DC Entertainment overhaul targeted by new Discovery executives from Warner Bros

The new owners of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are considering a makeover from DC Entertainment, according to multiple sources close to the situation diversity.

It’s been less than a week since Discovery closed its $43 billion deal for WarnerMedia, joining one of the biggest producers of reality programming with one of the most venerable entertainment brands under the new Warner Bros. Discovery name. David Zaslav, the CEO of the combined companies, and top management have been toying with the idea of ​​turning DC into its own solid content vertical, the sources said.

The move would potentially affect DC feature film development at Warner Bros. Pictures Group, streaming series at Warner Bros. Television, and the creative arm within DC – all in an effort to more closely align the disparate elements to maximize the value of the superhero stable – one that’s often seen as a smack against Marvel.

Prior to the completion of the merger, Zaslav screened candidates with experience in creating and maintaining intellectual property for blockbusters with a view to potentially finding someone who could serve as a creative and strategic czar similar to Marvel’s in Kevin Feige. Those candidates included Emma Watts, a former top film executive at 20th Century Studios and Paramount, but it doesn’t appear that Watts will take the job. An insider suggested that Zaslav is less interested in finding a creative guru and more keen on hiring someone with the business background needed to help the various factions at DC work more harmoniously.

Insiders say Zaslav believes the success of the merger, which has given the company high leverage, will depend in no small part on unlocking the full potential of DC Comics’ character universe. Discovery insiders believe that while DC has achieved big screen success with recent films like Aquaman and The Batman, it lacks a coherent creative and branding strategy. Discovery believes several prime characters like Superman are dying and need to be revived. They also believe projects like Todd Phillips’ The Joker are a shining example of how runner-up characters from the DC library can and should be exploited (Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was another opportunity, although Birds of Prey did missed target).

DC has begun exploring ways for its theatrical films to inspire more streaming content — recent examples include the HBO Max show The Peacemaker, which was a spin-off of The Suicide Squad, and an upcoming planned series via Colin Farrell’s The Penguin and the Gotham City Police Department. However, the company believes DC needs to do more to expand its approach to comic fare, including strengthening the game. Under Walter Hamada, who took over DC Films from Jon Berg and Geoff Johns in 2018, the entity has achieved greater consistency in both the critical and commercial reception of the company’s films. He is signed until the end of 2023 and could play an important role in whatever Zaslav plans.

Zaslav has pledged to find $3 billion in synergies in the newly merged company, signaling how important cost cutting will be to Warners’ new owners. Mining DC’s character library could help control spending since Warner Bros. Discovery owns the underlying intellectual property, insiders say.

Upcoming DC Films projects include a sequel to Zachary Levi’s Shazaam, a sequel to Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, the long-awaited franchise startup Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson, and a third installment of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. .