movie-goers in recent box office numbers, our study shows that 2 in 3 movie watchers prefer to stream movies at home,” Alli Brady, VP at HarrisX, told IndieWire. “Despite this causing some upheaval for the industry, it also means that the demand for content is only increasing – nearly half of consumers say they stream movies weekly, more than 7x as frequently as those who do so in theaters.”
Brady’s pollsters also found that 30 percent of us stream a movie two or more times per week — the same percentage of...
- 3/14/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Dune: Part Two salvaged box office after a lacklustre start to the year as the strike-delayed tentpole from Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment roared to the top of the North American charts with a thunderous $82.5m three-day haul that set the highest opening weekend of 2024 so far.
‘Dune: Part Two’: Review
Double the $41m pandemic launch of its predecessor, the sci-fi set new opening weekend records for director Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Austin Butler and will give Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav something to cheer about after a low-key Q4 earnings call last month.
‘Dune: Part Two’: Review
Double the $41m pandemic launch of its predecessor, the sci-fi set new opening weekend records for director Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Austin Butler and will give Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav something to cheer about after a low-key Q4 earnings call last month.
- 3/4/2024
- ScreenDaily
Will Forte posted a note to the cast and crew of “Coyote vs. Acme,” four months after Warner Bros. shelved the Looney Tunes comedy after filming was completed.
Warner Bros. opted to take a $30 million tax write-off instead of releasing the film, then later announced it would let the filmmakers shop “Coyote vs. Acme” to other distributors. The film has not been sold.
“To the Cast and Crew of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ — I know that a lot of you haven’t gotten a chance to see our movie. And sadly, it’s looking like you never will,” Forte wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “When I first heard that our movie was getting ‘deleted,’ I hadn’t seen it yet. So I was thinking what everyone else must have been thinking: this thing must be a hunk of junk. But then I saw it. And it’s incredible.
Warner Bros. opted to take a $30 million tax write-off instead of releasing the film, then later announced it would let the filmmakers shop “Coyote vs. Acme” to other distributors. The film has not been sold.
“To the Cast and Crew of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ — I know that a lot of you haven’t gotten a chance to see our movie. And sadly, it’s looking like you never will,” Forte wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “When I first heard that our movie was getting ‘deleted,’ I hadn’t seen it yet. So I was thinking what everyone else must have been thinking: this thing must be a hunk of junk. But then I saw it. And it’s incredible.
- 2/29/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
In some ways, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s biggest non-superhero movie, was a product of the pandemic. Until the winter of 2020, the director had been loyal to Warner Bros., and their logo was to be found on every film that Nolan either wrote, directed or produced.
While he was never formally tethered to that studio, Nolan had been monogamous as its cornerstone tentpole filmmaker, ever since his 1999 breakout indie film Memento led him to create Insomnia there.
That year, however, everything changed. The usually mild-mannered director was outraged by the decision of former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar to perpetrate a blindside dumping of the studio’s entire slate onto its HBO Max streaming service. This attempt to build subscribers for its streaming service at a time few were going to theaters incensed Nolan and many others. The filmmaker was still wounded by the studio’s decision to release Tenet while the...
While he was never formally tethered to that studio, Nolan had been monogamous as its cornerstone tentpole filmmaker, ever since his 1999 breakout indie film Memento led him to create Insomnia there.
That year, however, everything changed. The usually mild-mannered director was outraged by the decision of former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar to perpetrate a blindside dumping of the studio’s entire slate onto its HBO Max streaming service. This attempt to build subscribers for its streaming service at a time few were going to theaters incensed Nolan and many others. The filmmaker was still wounded by the studio’s decision to release Tenet while the...
- 2/21/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: It’s not just Netflix that made a bid for Warner Bros.’ scrapped Coyote vs. Acme. Paramount, Apple and Amazon have seen the movie as well. Of those, Paramount has made a bid, and the plus there is a potential theatrical release. The Melrose lot could use it on the 2024 release calendar. Debt-laden exhibitors would want it, too.
Meanwhile, Amazon is mulling, I’m told, with no formal bid made. First, it takes longer over there to conduct business and get decisions through the proper channels. I also hear that marketing execs are trying to get their heads around the picture (seriously — there’s a lot of action scenes in the movie and hysterical jokes that easily could be used in trailers. I’ve seen the movie. Look out for the Porky Pig pant-less joke).
Warners is playing hardball as it wants to cover the $70M and then some.
Meanwhile, Amazon is mulling, I’m told, with no formal bid made. First, it takes longer over there to conduct business and get decisions through the proper channels. I also hear that marketing execs are trying to get their heads around the picture (seriously — there’s a lot of action scenes in the movie and hysterical jokes that easily could be used in trailers. I’ve seen the movie. Look out for the Porky Pig pant-less joke).
Warners is playing hardball as it wants to cover the $70M and then some.
- 12/8/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The animated feature film, “Coyote vs. Acme,” has never been more popular than it was last week, after Warner Bros. announced on Nov. 9 that it would shelve the completed $70 million film for a tax write-off, despite claims by some directors who saw it that the film had tested strongly.
But it might not make the studio so popular, as the move is being seen in the creative community as another bait and switch after the cancellation of last year’s “Batgirl.”
“I think it’s absolute bullshit that a studio can and does shelve the creative work of hundreds of people for a fucking tax break,” director Scott Derrickson wrote on X, noting a reason that circulated widely on social media even though the studio denied it.
The response on social media to Warner Bros.’ decision to shelve the film was uniformly intense, with top directors like Derrickson and Phil Lord...
But it might not make the studio so popular, as the move is being seen in the creative community as another bait and switch after the cancellation of last year’s “Batgirl.”
“I think it’s absolute bullshit that a studio can and does shelve the creative work of hundreds of people for a fucking tax break,” director Scott Derrickson wrote on X, noting a reason that circulated widely on social media even though the studio denied it.
The response on social media to Warner Bros.’ decision to shelve the film was uniformly intense, with top directors like Derrickson and Phil Lord...
- 11/20/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
The renowned auteur hasn’t toned down his rhetoric on the evils of streaming, which led to a split between him and Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Oppenheimer” is making the most of its time in theaters. In a year where blockbusters have been hard to come by and Marvel movies can’t make any box-office headway, “Oppenheimer,” a three-hour biopic packed with jargony dialogue about particle physics grossed nearly $1 billion at the global box office. As a Universal-distributed film, “Oppenheimer” will stream on Peacock at some point, but when is anyone’s guess.
“Oppenheimer” arrives for digital purchase on Nov. 21, but still has no Peacock streaming date. Director Christopher Nolan is notoriously leery of streaming as a medium, and would prefer audiences purchase the movie via physical media. His views won’t affect the eventual release of ‘Oppenheimer,’ but most Hollywood studios are already lengthening theatrical stays for movies past...
“Oppenheimer” is making the most of its time in theaters. In a year where blockbusters have been hard to come by and Marvel movies can’t make any box-office headway, “Oppenheimer,” a three-hour biopic packed with jargony dialogue about particle physics grossed nearly $1 billion at the global box office. As a Universal-distributed film, “Oppenheimer” will stream on Peacock at some point, but when is anyone’s guess.
