'Batgirl' directors got support from Kevin Feige after film was axed
'Batgirl' co-director Adil El Arbi says he received support from filmmakers Kevin Feige, James Gunn, and Edgar Wright after Warner Bros. shelved his film this week.
TV Streaming Discussion: HBO MAX UPDATE: WTF is Going on? Merger with PARAMOUNT?!
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‘Scoob!: Holiday Haunt’ Writer Paul Dini Says Cancellation of “95% Finished” Film “Makes No Business Sense”
BYRAHUL MALHOTRA
PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO
Dini said that audiences "dug" the film at a test screening.
As the dust settles on Warner Bros. Discovery’s industry-shaking announcement about the cancellation of two major films — Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt — talent associated with both projects is beginning to comment on the situation. And after statements from Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah and star Leslie Grace, Scoob 2 co-writer Paul Dini has questioned the studio’s move to cancel a film that he thinks would’ve been a sure-shot hit this holiday season.
Dini, who is perhaps best known as the creator of the Batman character Harley Quinn, responded to a fan’s tweet about the news. He not only revealed that the film — a prequel to the animated reboot of the franchise — was “95% complete,” but claimed that a work-in-progress cut actually tested quite well. Warner Bros. in a statement about the canned Batgirl film said that a change in the studio’s business strategy was the primary reason behind the move. In Dini's own words:
Image via Warner Bros.
RELATED:'Scoob: Holiday Haunt' Shelved At Warner Bros
According to a Variety report, the new W.B.D. leadership’s decision to distance the company from the previous regime’s streaming-focused strategies prompted the cancellation of the two movies, which were deemed unsuitable for either the theatrical marketplace or the HBO Max streaming service. The studio had already spent around $90 million on Batgirl, which the film’s directors revealed in their joint statement was “far from finished,” contrary to the rumors floating around.
Scoob 2, on the other hand, was apparently closer to the finish line. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film was budgeted at around $40 million, which is far lower than what an average Pixar project costs — Lightyear, for instance, was produced for a reported $200 million — but still a hefty price tag for a streaming-exclusive title. The first Scoob! film, directed by Tony Cervone, debuted at the peak of the pandemic’s first wave in 2020 and received mixed reviews.
Dini is best known for writing some of the most memorable episodes of the classic Batman: The Animated Series. He has also written the acclaimed video game, Batman: Arkham Asylum and its sequel, Batman: Arkham City. Scooby-Doo remains a popular piece of IP, and fans can be sure another reboot of the popular cartoon is probably around the corner. In fact, a new animated series centered around the character Velma Dinkley is coming from star and executive producer Mindy Kaling.
Flash is the Reverse Flash in real life....
I was dying
Buy Kev was dropping a whole lot of truth bombs
‘Scoob!: Holiday Haunt’ Producer Reveals Score Being Recorded After Film’s Axing: ‘Already Paid for the Stage and Musicians’
Although 'Scoob!: Holiday Haunt' has been axed by Warner Bros., its producer has revealed the production is still recording the film score.
variety.com
‘Scoob!: Holiday Haunt’ Producer Reveals Score Being Recorded After Film’s Axing: ‘Already Paid for the Stage and Musicians’
By Thania Garcia
Although Warner Bros. Discovery has officially pulled the plug on release plans for “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt,” a followup to the 2020 animated film “Scoob!,” the film isn’t quite done with work yet. Producer Tony Cervone, who directed the first “Scoob!,” has revealed that the production is still recording the film’s score, despite the official cancellation.
On Saturday, Cervone shared a photo of his team working in a recording studio on Instagram.
“So what do you do when the movie is canceled, but you’ve already paid for the stage and the musicians?” Cervone wrote in the caption. “You record the damn score!”
Although recording a score for a film that will not be released isn’t exactly an ordinary practice, axing a film after the bulk of its production has already been completed — which was the case around “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt,” according to reports — isn’t ordinary either.
Last Tuesday, Hollywood was rocked after Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt” along with “Batgirl” (a feature film adaptation of the DC Comics character) would no longer be released, either theatrically or on HBO Max. Both productions were conceived as original programming for the streamer and were eyeing release dates later this year.
“Holiday Haunt” was being directed by Bill Haller and Michael Kurinsky, while Dara Taylor (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” “The Tender Bar”) was credited as the film’s composer. Producer and co-writer Cervone confirmed the cancellation on Instagram.
“Yes I am afraid this is true,” he wrote. “The movie is practically finished and turned out beautifully. I am beyond heartbroken.”
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was quoted addressing the controversial decision to throw out “Batgirl” during a company earnings call later last week, saying, “we’re not going to put a movie out unless we believe in it.”
“Batgirl” was set to star Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl), with “Bad Boys for Life” and “Ms. Marvel” directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah at the helm. The production was approved back in 2021 as part of a company-wide effort at Warner Bros. to generate feature films for HBO Max. The film had already completed principal photography and was beginning test screenings.
The move to chop “Batgirl” and “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt” comes as Warner Bros. Discovery has re-adjusted the company to focus on theatrical features.
“Scoob!: Holiday Haunt” was slated for release on HBO Max on Dec. 22. The film reportedly cost around $40 million to make. The company will reportedly look to take a tax write-off on the incomplete production.
“Holiday Haunt” would’ve starred the voice of Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo, alongside Iain Armitage, Ariana Greenblatt, Pierce Gagnon, Mckenna Grace, Michael McKean, Mark Hamill, Andre Braugher and Jim Meskimen.
fuck that take the free money and bounce..
