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Lets look at the pieces of the puzzle based on John Stankey's comments and what some of the speculation has been since the adquisition
https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1252960487169351681
https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1252960487169351681
Its no secret COVID-19 will put a massive strain on the health of comic book movies. Movies dont look to earn the same as they once did, but budgeting for theatrical & then dropping on streaming could incur losses so if streaming is the future, expect a major budget adjustment
Theres a war looming between studios and movie theatres. Maybe studios are more serious about leaving theatrical than most think. Streaming is different. People arent looking for the family and crowd experience thats taken over. They have privacy, they want content to match it.
AT&T is under difficulties as much as anyone else, &their wireless stream is strong. They are trying to regain the customers they are losing on their tv subscriptions to get them with HBOMax. HBOMax is everything to AT&T https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pressure-builds-at-warnermedia-hbo-max-launch-1275995
Things start getting weird since early on when some insiders were speculating WB Pictures is not really in their plans
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-max-horizon-new-warner-bros-ceo-stares-down-unsettled-future-1223341
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-max-horizon-new-warner-bros-ceo-stares-down-unsettled-future-1223341
Next interesting piece of the puzzle is that Atomic Cockroach boss Toby Emmerich, who ran the company while they looked for a Tsujihara replacement, but was not considered for CEO was given an extension &hes grooming a successor. Are there other plans?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-film-chairman-toby-emmerich-extends-contract-1251347
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-film-chairman-toby-emmerich-extends-contract-1251347
Even more puzzling, the creation of another studio INSIDE warnermedia, a joint venture between WB Pictures and HBOMax thats creating some organizational concerns from the start.
We know AT&T (an operator) bought WM because they needed IP and content to deliver on their wireless infrastructure. They have been eyeing streaming as the future for a long time.
Now, why did Emmerich get an extension and not the CEO spot?
Now, why did Emmerich get an extension and not the CEO spot?
Some say, because Sarnoff is media experienced which is true &Emmerichs background is in film development. To me he is just a business guy.
Also, why is blackwood in the picture, is Emmerich going somewhere eventually?
Why is there another "studio" with an operational mess?
Also, why is blackwood in the picture, is Emmerich going somewhere eventually?
Why is there another "studio" with an operational mess?
Stankeys comments today were going to come regardless of whether there was a COVID-19 crisis or not. It just accelerated it. AT&T is very serious about streaming and its betting it all there. WB as a film company will likely be modified in some manner.
WB under emmerich died as a legacy studio and AT&T may simply see theatrical as a side thing while HBOMax is everything and a far superior priority. This is the key takeaway.
How does that affect comic book films? yet to be seen, but the budgets will def change.
How does that affect comic book films? yet to be seen, but the budgets will def change.
DCEU being specialized content has a life span in theatrical or streaming and perhaps its why we are seeing it in marketing material already.