“Oppenheimer” arrives for digital purchase on Nov. 21, but still has no Peacock streaming date. Director Christopher Nolan is notoriously leery of streaming as a medium, and would prefer audiences purchase the movie via physical media. His views won’t affect the eventual release of ‘Oppenheimer,’ but most Hollywood studios are already lengthening theatrical stays for movies past...
- 11/14/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
“Coyote vs. Acme” is officially on the market.
Days after Warner Bros. announced it’s shelving the completed Looney Tunes-inspired film as a $30 million tax write-off, the studio is letting the filmmakers shop “Coyote vs. Acme” to other distributors. Puck, a newsletter covering the industry, and Deadline first reported that screenings are being set up for Amazon Prime Video, Apple and Netflix to acquire the movie, which finished filming in 2022 and was intended to play in theaters.
Amazon and Netflix were active buyers during the pandemic as traditional studios were siphoning off films for extra cash, but nothing has been ironed out for “Coyote vs. Acme.” Sources familiar with negotiations say the movie hasn’t been screened yet. In these instances, rights go to the highest bidder. It’s unclear if another company would want to buy a movie that Warner Bros. deemed unworthy to release on the big or small screen.
Days after Warner Bros. announced it’s shelving the completed Looney Tunes-inspired film as a $30 million tax write-off, the studio is letting the filmmakers shop “Coyote vs. Acme” to other distributors. Puck, a newsletter covering the industry, and Deadline first reported that screenings are being set up for Amazon Prime Video, Apple and Netflix to acquire the movie, which finished filming in 2022 and was intended to play in theaters.
Amazon and Netflix were active buyers during the pandemic as traditional studios were siphoning off films for extra cash, but nothing has been ironed out for “Coyote vs. Acme.” Sources familiar with negotiations say the movie hasn’t been screened yet. In these instances, rights go to the highest bidder. It’s unclear if another company would want to buy a movie that Warner Bros. deemed unworthy to release on the big or small screen.
- 11/13/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Another Warner Bros. movie bites the dust.
The studio no longer plans to release “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, which completed filming in 2022. A similar situation transpired a little over a year ago as Warner Bros. shocked the entertainment industry by shelving the $90 million-budgeted DC adventure “Batgirl” and the kid-friendly “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” as tax write-offs.
Those films, as well as the $30 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” were greenlit by the former regime, led by Jason Kilar and intended for release on HBO Max. His successor, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, has shifted the studio’s priorities back to theatrical and felt this movie didn’t fit with the new creative direction of the company. The decision also comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its...
The studio no longer plans to release “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, which completed filming in 2022. A similar situation transpired a little over a year ago as Warner Bros. shocked the entertainment industry by shelving the $90 million-budgeted DC adventure “Batgirl” and the kid-friendly “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” as tax write-offs.
Those films, as well as the $30 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” were greenlit by the former regime, led by Jason Kilar and intended for release on HBO Max. His successor, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, has shifted the studio’s priorities back to theatrical and felt this movie didn’t fit with the new creative direction of the company. The decision also comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its...
- 11/9/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Christopher Nolan is open to working with Warner Bros. again after all.
The “Oppenheimer” director, whose latest blockbuster starring Cillian Murphy was distributed by Universal, said in a Variety cover story that his feud with Warner Bros. is now “water under the bridge.”
Nolan parted ways with the studio in 2021 after Warners shifted its entire film slate that year to a day-and-date hybrid release model with streaming on HBO Max. Nolan said at the time, “Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service.”
Despite not having a production deal with Warner Bros., Nolan worked with the company for nearly 20 years since the release of “Insomnia,” and including “The Dark Knight” trilogy.
“It’s water under the bridge,...
The “Oppenheimer” director, whose latest blockbuster starring Cillian Murphy was distributed by Universal, said in a Variety cover story that his feud with Warner Bros. is now “water under the bridge.”
Nolan parted ways with the studio in 2021 after Warners shifted its entire film slate that year to a day-and-date hybrid release model with streaming on HBO Max. Nolan said at the time, “Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service.”
Despite not having a production deal with Warner Bros., Nolan worked with the company for nearly 20 years since the release of “Insomnia,” and including “The Dark Knight” trilogy.
“It’s water under the bridge,...
- 11/8/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Fantastic Beasts filmmaker David Yates told Total Film that the Harry Potter spinoff feature franchise “is parked.”
That’s a very similar message to what he told us back at TIFF, however, that was in regards to his involvement with the overall Harry Potter franchise..
We’ve reached out to Warner Bros to get an update on whether the J.K. Rowling spinoff features are truly on ice; the author originally announcing on a pre-fan day for the film back in 2016 with producer David Heyman that the plan was for five Fantastic Beasts movies, set in five different cities.
Fantastic Beasts followed the adventures of writer Newt Scamander (who penned one of Harry Potter’s textbooks) in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards.
That’s a very similar message to what he told us back at TIFF, however, that was in regards to his involvement with the overall Harry Potter franchise..
We’ve reached out to Warner Bros to get an update on whether the J.K. Rowling spinoff features are truly on ice; the author originally announcing on a pre-fan day for the film back in 2016 with producer David Heyman that the plan was for five Fantastic Beasts movies, set in five different cities.
Fantastic Beasts followed the adventures of writer Newt Scamander (who penned one of Harry Potter’s textbooks) in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards.
- 10/27/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Jason Kilar knows the streaming business. He ran WarnerMedia for two tumultuous years during the birth of HBO Max, and more than a decade before that, he launched Hulu.
Kilar has never been shy about speaking his mind. But the executive has largely kept a low profile since exiting WarnerMedia in April 2022 following the spinoff transaction that created Warner Bros. Discovery.
Today, Kilar steps into the spotlight with an exclusive guest essay for Variety that includes a few bold ideas for how Hollywood can come off the ropes and find the path to profits with streaming.
Hollywood Needs to Create Its Biggest Hit Ever. Here’s How the Industry Can Make That Happen (Guest Column)
Here, Kilar explains why he was motivated to outline his vision for why Hollywood’s major players should work to create an “everything” streaming platform to replicate the best parts of the traditional cable TV bundle.
Kilar has never been shy about speaking his mind. But the executive has largely kept a low profile since exiting WarnerMedia in April 2022 following the spinoff transaction that created Warner Bros. Discovery.
Today, Kilar steps into the spotlight with an exclusive guest essay for Variety that includes a few bold ideas for how Hollywood can come off the ropes and find the path to profits with streaming.
Hollywood Needs to Create Its Biggest Hit Ever. Here’s How the Industry Can Make That Happen (Guest Column)
Here, Kilar explains why he was motivated to outline his vision for why Hollywood’s major players should work to create an “everything” streaming platform to replicate the best parts of the traditional cable TV bundle.
- 10/26/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood is hurting. The financial backbone of the industry — linear television — is rapidly shrinking as consumers continue to cut the cord at alarming rates. At the same time, YouTube, TikTok and other innovative digital services continue to earn more consumer attention each day with their seductive offerings. Most acutely, production remains halted due to the now 105-day impasse between SAG-AFTRA and the studios. There is a way forward, but it starts by looking back to when all corners of the industry contributed to Hollywood’s greatest hit.