I understand
i get it though.. i'd probably wan't to hear what i worked so hard on...
HBO Max’s Latest Change Is One Most Users Might Not Notice
Finally, some much-needed maintenance.
www.vulture.com
HBO Max’s Latest Change Is One Most Users Might Not Notice
By Eric Vilas-Boas@e_vb_
HBO Max is no longer the streaming service you once knew — and I don’t say that because its content is disappearing or because it plans to shack up with Discovery+. No, as of today HBO Max is now literally based on a bedrock of new technology compared to what it had under the hood a year ago: The service announced that it’s pushed out its final updates in its plan to overhaul its back end, initiated in 2021 following a bad reputation of crashes and customer complaints. The update isn’t a drastic makeover — HBO Max still looks like HBO Max — but it improves stability across devices and adds a smattering of features that were previously unavailable.
Here are the big changes, according to the company’s announcement:
• Shuffle button functionality expanded to mobile devices — previously only available on the desktop and connected TVs
• SharePlay support for iPhone and iPad users (in the U.S.) to sync watching with friends and family while on FaceTime calls.
• A dedicated home for downloaded content
• Tablet support for landscape and portrait orientations
• An enhanced screen-reader experience with new navigation elements and functionality
• The ability to split screens with other apps on behavior-supported mobile devices
• Updated navigation overall
• Refinements to visual design
• Chromecast stability improvements
Doing this so-called “replatforming” thing while the app is live is a challenge, but it’s important. Longtime HBO subscribers probably remember how disastrous the earlier days of HBO Go were, when one episode premiere of Game of Thrones could grind millions of screens to a halt and cause mass fandom hysteria. Sarah Lyons, a former product executive with HBO Max who worked on the overhaul, likened the process to “changing the engine of the plane while flying the plane” in April. The company made sure to have the updates done just in time for the release of prequel series House of the Dragon on August 21. It also undoubtedly dovetails with Warner Bros. Discovery’s long-term strategy of merging Discovery+ and HBO Max, which is on the books for summer 2023. Before The Sopranos and 90 Day Fiancé go head to head, HBO Max will at least run a little more smoothly.
Batgirl Test Screening Score Was Same As Black Adam's First Cut
BYSARAH LAUDENBACH
PUBLISHED 4 DAYS AGO
Batgirl, the DC film scrapped because of low test screening scores, had the same score as the upcoming Black Adam - which is still getting released.
Batgirl's test screening score was reportedly the same as the first cut of Black Adam. Batgirl was a DC film expected to be released sometime in late 2022, starring Leslie Grace in the title role alongside major name likes J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, and Michael Keaton. Black Adam, an upcoming addition to the DC Universe, is a feature film starring Dwayne Johnson that is scheduled to premiere on October 21, 2022.
Batgirl began development in March of 2017, with Joss Whedon at the helm. However, Whedon left the project a year later, and Christina Hodson was brought on to write a new script for the film in April of 2018. In May of 2021, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were hired to direct the film, when it was also announced that Batgirl would premiere on HBO Max. Casting and filming quickly followed this announcement, and by March of 2022, filming was complete. On August 2, 2022, DC and HBO Max's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced that even though Batgirl was close to completion, they had no intention of releasing it. WB Discovery reportedly blamed poor test screenings and reception, and decided that rather than sinking money into reshoots, they would simply shelve the project completely.
Now, film reporters Erik Davis and Umberto Gonzalez have claimed that Batgirl's test screening score - the score so poor that WB Discovery decided to scrap the project - was the same as the director's cut of Black Adam. While the scores were the same, Batgirl was shelved, but Black Adam has gone on to have a full theatrical release. Read Davis and Gonzalez's comment below:
Since the announcement of Batgirl's cancellation, it's been reported that the initial cut of the film that was shown had incomplete VFX work and a temp score, and still managed to test in the 60s. While this isn't a phenomenal score, it isn't uncommon for first screenings of films to score low - the 2017 horror phenomenon It tested in the 60s as well, and the film went on to become the 5th highest-grossing R-rated film in history. Batgirl also reportedly tested the same as Shazam! Fury of the Gods, another DC project which is still set to have a full theatrical release.
Although WB Discovery claimed they decided to scrap Batgirl because of its test scores, the film testing in the 60s is fairly normal. Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods both tested at the same score, and not only have they not been canceled, but they're getting a full theatrical release. Even if Batgirl did go on to be released, it would have only appeared on HBO Max anyway. The film's cancellation has led to big concerns over future DCEU movies receiving the same treatment, and with DC having just promised a 10-year plan styled after Marvel's MCU, it's unclear what other projects might get the Batgirl ax.
HBO Max's 45-Day Theatrical to Streaming Window Is No Longer Warner Bros. Policy
BYEMILY ZOGBI
PUBLISHED 6 DAYS AGO
Warner Bros. will now decide when to send its theatrical releases to stream on HBO Max on a case-by-case basis, ending the strict 45-day window.
Warner Bros. movies are no longer guaranteed to make their way onto HBO Max after a strict 45-day theatrical release window.
It was initially the plan for Warner Bros. to send all of its films to HBO Max in 2022 after 45 days in theaters. However, as reported by Decider, sources state that Warner Bros. will now decide when when these films will be sent to streaming on a "case-by-case basis."
