Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has begun meeting with potential candidates to replace the studio’s film division co-chairs and CEOs, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter. The discussions, described as “early and informal,” signal a possible shake-up at the top of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, though no final decision has been made regarding De Luca and Abdy’s future with the company.
The news arrives on the cusp of CinemaCon, the annual Las Vegas convention of theater owners kicking off Monday, where De Luca and Abdy are slated to unveil Warner Bros.’ upcoming film slate Tuesday night. Despite the timing, Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson Robert Gibbs pushed back against speculation, telling Bloomberg, “The rumor of an imminent leadership change at the studio is not accurate.” The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Warner Bros. for further comment, but no response has been provided as of Sunday evening.
De Luca and Abdy, who took the helm in June 2022 following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, have weathered intense scrutiny amid a string of box-office disappointments, including Joker: Folie à Deux and Mickey 17. While those projects were largely inherited from prior leadership, the duo’s first fully greenlit film, Minecraft, hits theaters Friday and is tracking for solid returns. Next up is Sinners, a Ryan Coogler-directed vampire thriller secured after a competitive bidding war with an unconventional deal allowing Coogler to reclaim the IP after several decades—a bold move reflecting their filmmaker-first approach. Yet, the studio also stumbled with Alto Knights, a Zaslav-backed project that flopped despite skepticism about its viability.
The potential leadership change comes amid broader upheaval in Hollywood’s executive ranks. On Thursday, Amazon MGM Studios shocked the industry by ousting Jennifer Salke, underscoring the volatility at the top. At Warner Bros., De Luca and Abdy have made waves by securing high-profile talent deals with stars like Tom Cruise and Margot Robbie. Their slate includes Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, set for this fall, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s untitled follow-up to The Revenant, featuring Cruise, slated for fall 2026—the first fruit of his Warner Bros. pact.
Before Warner Bros., De Luca and Abdy ran MGM’s film division, departing after Amazon’s 2022 acquisition. Their tenure at Warner Bros. has seen both triumphs, like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and challenges, including January’s exits of marketing chief Josh Goldstine and international distribution president Andrew Cripps. As Zaslav evaluates his options—potentially eyeing figures like DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran, per earlier rumors—the duo face a pivotal moment. With CinemaCon looming and Minecraft poised to test their vision, the stakes couldn’t be higher for De Luca, Abdy, and Warner Bros.’ cinematic future.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help. You can find Luke on X HERE.