Just recently, Warner Bros. Discovery made the front page in all entertainment news outlets for cancelling the Batgirl film for HBO Max. The project headlined by Leslie Grace, Michael Keaton, Brenda Fraser, and J.K. Simmons would have been part of the DCEU reboot that would happen in The Flash. But despite its $90 million+ production cost and being nearly finished, Batgirl was shelved and to be nothing more than a tax write-off. This unprecedented move sent ripples and rumors regarding the fate of the DCEU. But now a new announcement of a long-term strategy for the DC Comics properties and the restructuring of the HBO Max streaming service seems to have dwarfed the Batgirl film’s demise. Read on for the details of what has been revealed so far of Warner Bros. Discovery’s major business moves.
DC Studios and a 10-year plan
During the Q2 earnings call held on Thursday, August 4, 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, responded to questions regarding the plans for DC Films. This was prompted by the bombshell decision to kill off the Batgirl HBO Max film. Zaslav responded by confirming the DC Comics properties being brought to live action was a major factor in their long-term business strategy. According to the Warner Bros. Discovery head honcho: David Zaslav continued by providing some insight as to what this entails for the DC Extended Universe: It should be noted that Warner Bros. Discovery recently brought on board Alan Horn. Horn was the president and COO of Warner Bros. from 1999 to 2012. He then moved to Walt Disney Studios to serve as chairman and Chief Creative Officer from 2012 to 2020. It was during Alan Horn’s time in Warner Bros. that The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight films hit their stride. Likewise, Horn oversaw the production of the Marvel Studios content during its rise under Kevin Feige and the dominance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Focus on quality
Zaslav further added that the new mandate for DC content going forward is an emphasis on quality: The CEO concluded by mentioning specifically the upcoming slate of DCEU movies for the remainder of 2022 moving to 2023: As this statement implies, the company will be focusing more on the big screen theatrical projects. However, it seems that it will not involve a full reboot. It is more likely that the company is turning its attention to making sure the quality of these upcoming films align with the new vision. And there are insider rumors that Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash will be delayed further for possible reshoots. This would be in line with the surprise inclusion of Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Plus, based on the graphic provided during the Q2 earnings call, DC projects will have its own dedicated studio, along with Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and WAG (Warner Bros. Animation Group). Although there is no official word yet on whether it will be named DC Studios, this is similar to how Marvel Studios was established under the Walt Disney Company to focus on the MCU and adjacent properties and projects. CEO Zaslav concluded by reiterating the company’s commitment to not just make the DC brand profitable, but also to protect it:
HBO Max and Discovery+
In a past report, it was detailed that a big part of the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger would entail big changes for their streaming services. Now, it has been confirmed that Discovery+ and HBO Max will be merged into one service, as well as potential options for a free but ad-supported service (similar to traditional free TV): Part of this new strategy is the end of producing films specifically to go direct to streaming. As Zaslav states: However, Zaslav also addressed the concerns that HBO will reduce its original programming: Although there are no further details given, it is safe to assume that this will be on a case-by-case basis, depending on how successful and profitable the existing and future HBO projects are, such as the upcoming House of the Dragon. Furthermore, the existing HBO Max service will add Discovery programming to its roster, such as those produced under the Magnolia Network. Meanwhile, Discovery+ will gain CNN Originals programming. It is projected that the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services will complete its merged format in the U.S. by the summer of 2023, with other international territories some time in 2024.