It was announced in July 2021 that Warner Bros. would be sending at least 10 movies to HBO Max in 2022 and that feature films from the studio would drop on the streamer after 45 days exclusively available in theaters. Warner Bros. However, news of this change in the release window comes after Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav, who stepped into the role in April, revealed that the company would be increasing its budget for HBO Max in order to produce new series and content.
"Quality is what matters," Zaslav said. "Quality is what [Chief Content Officer] Casey [Bloys] and that team is delivering. It’s the best team in the business. We’re doubling down on that HBO team. They’re all committed under contract and we’re going to spend dramatically more this year and next year than we spent last year in the year before."
It was also revealed during Warner Bros. Discovery's Q2 earnings call on Aug 4. that the company would be merging HBO Max and discovery+ into a combined streaming service by summer 2023. Overall, the age of Warner Bros.'s day-and-date releases on HBO Max from 2021, and its theatrical-to-streaming release schedule for 2022, appears to be grinding to a halt.
"Our strategy is to embrace and support and then drive the incredible success that HBO Max is having," Zaslav said. "It’s really to the culture and the taste of Casey and the team and the fact that they not only read the scripts, but they fight with all the creatives to make the content and storytelling as strong as possible. It’s at a very unique moment. We think it’s an extraordinary asset, an extraordinary advantage."
Warner Bros. sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry when the company opted to shelve both Scoob! Holiday Haunt and its upcoming DC film Batgirl, which would have premiered exclusively on HBO Max. At the time of its cancellation, Batgirl was estimated to have cost between $70 and $100 million. According to inside sources at the studio, the decision to scrap Batgirl was "not driven by the quality of the film or the commitment of the filmmakers, but by the desire for the studio’s slate of DC features to be at a blockbuster scale." Zaslav indicated that part of the reasoning behind Batgirl's cancellation was to "protect the DC brand."
BYEMILY ZOGBI
PUBLISHED 6 DAYS AGO
Warner Bros. will now decide when to send its theatrical releases to stream on HBO Max on a case-by-case basis, ending the strict 45-day window.
Warner Bros. movies are no longer guaranteed to make their way onto HBO Max after a strict 45-day theatrical release window.
It was initially the plan for Warner Bros. to send all of its films to HBO Max in 2022 after 45 days in theaters. However, as reported by Decider, sources state that Warner Bros. will now decide when when these films will be sent to streaming on a "case-by-case basis."
It was announced in July 2021 that Warner Bros. would be sending at least 10 movies to HBO Max in 2022 and that feature films from the studio would drop on the streamer after 45 days exclusively available in theaters. Warner Bros. However, news of this change in the release window comes after Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav, who stepped into the role in April, revealed that the company would be increasing its budget for HBO Max in order to produce new series and content.
"Quality is what matters," Zaslav said. "Quality is what [Chief Content Officer] Casey [Bloys] and that team is delivering. It’s the best team in the business. We’re doubling down on that HBO team. They’re all committed under contract and we’re going to spend dramatically more this year and next year than we spent last year in the year before."
It was also revealed during Warner Bros. Discovery's Q2 earnings call on Aug 4. that the company would be merging HBO Max and discovery+ into a combined streaming service by summer 2023. Overall, the age of Warner Bros.'s day-and-date releases on HBO Max from 2021, and its theatrical-to-streaming release schedule for 2022, appears to be grinding to a halt.
"Our strategy is to embrace and support and then drive the incredible success that HBO Max is having," Zaslav said. "It’s really to the culture and the taste of Casey and the team and the fact that they not only read the scripts, but they fight with all the creatives to make the content and storytelling as strong as possible. It’s at a very unique moment. We think it’s an extraordinary asset, an extraordinary advantage."
Warner Bros. sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry when the company opted to shelve both Scoob! Holiday Haunt and its upcoming DC film Batgirl, which would have premiered exclusively on HBO Max. At the time of its cancellation, Batgirl was estimated to have cost between $70 and $100 million. According to inside sources at the studio, the decision to scrap Batgirl was "not driven by the quality of the film or the commitment of the filmmakers, but by the desire for the studio’s slate of DC features to be at a blockbuster scale." Zaslav indicated that part of the reasoning behind Batgirl's cancellation was to "protect the DC brand."
@ViCiouS is family like fo real
I got cousins of mine who think this man still walks on water because he so real.
So it truly hurts to write this.
This man is an imposter
This man is the mole
I actually have friends who work at wb and will be making calls.
He slipped up tripped up got high on his own supply and exposed himself
You can't hit the target this many times can't be right this many times unless the game is rigged.
I apologize bgol for assisting in this charade.
Now that being said?
Yo hook a brother up with a free subscription, what you doing bro?
I got cousins of mine who think this man still walks on water because he so real.
So it truly hurts to write this.
This man is an imposter
This man is the mole
I actually have friends who work at wb and will be making calls.
He slipped up tripped up got high on his own supply and exposed himself
You can't hit the target this many times can't be right this many times unless the game is rigged.
I apologize bgol for assisting in this charade.
Now that being said?
Yo hook a brother up with a free subscription, what you doing bro?
@ViCiouS
WTF IS GOING ON WITH YA MANS???!!!
