The management structure of the new Warner Bros. Discovery is coalescing as Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy have reportedly reached a deal to run Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line according to The Hollywood Reporter.
De Luca and Abdy are exiting their stint in charge at MGM with both expected to be released from their contracts by that studio’s owner Amazon as early as next month. MGM will then aggressively look for new leadership to handle their film slate with former Fox motion pictures boss Emma Watts said to be the favorite.
Toby Emmerich, who has been running Warners and New Line since 2017, will exit that role but is expected to get a production deal.
According to the trade, Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav reportedly consulted with both former Disney CEO Bob Iger and former Disney chairman Alan Horn for advice and is now planning three verticals within his company – Warner Bros.-New Line (under De Luca and Abdy), DC, and Animation.
The report says Zaslav has asked “Joker” director Todd Phillips to do more in the DC universe, potentially acting as an advisor on their films – but will not serve in an executive capacity ala Marvel’s Kevin Feige.
There’s history here – De Luca was president of production at New Line at one time and was ousted in 2001 and replaced with… Toby Emmerich. Horn, who reportedly could return in an advisory capacity, was in charge at Warners but left in 2011 and went on to a highly successful stint at Disney.
Source: THR
