Leadership Changes Looming at Warner Bros. Discovery
David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is reportedly engaging with potential candidates to succeed film executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy. This information comes from Bloomberg, which cites sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations.
Currently, these discussions are described as being in the early and informal stages. A decision regarding the future of De Luca and Abdy within the company has not yet been finalized. Despite circulating rumors, Warner Bros. spokesperson Robert Gibbs has clarified that “the rumor of an imminent leadership change at the studio is not accurate,”emphasizing a lack of certainty around the situation.
As Warner Bros. prepares for the CinemaCon event—an annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas—both De Luca and Abdy are expected to unveil the studio’s upcoming film slate on Tuesday evening. This forthcoming presentation offers a platform for them during a time when their leadership has been scrutinized, particularly in light of several high-profile box office failures, including Joker: Folie à Deux and Mickey 17. It is noteworthy that many of these projects were initiated before De Luca and Abdy took command in June 2022.
Looking ahead, Minecraft, touted as De Luca and Abdy’s first major project from inception to release, is projected to perform reasonably well at the box office when it debuts this Friday. Following this, Ryan Coogler’s upcoming film Sinners, acquired after intense competition, features a unique agreement in which the intellectual property rights will revert to the filmmaker after several decades.
Additionally, the studio has experienced setbacks, including the poorly received Alto Knights, which Zaslav himself greenlit, despite doubts among industry experts regarding its commercial viability.
The possible exit of De Luca and Abdy comes at a time of significant change within the upper echelons of film leadership. Notably, Amazon MGM Studios recently surprised the industry with the departure of Jennifer Salke—a shakeup that reflects the ongoing turbulence in Hollywood’s executive landscape.
During their tenure as co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, De Luca and Abdy secured lucrative deals with high-profile talents, including Tom Cruise and Margot Robbie. As the year progresses, Warner Bros. is set to release Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio. Furthermore, they are in the midst of producing Alejandro González Iñárritu’s follow-up to The Revenant, expected to hit theaters in fall 2026. This project, which features Cruise, is the first to emerge under his recent deal with the studio.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. also saw the departure of key figures, including marketing chief Josh Goldstine and international distribution president Andrew Cripps, signaling a period of transition in leadership roles.
Notably, before their time at Warner Bros., both De Luca and Abdy headed the film division at MGM, leaving after Amazon’s acquisition of the studio in 2022. As the industry watches closely, the future of Warner Bros. Discovery’s leadership remains uncertain amidst evolving market dynamics.
Aaron Couch contributed to this report.