HBO/HBO Max Layoffs Hit Max Reality, Acquisitions, Casting & Int’l; Amy Gravitt & Sarah Aubrey Get New Duties In Reorg
By Nellie Andreeva
Nellie Andreeva
Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV
@DeadlineNellieMore Stories By Nellie
August 15, 2022 10:20am
The dreaded post-merger Warner Bros Discovery layoffs have reached the programming operation overseen by HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys.
Overall, 14% of staff — about 70 people — are being laid off Monday, the vast majority of them on the Max side. That includes in Max Non-Fiction Originals, International, Acquisitions, Casting and previously reported Live-Action Family Originals, which are all being either scaled back significantly or essentially eliminated, leading to the departure of the bulk of the the staffs, led by Jennifer O’Connell EVP, Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals for HBO Max; Jennifer Kim, SVP, International Originals for HBO Max; Michael Quigley, EVP of Content Acquisitions at HBO Max; and Linda Lowy, EVP Casting for WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV.
I hear the layoffs are being done via video conferences this morning. The cuts are part of WBD leadership’s pledge to find at least $3 billion in savings.
(L-R) Amy Gravitt and Sarah AubreyCourtesy of Amy Gravitt/WarnerMedia
Despite incessant rumors about HBO Max’s scripted team, its leadership under Bloys remains virtually intact — albeit with some responsibility changes — with all executives who have reported to Bloys staying put and continuing to do so (except for O’Connell, who had a dual unscripted/scripted role).
HBO’s longtime head of comedy, EVP Programming Amy Gravitt, is also taking oversight of original comedy for HBO Max as the two groups are being combined.
The move was foreshadowed a few weeks ago when word got out that Gravitt had started taking Max comedy pitches. Suzanna Makkos, who had been running comedy for HBO Max, most recently EVP Original Comedy and Animation for HBO Max and Adult Swim, will stay on, reporting to Gravitt.
Makkos had been reporting to HBO Max’s Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey, who also is staying on. The veteran development executive, who comes from an extensive drama background, will continue to oversee Max Original dramas and will add a new international programming role, working with the WBD International team, led by Gerhard Zeiler, to get the programming groups internationally to be coordinated country by country.
I hear the rationale behind merging HBO and Max’s comedy departments is that there is more overlap in comedy between the two brands than there is in drama. That is exemplified by Max comedies like Hacks and, of course, Sex and the City follow-up And Just Like That…, that would fit fine on HBO proper.
John Cena in “Peacemaker”HBO Max
The divergence is bigger in drama. where Max has been going for broader, pop culture content. Aubrey’s focus going forward will be on big, largely IP-based tentpoles. (Joey Chavez remains as EVP Programming and lead for Max Originals drama, reporting to Aubrey.) That includes high-profile DC series The Peacemaker and the upcoming The Penguin and Green Lantern, which are all moving along, as well as another upcoming series, Dune, which is now casting, and an It series adaptation, which is in fast-track development. In addition to The Peacemaker, Max has had success with dramas based on WB series IP including Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl.
Over the past month, there also have been rampant rumors that Max’s scripted slate is getting gutted, with scores of shows canceled and development reevaluated or even slashed. I hear a number of third-party projects in development have been released recently but there are no major changes planned for the in-house/Warner Bros. TV-produced scripted slate outside the recently announced kids and family programming pullout.
WBD’s commitment to Max’s original programming was stressed recently by WBD CEO David Zaslav during the company’s quarterly earnings call where he also confirmed that Bloys’ team is staying put.
“Quality is what matters. Quality is what Casey and that team is delivering. It’s the best team in the business. We’re doubling down on that HBO team,” Zaslav said. “They’re all committed under contract and we’re going to spend dramatically more this year and next year than we spent last year in the year before.”
He later added, “The majority of the people on Casey’s team have been locked up.”
The cuts of Max Original reality, International, Acquisitions and Casting are not surprising. With the pending merger of HBO Max and non-fiction Discovery+ into one platform, HBO Max had already paused new development of unscripted series. O’Connell’s other area at HBO Max and Live-Action Family Originals also recently was put on hold.
Going forward, existing Max unscripted series will continue or premiere as planned and, if they are performing well, will stay on. There will just be no new development in light of the large volume of non-fiction fare that will come from Discovery+ when the two services are merged next summer.
HBO Max’s “Selena + Chef”HBO Max
HBO Max’s reality slate includes shows such as Selena + Chef, which has been renewed for a fourth season; FBoy Island, which is airing its second season; and Legendary, which recently premiered its third season. The move will be a blow for the unscripted community as HBO Max was known to pay between $1.5 million-$2 million per episode of some of its unscripted shows, well above Discovery’s usual tariffs, which generally go as high as around $500,000 per hour.
The elimination of the HBO Max casting department syncs up the streamer with HBO proper, which has never had an in-house casting department and instead has been using casting directors on individual shows.
The situation is similar with the phasing out of Max’s international group. The HBO’s drama and comedy departments had been forging their own co-productions on series like I May Destroy You and Years and Years, something that would likely be duplicated on the Max side.
The downsizing of HBO/Max acquisition team, which has been making library deals, comes amid a collapse of the Pay 1 window in the new age of vertically integrated movie studios largely supplying their streaming platforms, and a dwindling of third-party series library sales for the same reason. The last big Pay 1 pact for HBO/Max, a 10-year agreement with 20th Century, which was recently restructured to include 20th Century and Searchlight movies being shared with Disney’s Disney+ and Hulu, is set to expire with the new Avatar movie in 2023. On the TV side, South Park is a rare non-Warner Bros. TV-produced series whose library was snatched by HBO Max; it is slated to move to its corporate streamer, Paramount+, in 2025.
