As a lifelong fan of these iconic franchises, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension upon hearing David Zaslav’s words about their future potential. On one hand, it’s heartening to know that the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, DC, and Game of Thrones universes are not forgotten and are seen as valuable assets. On the other hand, the prospect of a deluge of new content could potentially dilute the magic that made these franchises so special in the first place.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has commented on the future of the company’s entertainment business, saying he believes that some of its biggest franchises are “underutilized” and that this is actually one of the firm’s biggest growth opportunities. He made his point using an analogy about cookies.
In a speech at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology conference, he highlighted popular franchises such as Harry Potter, DC properties including Superman, Batman, and Joker, as well as Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. He stated that these are universally recognized franchises, and if managed properly, people worldwide will invest their time and money into them.
The positive aspect is that these beloved franchises are relatively untapped. It’s been over a decade since we last saw Superman on screen, and the same goes for Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, with the latter not returning for 12 years now. As if we have the most delicious cookie, but it hasn’t made it to the shelves yet. We possess this potential goldmine, but until it’s available in stores, we can’t fully capitalize on its value.
In 2026, we can look forward to a new chapter of The Lord of the Rings live-action movie series called “The Hunt for Gollum.” Andy Serkis, who previously directed parts of the award-winning trilogy, is set to direct this film. Additionally, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, who were instrumental in creating the original trilogy, have agreed to serve as executive producers. Ian McKellen, known for his role as Gandalf, has hinted at a possible return, while Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) have expressed their interest in reprising their roles.
In relation to Harry Potter, there’s exciting news about a forthcoming television series that will revisit the tales from all seven books. Interestingly, auditions for characters like Harry, Ron, and Hermione have just started this week. As per Zaslav, if the show proves successful, it could potentially generate a decade’s worth of fresh content for Max.
After that, James Gunn, the new head at DC Studios, has completed filming for Superman featuring David Corenswet as the main character. This movie is slated for release in July 2025, and there’s a lot of anticipation for it to do well and possibly pave the way for more films or spin-offs.
Based on Zaslav’s remark about cookies, it could be interpreted as an endeavor to capitalize on Warner Bros. Discovery’s most prominent franchises, a strategy that hasn’t been favorably received by other large corporations. It appears that Zaslav is interested in replicating a Marvel/Star Wars-like scenario, where frequent releases of major franchise installments are planned. Interestingly, Disney, which owns those franchises, acknowledged their mistake of flooding the market with content and has since opted for a more selective “quality over quantity” approach.
It’s not unexpected, given that Zaslav has consistently emphasized the importance of franchises for generating revenue. Today’s remarks align perfectly with this perspective.
In further remarks, Zaslav stated that Warner Bros. Discovery stands as the most exceptional global storyteller, and he expresses optimism for the future since “quality content triumphs.
Essentially, this executive emphasized that their company is primarily centered around storytelling, distinguishing them from competitors who engage in retail or mobile services. Warner Bros. Discovery, as Zaslav explained, operates within the realm of storytelling exclusively, and it’s evident in our work at CNN, HBO and Max, Warner Bros. Television, free-to-air broadcasting, sports programming – we are storytellers through and through. This focus provides us with a clear direction.
In the year 2022, when Warner Bros. and Discovery combined, David Zaslav assumed the role of CEO at the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery. Since his arrival, the company has made significant changes aimed at reducing expenses. These adjustments include abandoning nearly completed films such as Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme, along with widespread job cuts.
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2024-09-12 23:39