David Zaslav, head of Warner Bros. Discovery, announced on Wednesday that Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will remain co‑chairs and CEOs of the studio’s motion picture division. Their multi‑year deals had been due to lapse next year.
Zaslav framed the move as recognition of a sharp turnaround after a rough stretch that had sparked talks of shakeups.
He highlighted a run of strong titles this year, including a Minecraft movie that’s approaching a global haul near $1 billion, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners with close to $370 million, the reboot Final Destination: Bloodlines near $300 million, and Weapons, an original horror hit from Zach Cregger that has topped $250 million.
New Line Cinema, which released Weapons, beat out competitors to acquire the rights to Cregger’s project after De Luca outbid others.
Zaslav also cited The Conjuring: Last Rights, which has grossed about $460 million so far, outpacing other titles in that franchise.
The discussion around One Battle After Another, a Paul Thomas Anderson project, loomed earlier with budget estimates ranging from about $135 million to as high as $170 million, and its opening weekend box office around $22 million.
The Warner leadership credited the year’s results to the Motion Picture Group’s balance of tentpole films, IP inherited from the studio’s history including DC, and a slate that blends horror, original storytelling and planned animation as it moves forward.
The two executives also shared notes with staff celebrating the year, while Zaslav sent a memo praising the team’s progress and outlining goals for the years ahead.
Source: Original article