The moves further dismantle the Max structure as a stand-alone entity with its own infrastructure built under Kevin Reilly. The process started soon after HBO’s Bloys added Max’s content operation to his purview in 2020 with the shutting down of Warner Max, a movie label launched by the previous regime to supply mid-budget films exclusively for the streamer.
At HBO, isolated layoffs are expected in programming, production and BA.
WTF IS GOING ON WITH YA MANS???!!!
HBO/HBO Max Layoffs Hit Max Reality, Acquisitions, Casting & Int’l; Amy Gravitt & Sarah Aubrey Get New Duties In Reorg
By Nellie Andreeva
Nellie Andreeva
Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV
@DeadlineNellieMore Stories By Nellie
- HBO/HBO Max Layoffs Hit Max Reality, Acquisitions, Casting & Int’l; Amy Gravitt & Sarah Aubrey Get New Duties In Reorg
- Anne Heche Taken Off Life Support: ‘Six Days, Seven Nights’ Actress Was 53
- Anne Heche Had Been Eyed By ‘The Masked Singer’ Before Her Crash
August 15, 2022 10:20am
The dreaded post-merger Warner Bros Discovery layoffs have reached the programming operation overseen by HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys.
Overall, 14% of staff — about 70 people — are being laid off Monday, the vast majority of them on the Max side. That includes in Max Non-Fiction Originals, International, Acquisitions, Casting and previously reported Live-Action Family Originals, which are all being either scaled back significantly or essentially eliminated, leading to the departure of the bulk of the the staffs, led by Jennifer O’Connell EVP, Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals for HBO Max; Jennifer Kim, SVP, International Originals for HBO Max; Michael Quigley, EVP of Content Acquisitions at HBO Max; and Linda Lowy, EVP Casting for WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV.
I hear the layoffs are being done via video conferences this morning. The cuts are part of WBD leadership’s pledge to find at least $3 billion in savings.
(L-R) Amy Gravitt and Sarah AubreyCourtesy of Amy Gravitt/WarnerMedia
Despite incessant rumors about HBO Max’s scripted team, its leadership under Bloys remains virtually intact — albeit with some responsibility changes — with all executives who have reported to Bloys staying put and continuing to do so (except for O’Connell, who had a dual unscripted/scripted role).
HBO’s longtime head of comedy, EVP Programming Amy Gravitt, is also taking oversight of original comedy for HBO Max as the two groups are being combined.
The move was foreshadowed a few weeks ago when word got out that Gravitt had started taking Max comedy pitches. Suzanna Makkos, who had been running comedy for HBO Max, most recently EVP Original Comedy and Animation for HBO Max and Adult Swim, will stay on, reporting to Gravitt.
Makkos had been reporting to HBO Max’s Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey, who also is staying on. The veteran development executive, who comes from an extensive drama background, will continue to oversee Max Original dramas and will add a new international programming role, working with the WBD International team, led by Gerhard Zeiler, to get the programming groups internationally to be coordinated country by country.
I hear the rationale behind merging HBO and Max’s comedy departments is that there is more overlap in comedy between the two brands than there is in drama. That is exemplified by Max comedies like Hacks and, of course, Sex and the City follow-up And Just Like That…, that would fit fine on HBO proper.
John Cena in “Peacemaker”HBO Max
The divergence is bigger in drama. where Max has been going for broader, pop culture content. Aubrey’s focus going forward will be on big, largely IP-based tentpoles. (Joey Chavez remains as EVP Programming and lead for Max Originals drama, reporting to Aubrey.) That includes high-profile DC series The Peacemaker and the upcoming The Penguin and Green Lantern, which are all moving along, as well as another upcoming series, Dune, which is now casting, and an It series adaptation, which is in fast-track development. In addition to The Peacemaker, Max has had success with dramas based on WB series IP including Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl.
Over the past month, there also have been rampant rumors that Max’s scripted slate is getting gutted, with scores of shows canceled and development reevaluated or even slashed. I hear a number of third-party projects in development have been released recently but there are no major changes planned for the in-house/Warner Bros. TV-produced scripted slate outside the recently announced kids and family programming pullout.
WBD’s commitment to Max’s original programming was stressed recently by WBD CEO David Zaslav during the company’s quarterly earnings call where he also confirmed that Bloys’ team is staying put.
“Quality is what matters. Quality is what Casey and that team is delivering. It’s the best team in the business. We’re doubling down on that HBO team,” Zaslav said. “They’re all committed under contract and we’re going to spend dramatically more this year and next year than we spent last year in the year before.”
He later added, “The majority of the people on Casey’s team have been locked up.”
The cuts of Max Original reality, International, Acquisitions and Casting are not surprising. With the pending merger of HBO Max and non-fiction Discovery+ into one platform, HBO Max had already paused new development of unscripted series. O’Connell’s other area at HBO Max and Live-Action Family Originals also recently was put on hold.
Going forward, existing Max unscripted series will continue or premiere as planned and, if they are performing well, will stay on. There will just be no new development in light of the large volume of non-fiction fare that will come from Discovery+ when the two services are merged next summer.