First, some additional context: it is no longer controversial to state that the future of entertainment will largely be streamed. As linear television declines at a rate of close to 10% per year in the U.S., consumers are already choosing streaming more than either broadcast or cable television. In the most recent network linear television season, the median age for most entertainment shows...
First, some additional context: it is no longer controversial to state that the future of entertainment will largely be streamed. As linear television declines at a rate of close to 10% per year in the U.S., consumers are already choosing streaming more than either broadcast or cable television. In the most recent network linear television season, the median age for most entertainment shows...
- 10/26/2023
- by Jason Kilar
- Variety Film + TV
Former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar has been named to the board of Roblox Corporation, the company behind the online game platform and game-creation system.
Kilar, who also serves on the board of directors of Wealthfront and Opendoor Technologies, exited his post as CEO of WarnerMedia on the eve of the company’s acquisition by Discovery in April 2022. Coincidentally, Kilar’s announcement came on the same day as that for the new job of another high-level WarnerMedia exec who left as a result of the merger, Brett Weitz, former General Manager Of TNT, TBS & truTV. He is joining Elon Musk’s X.
On the Roblox board, Kilar is joining former top TV executive Andrea Wong, who has been serving on multiple boards since her most recent executive job at Sony.
Kilar also joins board chairman and Roblox CEO David Baszucki, lead independent director Anthony P. Lee, and board members Christopher Carvalho...
Kilar, who also serves on the board of directors of Wealthfront and Opendoor Technologies, exited his post as CEO of WarnerMedia on the eve of the company’s acquisition by Discovery in April 2022. Coincidentally, Kilar’s announcement came on the same day as that for the new job of another high-level WarnerMedia exec who left as a result of the merger, Brett Weitz, former General Manager Of TNT, TBS & truTV. He is joining Elon Musk’s X.
On the Roblox board, Kilar is joining former top TV executive Andrea Wong, who has been serving on multiple boards since her most recent executive job at Sony.
Kilar also joins board chairman and Roblox CEO David Baszucki, lead independent director Anthony P. Lee, and board members Christopher Carvalho...
- 9/15/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Ex-New York Times CEO and BBC director general Mark Thompson’s appointment as CNN’s new CEO offers some much-needed good news as the troubled network seeks to turn its ratings declines around and reinvent itself for the digital age.
“This seems to finally place years of C-suite dysfunction into the rearview mirror,” Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett told TheWrap, referring to previous chief exec eras, such as Chris licht’s short and disastrous tenure, the controversial departure of news legend Jeff Zucker, and the expensive path Jason Kilar took the network.
“Thompson is as credible as you can get in this space right now,” Crockett continued, “and Warner Bros. Discovery hiring him should send a jolt of confidence to CNN’s rank and file.”
The 40-year-plus news veteran is best known for successfully transforming the New York Times into a digital operation. Under his leadership from 2012 to 2020, the newspaper...
“This seems to finally place years of C-suite dysfunction into the rearview mirror,” Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett told TheWrap, referring to previous chief exec eras, such as Chris licht’s short and disastrous tenure, the controversial departure of news legend Jeff Zucker, and the expensive path Jason Kilar took the network.
“Thompson is as credible as you can get in this space right now,” Crockett continued, “and Warner Bros. Discovery hiring him should send a jolt of confidence to CNN’s rank and file.”
The 40-year-plus news veteran is best known for successfully transforming the New York Times into a digital operation. Under his leadership from 2012 to 2020, the newspaper...
- 8/30/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
CNN, whose brief foray into subscription streaming was snuffed out shortly after the close of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in April 2022, is officially getting real estate on Max.
A new offering, CNN Max, will be added to the streaming service in what Warner Bros. Discovery called an “open beta” on September 27. It will consist of a 24/7 stream pulled from the news network’s U.S. and international feeds, with a sprinkling of original fare, with user feedback welcomed. For many reasons, some having to do with contracts with pay-tv operators, it won’t be a full-over-the top version of linear CNN, and certain talent and new shows like the new 9 p.m. hour hosted by Kaitlan Collins will not be in the mix.
Wbd CEO David Zaslav hinted at the new venture during the company’s quarterly earnings call several weeks ago, saying news and sports make SVOD platforms “come alive.
A new offering, CNN Max, will be added to the streaming service in what Warner Bros. Discovery called an “open beta” on September 27. It will consist of a 24/7 stream pulled from the news network’s U.S. and international feeds, with a sprinkling of original fare, with user feedback welcomed. For many reasons, some having to do with contracts with pay-tv operators, it won’t be a full-over-the top version of linear CNN, and certain talent and new shows like the new 9 p.m. hour hosted by Kaitlan Collins will not be in the mix.
Wbd CEO David Zaslav hinted at the new venture during the company’s quarterly earnings call several weeks ago, saying news and sports make SVOD platforms “come alive.
- 8/24/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
DC’s “Blue Beetle,” with its soft $25 million opening, is the latest superhero movie to prove that the genre isn’t the surefire box office hit it used to be. And whether or not the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are taking their toll, studios could use this time to take another look at their superhero movie strategies.
“What’s affecting superhero movies or other big IP franchises isn’t a labor stoppage,” a top agent told TheWrap. “It’s that Gen Z is now the main theatre-going demographic and they don’t care about superheroes nearly as much as Millennials and Gen X. And that’s a massive problem for Marvel/DC.”
Top-tier examples like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” are among this year’s biggest-grossing films. However, the other four out of six Marvel or DC movies released thus far this year will...
“What’s affecting superhero movies or other big IP franchises isn’t a labor stoppage,” a top agent told TheWrap. “It’s that Gen Z is now the main theatre-going demographic and they don’t care about superheroes nearly as much as Millennials and Gen X. And that’s a massive problem for Marvel/DC.”
Top-tier examples like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” are among this year’s biggest-grossing films. However, the other four out of six Marvel or DC movies released thus far this year will...
- 8/22/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
When we last talked, Ray Liotta was thinking a lot about mortality. “I’m at the age now there are some things you just forget,” he mused. “60 was a motherf*cker for me.” He was 64 at the time, soon to turn 65, but somehow his face, which once seemed older and wiser than its time, now seemed timeless. “Some people age better, and with some it’s like, ‘Whoa, what happened there!?’” he laughed.
“You’re like me,” he told me. “We look younger. You’ve got a babyface and you’re not lined. I have really oily skin. In high school it sucked because I had zits, so I have a whole complex about that to this day.”
He laughed with that twinkle in his eye that propelled his iconic turns in Something Wild, Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, not to mention Cop Land, Narc, Smokin’ Aces and Hannibal. He did plenty of forgettable films too,...
“You’re like me,” he told me. “We look younger. You’ve got a babyface and you’re not lined. I have really oily skin. In high school it sucked because I had zits, so I have a whole complex about that to this day.”
