Warner Bros. Discovery held a company-wide town hall on Wednesday, with CEO David Zaslav and his top creative deputies discussing the state of the company, and their vision for the future. Zaslav was joined by HBO chief Casey Bloys, WB film chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy and WB TV topper Channing Dungey.
Zaslav emphasized that he and his team are committed to the long-haul as a “pure play content company,” and is not thinking about dealmaking, despite sale rumors. “We have everything we need to be successful,” he said. “There’s no looking around corners for us. We are completely focused on executing our plan.”
Bloys echoed Zaslav’s sentiment, saying that HBO is in a “good place” creatively and financially. He also announced that HBO will be launching a new streaming app in 2020 that will include both linear and on-demand content. The app will be available to all subscribers, regardless of whether they have a cable or satellite TV package.
De Luca said that Warner Bros. is experiencing a “renaissance” in film, thanks to hits like “Joker” and “IT Chapter Two.” He also revealed that the studio is working on a number of high-profile projects, including a new “Batman” movie, a DC Comics universe film centered on The Joker and Harley Quinn, and a sequel to “The Conjuring.”
Dungey said that Warner Bros. TV is having a “historic year,” thanks to hits like “Riverdale” and “The Big Bang Theory.” She also announced that the studio is working on several new shows, including a reboot of “Party of Five” and a spinoff of “The Walking Dead.”
In conclusion, Zaslav said that Warner Bros. is committed to creating the best content possible for its fans. “We are laser focused on executing our plan and we are not going to be distracted by shiny objects,” he said.