HBO Max’s “Selena + Chef”HBO Max
HBO Max’s reality slate includes shows such as Selena + Chef, which has been renewed for a fourth season; FBoy Island, which is airing its second season; and Legendary, which recently premiered its third season. The move will be a blow for the unscripted community as HBO Max was known to pay between $1.5 million-$2 million per episode of some of its unscripted shows, well above Discovery’s usual tariffs, which generally go as high as around $500,000 per hour.
The elimination of the HBO Max casting department syncs up the streamer with HBO proper, which has never had an in-house casting department and instead has been using casting directors on individual shows.
The situation is similar with the phasing out of Max’s international group. The HBO’s drama and comedy departments had been forging their own co-productions on series like I May Destroy You and Years and Years, something that would likely be duplicated on the Max side.
The downsizing of HBO/Max acquisition team, which has been making library deals, comes amid a collapse of the Pay 1 window in the new age of vertically integrated movie studios largely supplying their streaming platforms, and a dwindling of third-party series library sales for the same reason. The last big Pay 1 pact for HBO/Max, a 10-year agreement with 20th Century, which was recently restructured to include 20th Century and Searchlight movies being shared with Disney’s Disney+ and Hulu, is set to expire with the new Avatar movie in 2023. On the TV side, South Park is a rare non-Warner Bros. TV-produced series whose library was snatched by HBO Max; it is slated to move to its corporate streamer, Paramount+, in 2025.
The moves further dismantle the Max structure as a stand-alone entity with its own infrastructure built under Kevin Reilly. The process started soon after HBO’s Bloys added Max’s content operation to his purview in 2020 with the shutting down of Warner Max, a movie label launched by the previous regime to supply mid-budget films exclusively for the streamer.
At HBO, isolated layoffs are expected in programming, production and BA.
Warner Bros Forms Multi-Year Pact To Distribute MGM Movies Overseas Beginning With ‘Bones And All’, ‘Creed III’; How Bond Will Be Handled
By Anthony D'Alessandro
Anthony D'Alessandro
Editorial Director/Box Office Editor
@AwardsTonyMore Stories By Anthony
August 14, 2022 2:03pm
Warner Bros. / MGM
EXCLUSIVE: Two months into their run as Warner Bros Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, have hammered out a multi-year deal to handle the international distribution of MGM’s theatrical titles, commencing with Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All in November and continuing with the 2023 slate and beyond; the second title under the pact being Creed III in March.
The deal, which De Luca and Abdy worked out with MGM COO Christopher Brearton, will deliver a great deal of incremental revenue to Warner Bros. I hear the terms are three years with an option for two and encompasses the theatrical distribution of MGM titles outside of the U.S. including China. The new agreement also includes worldwide physical home entertainment distribution on all newly released MGM titles. MGM and Warner Bros. Picture Group will team on marketing/advertising, publicity, film distribution and exhibitor relations on behalf of MGM’s future slate of theatrical releases outside the North American theatrical market, with Warner Bros responsible for execution.
RELATED STORY
Wanda Sykes To Host Syndicated Viral Video Show Featuring Ring Doorbell Technology From MGM
Previously, MGM titles were released overseas by Universal, and under the terms of the studio’s old deal, Eon’s Bond 26 will be released by Uni International, in addition to the Broccoli studio’s upcoming Orion Pictures release Till and Sarah Polley’s Women Talking during Q1 2023. After Sony distributed the majority of the Daniel Craig 007 franchise through four titles, Universal released the final one overseas with the actor, No Time to Die, which grossed $613.2M. MGM released that film stateside where it made another $160.8M for a grand global total of $774.1M.
MGM
The terms of the new Warner Bros. agreement with MGM include the foreign distribution of subsequent 007 films from Bond 27 onward.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with the team at Warner Bros. to bring MGM’s slate of future releases to international audiences. The studio’s slate of original, franchise and prestige theatrical films are a great addition to the lineup of movies that WBD is bringing to audience outside of the U.S.,” said MGM’s Brearton.
“Warner Bros. and MGM have a long and really successful history of working together, and we’re glad that our companies are back in partnership,” said De Luca and Abdy. “Our studios and executives share a commitment and passion for bringing high quality films of all genres to global audiences, so this is a win for moviegoers and the movie business overall.”
Warner Bros. International is overseen by Andrew Cripps.
Bones and All is receiving its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The pic stars Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, André Holland, Chloë Sevigny, David Gordon-Green, Jessica Harper, Jake Horowitz, and Mark Rylance. The pic, written by Dave Kajganich, and based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis, follows the first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothée Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter. They meet and join together for a thousand-mile odyssey which takes them through the back roads, hidden passages and trap doors of Ronald Reagan’s America. But despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and to a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness. Guadagnino directs and produces alongside Theresa Park, Marco Morabito, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Kajganich, Lorenzo Mieli, Gabriele Moratti, Peter Spears, and Chalamet. EPs are Giovanni Corrado, Raffaella Viscardi, Moreno Zani, Marco Colombo, Jonathan Montepare. Bones and All opens wide via United Artists Releasing stateside on Nov. 23.