He laughed with that twinkle in his eye that propelled his iconic turns in Something Wild, Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, not to mention Cop Land, Narc, Smokin’ Aces and Hannibal. He did plenty of forgettable films too,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Both films in last weekend’s so-called “Barbenheimer” event opened even bigger than initially estimated. With the final Sunday grosses accounted for, this “Barbie” just opened with $162 million, while that “Oppenheimer” nabbed an $82.4 million domestic debut. The box office battle between the Greta Gerwig commentary and Christopher Nolan’s atom bomb drama ended with both sides, as well as movie theaters, toasted to well, what’s the opposite of mutually assured destruction?
This “Barbie” shattered box office records
Gerwig’s “Barbie” nabbed the biggest Fri-Sun opening since “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ($181 million) last November, and the biggest launch for any film with a female director. It bested both the $103.5 million launch of Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” and the $155 million debut of “Captain Marvel” which was helmed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.
The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-starring fantasy notched the 21st biggest opening weekend of all time, right...
This “Barbie” shattered box office records
Gerwig’s “Barbie” nabbed the biggest Fri-Sun opening since “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ($181 million) last November, and the biggest launch for any film with a female director. It bested both the $103.5 million launch of Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” and the $155 million debut of “Captain Marvel” which was helmed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.
The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-starring fantasy notched the 21st biggest opening weekend of all time, right...
- 7/24/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
The National Association of Theatre Owners is projecting that more than 200,000 moviegoers will attend same-day viewings of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” at theaters across North America.
This comes a week after AMC declared that 40,000 consumers have purchased same-day tickets to both tentpoles for this weekend’s concurrent debuts. With both films earning majority-positive reviews (97% and 9.1/10 on Rotten Tomatoes for “Oppenheimer” and 89% and 8.2/10 for “Barbie“), Hollywood is looking at a skewed rerun of another box office showdown from July 2008.
Fifteen years ago, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” broke the opening weekend record with $158 million, but Meryl Streep’s “Mamma Mia!” also nabbed what was at the time the largest Friday-Sunday debut ever ($28 million) against a $100 million-plus opener.
History may be repeating itself, with Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” looking to clear triple digits right as Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” hopes to open on par with the over/under $50 million launches of “Interstellar” and “Dunkirk.
This comes a week after AMC declared that 40,000 consumers have purchased same-day tickets to both tentpoles for this weekend’s concurrent debuts. With both films earning majority-positive reviews (97% and 9.1/10 on Rotten Tomatoes for “Oppenheimer” and 89% and 8.2/10 for “Barbie“), Hollywood is looking at a skewed rerun of another box office showdown from July 2008.
Fifteen years ago, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” broke the opening weekend record with $158 million, but Meryl Streep’s “Mamma Mia!” also nabbed what was at the time the largest Friday-Sunday debut ever ($28 million) against a $100 million-plus opener.
History may be repeating itself, with Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” looking to clear triple digits right as Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” hopes to open on par with the over/under $50 million launches of “Interstellar” and “Dunkirk.
- 7/19/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
The news Thursday about Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley’s ascent to bring TV content under her domain doesn’t just speak to the greater NBCUniversal plan to have a more unified strategy across theatrical, TV and streaming.
It’s also a testament to NBCU realizing and relishing the risk-taking, creative-friendly asset the company has in Langley.
There was talk following NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s exit over sexual harassment claims that Langley would inherit the post given her billion-dollar-grossing track record at the film studio and as a level-headed balancer of scales in negotiations. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gave those interim duties to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, but that wasn’t a means to sideline Langley.
Related: Comcast President Mike Cavanagh Makes His Mark As NBCUniversal Chief With Exec Reorg, Donna Langley’s Dual Film-tv Role
While brass tacks oversee of news, sports and sundry NBCU ops are not her thing,...
It’s also a testament to NBCU realizing and relishing the risk-taking, creative-friendly asset the company has in Langley.
There was talk following NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s exit over sexual harassment claims that Langley would inherit the post given her billion-dollar-grossing track record at the film studio and as a level-headed balancer of scales in negotiations. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gave those interim duties to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, but that wasn’t a means to sideline Langley.
Related: Comcast President Mike Cavanagh Makes His Mark As NBCUniversal Chief With Exec Reorg, Donna Langley’s Dual Film-tv Role
While brass tacks oversee of news, sports and sundry NBCU ops are not her thing,...
- 7/7/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Donna Langley is a dame in waiting no more.
The veteran movie executive, with deep ties to Hollywood filmmakers and a knack for shepherding blockbusters to the screen, ascended to NBCUniversal’s content throne on Thursday, one of the big winners in a sweeping reorganization made by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who oversees NBCUniversal.
In her new role as chief content officer, Langley won’t just be overseeing Universal’s slate of films. She will also take ownership of its TV and streaming creative strategy. It’s an elevation that many industry players saw as inevitable – after all, how much longer could the company keep the in-demand executive without expanding her portfolio?
However, that also shortchanges Langley’s talent for C-suite survival, one that’s seen her withstand mergers and sales, as well as a revolving door of leaders and associates such as Ron Meyer, Adam Fogelson and Jeff Shell,...
The veteran movie executive, with deep ties to Hollywood filmmakers and a knack for shepherding blockbusters to the screen, ascended to NBCUniversal’s content throne on Thursday, one of the big winners in a sweeping reorganization made by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who oversees NBCUniversal.
In her new role as chief content officer, Langley won’t just be overseeing Universal’s slate of films. She will also take ownership of its TV and streaming creative strategy. It’s an elevation that many industry players saw as inevitable – after all, how much longer could the company keep the in-demand executive without expanding her portfolio?
However, that also shortchanges Langley’s talent for C-suite survival, one that’s seen her withstand mergers and sales, as well as a revolving door of leaders and associates such as Ron Meyer, Adam Fogelson and Jeff Shell,...
- 7/6/2023
- by Matt Donnelly and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
It’s not every day that Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson team up. But IndieWire has learned they will today: The three directors have scheduled an emergency call with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav about the layoffs of Turner Classic Movies’ top brass.
The network laid off much of its leadership yesterday, including executive VP and general manager Pola Changnon; senior VP of programming and content strategy, Charles Tabesh; VP of brand creative and marketing Dexter Fedor; VP of enterprises and strategic partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, who also served as the director of the annual TCM Film Festival; and VP of studio production Anne Wilson.
These people were responsible for everything from curating lineups, to shooting intros and outros, and for creating original shows, documentaries, and video essays that serve as major contributions to American cultural history.
Scorsese has often said he has Turner Classic Movies on...
The network laid off much of its leadership yesterday, including executive VP and general manager Pola Changnon; senior VP of programming and content strategy, Charles Tabesh; VP of brand creative and marketing Dexter Fedor; VP of enterprises and strategic partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, who also served as the director of the annual TCM Film Festival; and VP of studio production Anne Wilson.
These people were responsible for everything from curating lineups, to shooting intros and outros, and for creating original shows, documentaries, and video essays that serve as major contributions to American cultural history.
Scorsese has often said he has Turner Classic Movies on...