Everett
Warner Bros. handled domestic on the first Creed from MGM, while MGM/UAR released Creed II. Combined the first two Creed movies starring Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky boxer Apollo Creed, have reaped $388M at the global box office. Jordan is directing Creed III and will star alongside Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Mila Kent, Jose Benavidez, Selenis Leyva, Florian Munteanu, Tony Bellew, Jacob Duran, Patrice Harris, Ann Najjar, Thadeus J. Mixson, and Spencer Moore II. Outlier Society are also producers on Creed III, in addition to Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Elizabeth Raposo, Sylvester Stallone, Jonathan Glickman, and Ryan Coogler. Creed III is written by Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin, and Ryan Coogler. Pic’s EPs are Nicolas Stern, Zinzi Evans, Adam Rosenberg, and Sev Ohanian. Creed III opens on March 3.
By Anthony D'Alessandro
Anthony D'Alessandro
Editorial Director/Box Office Editor
@AwardsTonyMore Stories By Anthony
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August 14, 2022 2:03pm
Warner Bros. / MGM
EXCLUSIVE: Two months into their run as Warner Bros Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, have hammered out a multi-year deal to handle the international distribution of MGM’s theatrical titles, commencing with Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All in November and continuing with the 2023 slate and beyond; the second title under the pact being Creed III in March.
The deal, which De Luca and Abdy worked out with MGM COO Christopher Brearton, will deliver a great deal of incremental revenue to Warner Bros. I hear the terms are three years with an option for two and encompasses the theatrical distribution of MGM titles outside of the U.S. including China. The new agreement also includes worldwide physical home entertainment distribution on all newly released MGM titles. MGM and Warner Bros. Picture Group will team on marketing/advertising, publicity, film distribution and exhibitor relations on behalf of MGM’s future slate of theatrical releases outside the North American theatrical market, with Warner Bros responsible for execution.
RELATED STORY
Wanda Sykes To Host Syndicated Viral Video Show Featuring Ring Doorbell Technology From MGM
Previously, MGM titles were released overseas by Universal, and under the terms of the studio’s old deal, Eon’s Bond 26 will be released by Uni International, in addition to the Broccoli studio’s upcoming Orion Pictures release Till and Sarah Polley’s Women Talking during Q1 2023. After Sony distributed the majority of the Daniel Craig 007 franchise through four titles, Universal released the final one overseas with the actor, No Time to Die, which grossed $613.2M. MGM released that film stateside where it made another $160.8M for a grand global total of $774.1M.
MGM
The terms of the new Warner Bros. agreement with MGM include the foreign distribution of subsequent 007 films from Bond 27 onward.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with the team at Warner Bros. to bring MGM’s slate of future releases to international audiences. The studio’s slate of original, franchise and prestige theatrical films are a great addition to the lineup of movies that WBD is bringing to audience outside of the U.S.,” said MGM’s Brearton.
“Warner Bros. and MGM have a long and really successful history of working together, and we’re glad that our companies are back in partnership,” said De Luca and Abdy. “Our studios and executives share a commitment and passion for bringing high quality films of all genres to global audiences, so this is a win for moviegoers and the movie business overall.”
Warner Bros. International is overseen by Andrew Cripps.
Bones and All is receiving its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The pic stars Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, André Holland, Chloë Sevigny, David Gordon-Green, Jessica Harper, Jake Horowitz, and Mark Rylance. The pic, written by Dave Kajganich, and based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis, follows the first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothée Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter. They meet and join together for a thousand-mile odyssey which takes them through the back roads, hidden passages and trap doors of Ronald Reagan’s America. But despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and to a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness. Guadagnino directs and produces alongside Theresa Park, Marco Morabito, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Kajganich, Lorenzo Mieli, Gabriele Moratti, Peter Spears, and Chalamet. EPs are Giovanni Corrado, Raffaella Viscardi, Moreno Zani, Marco Colombo, Jonathan Montepare. Bones and All opens wide via United Artists Releasing stateside on Nov. 23.
Everett
Warner Bros. handled domestic on the first Creed from MGM, while MGM/UAR released Creed II. Combined the first two Creed movies starring Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky boxer Apollo Creed, have reaped $388M at the global box office. Jordan is directing Creed III and will star alongside Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Mila Kent, Jose Benavidez, Selenis Leyva, Florian Munteanu, Tony Bellew, Jacob Duran, Patrice Harris, Ann Najjar, Thadeus J. Mixson, and Spencer Moore II. Outlier Society are also producers on Creed III, in addition to Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Elizabeth Raposo, Sylvester Stallone, Jonathan Glickman, and Ryan Coogler. Creed III is written by Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin, and Ryan Coogler. Pic’s EPs are Nicolas Stern, Zinzi Evans, Adam Rosenberg, and Sev Ohanian. Creed III opens on March 3.
HBO AXE’D 2:25 P.M.
The HBO Max Layoffs Have Started
By Josef Adalian
Illustration: Martin Gee
An expected wave of substantial layoffs has started crashing through Warner Bros. Discovery, with HBO Max, overseen by chief content officer Casey Bloys, losing around 70 staffers Monday — about 14 percent of its team. As speculated in numerous publications, the streamer’s reality and live-action family-originals divisions will be all but eliminated as part of a restructuring spurred by the cost-cutting moves. But as Vulture first reported last week, Max head of original content Sarah Aubrey is staying with the platform and will continue working on a robust content slate, though her portfolio will evolve to focus on dramas and international programming.
Introducing Into It with Sam Sanders, Vulture’s new culture podcast.
LISTEN NOW
From the moment Discovery Networks announced its plan to acquire the former WarnerMedia, industry insiders have been predicting substantial layoffs as a result of overlapping divisions within the two companies. That became even more likely last spring, when the newly formed company announced it was planning to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single platform. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s stated intention to slash more than $3 billion in spending has only intensified the pressure to make staff cuts, and the result has been months of speculation about which departments would get hit hardest.