- 6/21/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
When Christopher Nolan‘s “Oppenheimer” hits theaters next month, it marks the first film by the director not produced by Warner Bros. in nearly 20 years. That’s because Nolan left the studio for Universal Pictures after he condemned Warner Bros. for releasing his 2020 blockbuster “Tenet” in theaters and HBO Max simultaneously. But with the Covid-19 pandemic over and former CEO Jason Kilar gone, Indiewire (via Variety) reports that Warner Bros.
Continue reading Warner Bros. Hopeful That Christopher Nolan Returns To Studio After ‘Oppenheimer’: “I Think There’s A World” at The Playlist.
Continue reading Warner Bros. Hopeful That Christopher Nolan Returns To Studio After ‘Oppenheimer’: “I Think There’s A World” at The Playlist.
- 6/15/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Warner Bros. is hoping Christopher Nolan will return to the studio, according to the film group’s co-CEOs.
Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who share the CEO title at Warner Bros. Film Group, addressed Nolan’s departure from the studio for Universal after the release of “Tenet,” his ninth film at Warners.
“We’re hoping to get Nolan back,” De Luca told Variety in a cover story. “I think there’s a world.”
Nolan collaborated with Warner Bros. for close to 20 years but exited for a deal with Universal which will release his upcoming epic “Oppenheimer.” Nolan publicly condemned Warner Bros. for releasing the studio’s 2021 film slate in a day-and-date hybrid model with streamer HBO Max, led by then-WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who is no longer with the conglomerate. “Tenet,” however, was not released day-and-date on streaming platforms when the time-bending action thriller came out in September...
Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who share the CEO title at Warner Bros. Film Group, addressed Nolan’s departure from the studio for Universal after the release of “Tenet,” his ninth film at Warners.
“We’re hoping to get Nolan back,” De Luca told Variety in a cover story. “I think there’s a world.”
Nolan collaborated with Warner Bros. for close to 20 years but exited for a deal with Universal which will release his upcoming epic “Oppenheimer.” Nolan publicly condemned Warner Bros. for releasing the studio’s 2021 film slate in a day-and-date hybrid model with streamer HBO Max, led by then-WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who is no longer with the conglomerate. “Tenet,” however, was not released day-and-date on streaming platforms when the time-bending action thriller came out in September...
- 6/15/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
As waves swirl in the infinity pool of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy take in the view of the rolling hills of Antibes. The sun beats down so fiercely on a lily-white tablecloth that the co-CEOs and co-chairpeople of the Warner Bros. Film Group shield themselves with Gucci and Ray-Ban shades. They resemble the all-powerful studio chiefs of yore — or at least their surroundings do. A lot has changed since the Golden Age of Hollywood: Jack Warner didn’t have two smartphones constantly buzzing, misconduct allegations involving “The Flash” star Ezra Miller and cratering share prices to worry about.
“It’s so competitive now,” De Luca says, looking out at the shimmering water. “We all have to sing for our supper.”
And sing, they have. In a starkly different setting a month before, with the clatter of slot machines blaring in the distance, I met...
“It’s so competitive now,” De Luca says, looking out at the shimmering water. “We all have to sing for our supper.”
And sing, they have. In a starkly different setting a month before, with the clatter of slot machines blaring in the distance, I met...
- 6/14/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
After years of tech-driven disruption (remember when a phone company briefly owned Warner Bros.?), David Zaslav has been trying to strike a back-to-basics, business-as-usual tone with anyone who will listen: Wall Street analysts, Hollywood creatives and most recently the crowd of theater owners gathered in Las Vegas at CinemaCon this week.
The Warner Bros. Discovery chief has strongly rejected the streaming-first strategy of his predecessor, Jason Kilar, the Hulu cofounder who advanced day-and-date or HBO Max-only releases for Warner Bros. movies. At CinemaCon, Zaslav promised long theatrical runs for Warner’s slate of new movies like “Barbie” and “The Flash.”
Movies seemed like something of an afterthought at the unveiling of Max, the replacement for HBO Max, this month. “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which faltered at the box office, will have its streaming debut as Max begins service on May 23. There was no mention of streaming-only movies.
The answer...
The Warner Bros. Discovery chief has strongly rejected the streaming-first strategy of his predecessor, Jason Kilar, the Hulu cofounder who advanced day-and-date or HBO Max-only releases for Warner Bros. movies. At CinemaCon, Zaslav promised long theatrical runs for Warner’s slate of new movies like “Barbie” and “The Flash.”
Movies seemed like something of an afterthought at the unveiling of Max, the replacement for HBO Max, this month. “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which faltered at the box office, will have its streaming debut as Max begins service on May 23. There was no mention of streaming-only movies.
The answer...
- 4/27/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Movies, now more than ever? Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sought to rally the troops on Tuesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, proclaiming “content is more powerful than armies” and reiterating his company’s commitment to theatrical exhibition.
“We do not believe in streaming movies,” Zaslav was quoted as saying by Deadline. “Movies [in theaters] perform substantially better when we bring them to HBO Max than any of the direct-to-streaming movies. We said it nine months ago, and we said it six months ago. We have never felt stronger about it.”
If that sounds like a shot at the previous Warner Bros. regime, that’s because it could be taken in such a fashion. Before being acquired by Zaslav’s Discovery, then-WarnerMedia boss Jason Kilar spearheaded a day-and-date release strategy that put top Warner Bros. movies in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously. But that gambit, which obviously curtailed ticket...
“We do not believe in streaming movies,” Zaslav was quoted as saying by Deadline. “Movies [in theaters] perform substantially better when we bring them to HBO Max than any of the direct-to-streaming movies. We said it nine months ago, and we said it six months ago. We have never felt stronger about it.”
If that sounds like a shot at the previous Warner Bros. regime, that’s because it could be taken in such a fashion. Before being acquired by Zaslav’s Discovery, then-WarnerMedia boss Jason Kilar spearheaded a day-and-date release strategy that put top Warner Bros. movies in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously. But that gambit, which obviously curtailed ticket...
- 4/25/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
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The overall sentiment at this year’s CinemaCon is that of optimism. After a global pandemic shuttered theaters worldwide, and then an industry-wide pivot to streaming made theatrical release less sexy to Wall Street, Hollywood at-large seems to have gotten the message. If you want to make money on your movie, and even if you want people to watch your movie on a streaming platform, you have to put it in theaters first. That’s music to the ears of AMC’s colorful CEO Adam Aron.
“We almost ran out of cash five different times,” Aron told TheWrap in Las Vegas Tuesday. “We [had times where] we had just four to six weeks of cash [on hand].”
Aron spoke openly about how close AMC came to collapse in the first year of the Covid pandemic. The...
The overall sentiment at this year’s CinemaCon is that of optimism. After a global pandemic shuttered theaters worldwide, and then an industry-wide pivot to streaming made theatrical release less sexy to Wall Street, Hollywood at-large seems to have gotten the message. If you want to make money on your movie, and even if you want people to watch your movie on a streaming platform, you have to put it in theaters first. That’s music to the ears of AMC’s colorful CEO Adam Aron.