Because Discovery is a leader in unscripted series — and Discovery+ is hyperfocused on reality shows — HBO Max’s unscripted unit has long been expected to basically disappear, and that’s essentially what is happening as of today. While the type of reality programming HBO Max made under unscripted chief Jen O’Connell (Legendary, FBoy Island) is different from what’s on Discovery+, company brass likely decided the platform didn’t need two sets of development execs. (Current unscripted shows, including ones in production that haven’t premiered yet, will not be immediately impacted by today’s moves.) The decision to dismantle the live-action young-adult team, meanwhile, seems driven more by pure cost cutting and the fact that HBO historically has never been hyperfocused on family comedies and dramas (though it does serve younger viewers with Sesame Street and shows from the Cartoon Network).
There will be one big change to Aubrey’s role at HBO Max: She will lose oversight of Max original comedies while taking on shared supervision of international programming in conjunction with the Warner Bros. Discovery International team. While HBO Max executive VP of content Joey Chavez is staying on and will continue to work on drama with Aubrey, veteran comedy exec Suzanna Makkos will now be part of the HBO comedy team overseen by HBO executive VP Amy Gravitt. Given how similar HBO and HBO Max comedies have been since Max’s 2020 launch, the moves are unlikely to result in major changes to what appears on the platform. Warner Bros. Discovery execs have gone out of their way in recent weeks to rebut reports predicting a substantial reduction in HBO Max scripted programming, and the fact that Aubrey, Chavez, and Makkos are staying would seem to counter the narrative that the streamer is getting ready to substantially scale back its scripted offerings.
Other changes in the HBO Max team will mostly affect support departments. The HBO Max casting unit, for example, is being eliminated, with casting directors for individual shows now charged with finding their own talent. That mirrors the way HBO proper has operated for years. And with most studios in Hollywood keeping the biggest assets in their content libraries for themselves — particularly the first windows for theatrical presentations — HBO Max’s content-acquisition team is being scaled back and will focus on maintaining existing output deals.
The HBO Max Layoffs Have Started
By Josef Adalian
Illustration: Martin Gee
An expected wave of substantial layoffs has started crashing through Warner Bros. Discovery, with HBO Max, overseen by chief content officer Casey Bloys, losing around 70 staffers Monday — about 14 percent of its team. As speculated in numerous publications, the streamer’s reality and live-action family-originals divisions will be all but eliminated as part of a restructuring spurred by the cost-cutting moves. But as Vulture first reported last week, Max head of original content Sarah Aubrey is staying with the platform and will continue working on a robust content slate, though her portfolio will evolve to focus on dramas and international programming.
Introducing Into It with Sam Sanders, Vulture’s new culture podcast.
LISTEN NOW
From the moment Discovery Networks announced its plan to acquire the former WarnerMedia, industry insiders have been predicting substantial layoffs as a result of overlapping divisions within the two companies. That became even more likely last spring, when the newly formed company announced it was planning to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single platform. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s stated intention to slash more than $3 billion in spending has only intensified the pressure to make staff cuts, and the result has been months of speculation about which departments would get hit hardest.
Because Discovery is a leader in unscripted series — and Discovery+ is hyperfocused on reality shows — HBO Max’s unscripted unit has long been expected to basically disappear, and that’s essentially what is happening as of today. While the type of reality programming HBO Max made under unscripted chief Jen O’Connell (Legendary, FBoy Island) is different from what’s on Discovery+, company brass likely decided the platform didn’t need two sets of development execs. (Current unscripted shows, including ones in production that haven’t premiered yet, will not be immediately impacted by today’s moves.) The decision to dismantle the live-action young-adult team, meanwhile, seems driven more by pure cost cutting and the fact that HBO historically has never been hyperfocused on family comedies and dramas (though it does serve younger viewers with Sesame Street and shows from the Cartoon Network).
There will be one big change to Aubrey’s role at HBO Max: She will lose oversight of Max original comedies while taking on shared supervision of international programming in conjunction with the Warner Bros. Discovery International team. While HBO Max executive VP of content Joey Chavez is staying on and will continue to work on drama with Aubrey, veteran comedy exec Suzanna Makkos will now be part of the HBO comedy team overseen by HBO executive VP Amy Gravitt. Given how similar HBO and HBO Max comedies have been since Max’s 2020 launch, the moves are unlikely to result in major changes to what appears on the platform. Warner Bros. Discovery execs have gone out of their way in recent weeks to rebut reports predicting a substantial reduction in HBO Max scripted programming, and the fact that Aubrey, Chavez, and Makkos are staying would seem to counter the narrative that the streamer is getting ready to substantially scale back its scripted offerings.
Other changes in the HBO Max team will mostly affect support departments. The HBO Max casting unit, for example, is being eliminated, with casting directors for individual shows now charged with finding their own talent. That mirrors the way HBO proper has operated for years. And with most studios in Hollywood keeping the biggest assets in their content libraries for themselves — particularly the first windows for theatrical presentations — HBO Max’s content-acquisition team is being scaled back and will focus on maintaining existing output deals.
I co sign anything de Niro so am too biased to fairly critique this decision
But I still think one day Batgirl will leak and the movie will be shown to be fine
Its fucking Robert De Niro. You dumbfucks.