“We almost ran out of cash five different times,” Aron told TheWrap in Las Vegas Tuesday. “We [had times where] we had just four to six weeks of cash [on hand].”
Aron spoke openly about how close AMC came to collapse in the first year of the Covid pandemic. The...
- 4/25/2023
- by Scott Mendelson and Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Day Two of CinemaCon got off to an early start, which meant a subdued and potentially casino-fogged audience in the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum. And then Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav took the stage.
“We believe in full windowing of the motion pictures,” he told a theater full of theater owners. “We do not want to do direct-to-streaming movies. We are in no rush to bring the movies to Max.”
That woke them up.
Last year, CinemaCon was where Warner Bros. basically apologized for going day-and-date in theaters and on HBO Max with its entire slate of movies — a Jason Kilar plan to come out of the Covid pandemic. Well, Kilar’s gone, HBO Max is soon to become Max, and this definitely ain’t that Warner Bros. Discovery.
Zaslav said it’s not just “good business” to be completely committed to theatrical, but that America “needs to rally right now.
“We believe in full windowing of the motion pictures,” he told a theater full of theater owners. “We do not want to do direct-to-streaming movies. We are in no rush to bring the movies to Max.”
That woke them up.
Last year, CinemaCon was where Warner Bros. basically apologized for going day-and-date in theaters and on HBO Max with its entire slate of movies — a Jason Kilar plan to come out of the Covid pandemic. Well, Kilar’s gone, HBO Max is soon to become Max, and this definitely ain’t that Warner Bros. Discovery.
Zaslav said it’s not just “good business” to be completely committed to theatrical, but that America “needs to rally right now.
- 4/25/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Two weeks after showing off the future of their rebranded Max streaming service, David Zaslav and Warner Bros. embraced theatrical as they showed off their upcoming 2023 slate at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Zaslav made his debut at the movie theater trade show on Tuesday with a lengthy speech that earned plenty of applause from cinema execs, especially when he reaffirmed his company’s plans to never go back to the day-and-date releasing model that his predecessor, Jason Kilar, rolled out for all of Warner’s theatrical releases in 2021.
“We believe in full theatrical windows, we don’t believe in direct to streaming. We are in no rush to push films to Max,” Zaslav said. “When we partner with you and bring these movies to theaters and promote them, and later on we market them again and release them at home while you still have them in your theaters, and then...
Zaslav made his debut at the movie theater trade show on Tuesday with a lengthy speech that earned plenty of applause from cinema execs, especially when he reaffirmed his company’s plans to never go back to the day-and-date releasing model that his predecessor, Jason Kilar, rolled out for all of Warner’s theatrical releases in 2021.
“We believe in full theatrical windows, we don’t believe in direct to streaming. We are in no rush to push films to Max,” Zaslav said. “When we partner with you and bring these movies to theaters and promote them, and later on we market them again and release them at home while you still have them in your theaters, and then...
- 4/25/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was a conquering hero in the eyes of theater owners as he traveled to Las Vegas to personally reaffirm his commitment to the big screen during CinemaCon.
“We believe in full windowing. We are in no rush to bring movies to Max. It is a great service. Movies that open in theaters perform substantially better than any of the direct-to-streaming movies,” Zaslav said in his first appearance at CinemaCon, drawing huge applause when pronouncing that his company doesn’t believe in streaming movies.
“We have to rally right now. It’s a moment in time when people need to be entertained. What is Warner Bros. Discovery? It is a storytelling business,” he continued. “And the purest form are motion pictures in theaters. The phone goes off and the lights go out. That’s the only place it happens. It is a community experience.”
He...
“We believe in full windowing. We are in no rush to bring movies to Max. It is a great service. Movies that open in theaters perform substantially better than any of the direct-to-streaming movies,” Zaslav said in his first appearance at CinemaCon, drawing huge applause when pronouncing that his company doesn’t believe in streaming movies.
“We have to rally right now. It’s a moment in time when people need to be entertained. What is Warner Bros. Discovery? It is a storytelling business,” he continued. “And the purest form are motion pictures in theaters. The phone goes off and the lights go out. That’s the only place it happens. It is a community experience.”
He...
- 4/25/2023
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav came to Las Vegas to put all of his chips on movie theaters.
The executive made an appearance at CinemaCon, the annual convention of theatrical exhibitors, to reassure the crowd that the Warner Bros. Pictures Group was not interested in releasing its premium movies directly to streaming platform Max.
“At Warner Bros., at DC Studios, we believe that everything is possible. This business could be bigger and stronger than its ever been,” Zaslav said on stage at Caesar’s Palace on Tuesday. “We believe in full windowing of the motion pictures. We do not want to do direct-to-streaming movies. We’re in no rush to bring the movie to Max.”
Zaslav praised his newly-installed leaders Mike De Luca and Pamela Abdy at Warner Bros., as well as James Gunn and Peter Safran at DC. He bemoaned that Warners only had six films on its...
The executive made an appearance at CinemaCon, the annual convention of theatrical exhibitors, to reassure the crowd that the Warner Bros. Pictures Group was not interested in releasing its premium movies directly to streaming platform Max.
“At Warner Bros., at DC Studios, we believe that everything is possible. This business could be bigger and stronger than its ever been,” Zaslav said on stage at Caesar’s Palace on Tuesday. “We believe in full windowing of the motion pictures. We do not want to do direct-to-streaming movies. We’re in no rush to bring the movie to Max.”
Zaslav praised his newly-installed leaders Mike De Luca and Pamela Abdy at Warner Bros., as well as James Gunn and Peter Safran at DC. He bemoaned that Warners only had six films on its...
- 4/25/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and President David Zaslav, just a day after revealing details of the new combined streaming service Max, joined industry titans Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson to tout another area close to the heart of the studio he now heads: the importance of restoring and preserving Warner Bros.’ rich legacy of film classics, especially as it heads into its 100th anniversary year. Appearing on stage at the opening night of the 14th TCM Classic Film Festival with Spielberg and Anderson in a conversation moderated by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, Zaslav — who previously stated his belief in the theatrical experience and a return to that after 2021’s much-derided day-and-date release model under past CEO Jason Kilar — made it clear that the studio’s commitment to the preservation and well-being of the studio’s rich library will be a priority in his administration. (Turner Classic Movies is a...
- 4/14/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Although an introductory video at Wednesday’s Warner Bros Discovery streaming event included clips of NBA star LeBron James and CNN host Anderson Cooper, the rest of the presentation was strikingly sports- and news-free.
CEO David Zaslav said the omissions were entirely intentional. Sports and news are “vibrant parts” of the company that “will be key to our long-term streaming strategy,” Zaslav said in his opening remarks. “In a few months,” he added, “we’ll come back to you with details of our attack plan to use this important and differentiating live content to grow our streaming business even further.”
Plans for harnessing the power of live programming can take a while to come together, as media rivals like Disney, NBCUniversal and Paramount Global have discovered in their respective streaming adventures. The equation has many variables, including a declining but still lucrative pay-tv ecosystem, a frothy market for sports rights...
CEO David Zaslav said the omissions were entirely intentional. Sports and news are “vibrant parts” of the company that “will be key to our long-term streaming strategy,” Zaslav said in his opening remarks. “In a few months,” he added, “we’ll come back to you with details of our attack plan to use this important and differentiating live content to grow our streaming business even further.”
Plans for harnessing the power of live programming can take a while to come together, as media rivals like Disney, NBCUniversal and Paramount Global have discovered in their respective streaming adventures. The equation has many variables, including a declining but still lucrative pay-tv ecosystem, a frothy market for sports rights...
- 4/12/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Streamer drops HBO from name, announces three-tier price plan. International details to follow.
Warner Bros Discovery’s (Wbd) long-awaited streaming platform combining HBO Max and Discovery+ is called Max and will launch in the US on May 23.
The Max Ad-Free tier will stay at $15.99 per month, and the cost of Max Ad-Lite remains $9.99. Users will need to pay $19.99 for the new Max Ultimate Ad Free plan offering 4K Uhd resolution, 100 offline downloads, and Dolby Atmos sound quality.
Wbd will issue announcements for its international service, which continues to roll out, in due course.
In an hour-long presentation on Wednesday (April...
Warner Bros Discovery’s (Wbd) long-awaited streaming platform combining HBO Max and Discovery+ is called Max and will launch in the US on May 23.
The Max Ad-Free tier will stay at $15.99 per month, and the cost of Max Ad-Lite remains $9.99. Users will need to pay $19.99 for the new Max Ultimate Ad Free plan offering 4K Uhd resolution, 100 offline downloads, and Dolby Atmos sound quality.
Wbd will issue announcements for its international service, which continues to roll out, in due course.
In an hour-long presentation on Wednesday (April...
- 4/12/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
What’s one way to drum up anticipation for a streaming service merger? Keep the new name secret.
As Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to unveil its refreshed streaming service on April 12, outside partners are still awaiting official word on what exactly the merged HBO Max–Discovery streamer will be named as executives continue to refer to the service by its code name, “Beam,” according to people familiar with the matter. (That code name has been referenced for several months, although it’s unclear if there are several shorthand references to the services, either for in-house notes or with outside partners.)
The event, taking place at 10 am Pst on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank and streaming online, is set to showcase what the merged company’s marquee streaming service will look like as it loses the HBO Max name and gains programming from Discovery+.
Even as Beam is used internally,...
As Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to unveil its refreshed streaming service on April 12, outside partners are still awaiting official word on what exactly the merged HBO Max–Discovery streamer will be named as executives continue to refer to the service by its code name, “Beam,” according to people familiar with the matter. (That code name has been referenced for several months, although it’s unclear if there are several shorthand references to the services, either for in-house notes or with outside partners.)
The event, taking place at 10 am Pst on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank and streaming online, is set to showcase what the merged company’s marquee streaming service will look like as it loses the HBO Max name and gains programming from Discovery+.
Even as Beam is used internally,...
- 4/8/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament took a hiatus during the pandemic as movie theaters closed for the majority of 2020-2021 and theatrical day-and-date titles on both the big screen and studios’ respective streaming platforms became more prevalent. Coming back from that brink, the studios have largely returned to their theatrical release models and the downstream monies they can bring. Not to mention their power in launching IPs around the world with big global marketing campaigns. When it comes to evaluating the financial performance of top movies, it isn’t about what a film grosses at the box office. The true tale is told when production budgets, P&a, talent participations and other costs collide with box office grosses, and ancillary revenues from VOD to DVD and TV. To get close to that mysterious end of the equation, Deadline is repeating our Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament for 2022, using data culled by seasoned and trusted sources.
- 4/6/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Soon after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger was finalized, CEO David Zaslav said that he believed that his new company’s future lay in a pivot away from the now subsided streaming boom and back towards movie theaters, and his latest earnings call comments suggest that he is even more adamant in this direction.
On Thursday, Zaslav spoke about Warner Bros.’ recent strategy to move films greenlit under previous CEO Jason Kilar’s leadership for exclusive release on HBO Max to an exclusive release in theaters before going to the streaming service. The executive said that after analyzing streaming metrics on HBO Max with the service’s chief content officer Casey Bloys, they found that releasing films as streaming exclusives did not provide any return on investment.
Also Read:
David Zaslav Signals Confidence in CNN Chief Chris Licht: ‘I Believe We Are on the Right Path’
“We were able...
On Thursday, Zaslav spoke about Warner Bros.’ recent strategy to move films greenlit under previous CEO Jason Kilar’s leadership for exclusive release on HBO Max to an exclusive release in theaters before going to the streaming service. The executive said that after analyzing streaming metrics on HBO Max with the service’s chief content officer Casey Bloys, they found that releasing films as streaming exclusives did not provide any return on investment.
Also Read:
David Zaslav Signals Confidence in CNN Chief Chris Licht: ‘I Believe We Are on the Right Path’
“We were able...
- 2/23/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
As Derek Zoolander might put it, releasing films in theaters is so hot right now. Channing Tatum’s “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” topped the weekend box office with 8.2 million in just 1,500 theaters, with a likely upswing arriving by Valentine’s Day — not bad for a movie that was never meant for the big screen.
The Steven Soderbergh-directed male stripper threequel is the highest-profile example of 2023’s buzziest Hollywood trend: releasing movies in movie theaters instead of on streaming. Three other Warner Bros. features, “House Party,” “Evil Dead Rise” and “Blue Beetle,” initially greenlit by ex-WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar for HBO Max, are getting a theatrical window courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
“We switched our strategy, which was focused on building a streaming platform, to one that is focused on each film,” Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution told TheWrap. They aren’t the only ones.
The Steven Soderbergh-directed male stripper threequel is the highest-profile example of 2023’s buzziest Hollywood trend: releasing movies in movie theaters instead of on streaming. Three other Warner Bros. features, “House Party,” “Evil Dead Rise” and “Blue Beetle,” initially greenlit by ex-WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar for HBO Max, are getting a theatrical window courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
“We switched our strategy, which was focused on building a streaming platform, to one that is focused on each film,” Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution told TheWrap. They aren’t the only ones.
- 2/13/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Between the Super Bowl this Sunday and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” coming next Friday, the new release list for movie theaters is scarce this weekend. But what is coming is “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” a Warner Bros. film that was greenlit as an HBO Max exclusive but is now getting a theatrical release strategy that has perplexed analysts and rival studios.
Starring Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek in what’s being billed as the ending of a trilogy that began with “Magic Mike” in 2012 and continued with “Magic Mike Xxl” in 2015, the dramedy about male stripper “Magic” Mike Lane is getting a release on just 1,500 theaters as opposed to the 3,355 that “Magic Mike Xxl” got eight years ago.
When David Zaslav took over Warner Bros. after its merger with Discovery last year, he promised a recommitment to releasing films theatrically after the studio, under the direction of previous CEO Jason Kilar,...
Starring Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek in what’s being billed as the ending of a trilogy that began with “Magic Mike” in 2012 and continued with “Magic Mike Xxl” in 2015, the dramedy about male stripper “Magic” Mike Lane is getting a release on just 1,500 theaters as opposed to the 3,355 that “Magic Mike Xxl” got eight years ago.
When David Zaslav took over Warner Bros. after its merger with Discovery last year, he promised a recommitment to releasing films theatrically after the studio, under the direction of previous CEO Jason Kilar,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The first teaser trailers for “Evil Dead Rise” show off a very scary mother figure, which is great considering we are approaching the 10-year anniversary of Andrés Muschietti’s “Mama.”
Warner Bros. Discovery dropped two trailers this morning. The age-restricted red-band trailer features the tagline “Evil Comes Home” and is focused on mood, menace and onscreen carnage. The green-band teaser, which you can watch above, features a tagline “Witness the Rise of the Mother of All Evil” and is more plot-focused and emphasizes bloodless shocks and gooey menace. It’s no slouch in the intensity department, but it’s arguably safe to play ahead of Universal’s PG-13-rated “M3GAN,” which premieres Thursday night.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s official synopsis states that this fifth “Evil Dead” film concerns a road-weary traveler, Beth (Lily Sullivan) who visits her older sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.
Warner Bros. Discovery dropped two trailers this morning. The age-restricted red-band trailer features the tagline “Evil Comes Home” and is focused on mood, menace and onscreen carnage. The green-band teaser, which you can watch above, features a tagline “Witness the Rise of the Mother of All Evil” and is more plot-focused and emphasizes bloodless shocks and gooey menace. It’s no slouch in the intensity department, but it’s arguably safe to play ahead of Universal’s PG-13-rated “M3GAN,” which premieres Thursday night.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s official synopsis states that this fifth “Evil Dead” film concerns a road-weary traveler, Beth (Lily Sullivan) who visits her older sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.
- 1/4/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
Imagine any top film studio exec or producer reading Jason Kilar’s recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, in which he called 2022 “one of the most consequential and anxiety-ridden years in Hollywood history.”
“No shit, Jason,” most of them undoubtedly thought. “Thank you, arsonist, for sharing your wisdom about the fire.” Or something like that. Kilar has yet to be forgiven for Project Popcorn, the shock decision to throw the entire Warners 2021 slate onto the nascent HBO Max streaming service the same day the films premiered in theaters. Asked about the past year’s weak overall performance of theatrical releases, one high-level studio exec reflects the opinion of many, saying, “Without question, Kilar fucked things up so badly in terms of the general health of our industry that we’re going to be feeling those reverberations for a long time.”
Obviously in a world battered by a pandemic,...
Imagine any top film studio exec or producer reading Jason Kilar’s recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, in which he called 2022 “one of the most consequential and anxiety-ridden years in Hollywood history.”
“No shit, Jason,” most of them undoubtedly thought. “Thank you, arsonist, for sharing your wisdom about the fire.” Or something like that. Kilar has yet to be forgiven for Project Popcorn, the shock decision to throw the entire Warners 2021 slate onto the nascent HBO Max streaming service the same day the films premiered in theaters. Asked about the past year’s weak overall performance of theatrical releases, one high-level studio exec reflects the opinion of many, saying, “Without question, Kilar fucked things up so badly in terms of the general health of our industry that we’re going to be feeling those reverberations for a long time.”
Obviously in a world battered by a pandemic,...
- 12/20/2022
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A year ago it was all good and then the impossible happened: Netflix lost subscribers.
The undisputed king of streaming expected to pick up 2.5 million global paid subscribers over the first three months of 2022. And why not? It added nearly 4 million subscribers from January-March 2021. Instead, Netflix not only lost 200,000 subs, but it also braced Wall Street for a loss of 2 million more from April to June. That grim prediction did not come to pass — the streamer shed just 970,000 subscribers in Q2, and got back to its growing ways this summer — but already the damage was done and streaming will never be the same.
At the end of 2021, shares of Netflix (Nflx) traded in the 600s; today, even after a steady climb over the second half of 2022, Nflx sells for about half that. Along the way, the once-almighty company was forced to completely revamp its business. Netflix laid off staff, it...
The undisputed king of streaming expected to pick up 2.5 million global paid subscribers over the first three months of 2022. And why not? It added nearly 4 million subscribers from January-March 2021. Instead, Netflix not only lost 200,000 subs, but it also braced Wall Street for a loss of 2 million more from April to June. That grim prediction did not come to pass — the streamer shed just 970,000 subscribers in Q2, and got back to its growing ways this summer — but already the damage was done and streaming will never be the same.
At the end of 2021, shares of Netflix (Nflx) traded in the 600s; today, even after a steady climb over the second half of 2022, Nflx sells for about half that. Along the way, the once-almighty company was forced to completely revamp its business. Netflix laid off staff, it...
- 12/18/2022
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Wednesday’s DC chaos about the unplugging of Patty Jenkins’ version of Wonder Woman 3 coupled with rampant rumors of the studio’s new co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran turning the comic book label upside down sans a Henry Cavill Man of Steel 2 and possible re-casting of many current big superhero roles has left the town with a bad case of Ptsd.
Related Story James Gunn Responds To ‘Wonder Woman 3’ Axing, Possible DC Franchise Turnover: "We Are Not Going To Make Every Single Person Happy" Related Story Patty Jenkins' 'Wonder Woman 3' Treatment A No Go Under New Peter Safran-James Gunn DC Administration; Axing Comes A Day After Gal Gadot's Hopeful Tweet For Sequel Related Story Jennifer Lawrence R-Rated Comedy 'No Hard Feelings' Shifts A Week Away From 'The Flash'
The lack of communication to talent reps and content creators by the studio about what’s next in the DC empire,...
Related Story James Gunn Responds To ‘Wonder Woman 3’ Axing, Possible DC Franchise Turnover: "We Are Not Going To Make Every Single Person Happy" Related Story Patty Jenkins' 'Wonder Woman 3' Treatment A No Go Under New Peter Safran-James Gunn DC Administration; Axing Comes A Day After Gal Gadot's Hopeful Tweet For Sequel Related Story Jennifer Lawrence R-Rated Comedy 'No Hard Feelings' Shifts A Week Away From 'The Flash'
The lack of communication to talent reps and content creators by the studio about what’s next in the DC empire,...
- 12/8/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
“We know we are not going to make every single person happy every step of the way.”
James Gunn has responded to reports that DC Studios has shelved Wonder Woman 3, tweeting: ”We know we are not going to make every single person happy every step of the way.”
DC Studios co-heads Gunn and Safran recently return from a brainstorming session in Colorado and are preparing to present their vision for the future of the superhero stable to Warner Bros Discovery head David Zaslav next week.
According to The Hollywood Reporter the executives informed Jenkins of their decision to shelve a...
James Gunn has responded to reports that DC Studios has shelved Wonder Woman 3, tweeting: ”We know we are not going to make every single person happy every step of the way.”
DC Studios co-heads Gunn and Safran recently return from a brainstorming session in Colorado and are preparing to present their vision for the future of the superhero stable to Warner Bros Discovery head David Zaslav next week.
According to The Hollywood Reporter the executives informed Jenkins of their decision to shelve a...
- 12/8/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
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