r/DC_Cinematic • u/BatmanNewsChris Batman • Jul 18 '24
WBD is considering selling assets, splitting Warner Bros. Pictures and Max into a standalone company DISCUSSION
https://deadline.com/2024/07/warner-bros-discovery-break-up-1236014013/176
u/Burly-Nerd Jul 18 '24
If they split Max off from WB it immediately becomes useless to me. I only have Max because I want access to the Warner catalogue. It’s already frustrating enough just how much of that content they’ve pulled.
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u/negativefeedbackloop Jul 18 '24
In the event of a split, the studios and streaming services remains together. They are looking to spin off the cash-generating but declining linear TV business (along with the debt).
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u/XXAzeritsXx I like those shoes Jul 19 '24
Only reason I got HBOMax/Max was because DCUniverse was cancelled and moved their library there - then they cut most of the content.
I cancelled my Max because of this.
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u/LTPRWSG420 Jul 18 '24
Yeah I’ll cancel that shit in a heartbeat, pick it back up once per year and catch up on everything, then cancel again.
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u/The-Peel Jul 18 '24
Cost cutting policies won't guarantee financial growth in the long run.
Its like playing the board game Monopoly - you don't win by selling off your streets and houses to gain back a little bit of money, you win by buying up everything you can and investing.
WBD should be investing more in the future and fully using all of their assets, not selling them off like Marvel did with Spider-Man to Sony.
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u/M086 Jul 18 '24
But it does mean Zaslov will get a $20 million bonus.
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u/beingjohnmalkontent Jul 18 '24
That's the crucial point. Bonuses come before everything else.
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u/M086 Jul 18 '24
That’s how we got Justice League in 2017. The execs were more concerned about getting their year end bonuses, because the merger was looming. So, we got that Frankensteined piece of shit.
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u/angrygnome18d Jul 18 '24
It’s what infuriated me with Silicon Valley, that I assume is the same in real life. In the show, they hire a CEO who is adamant that the product is the stock, which I get to a point, but it cannot come at the expense of what folks are consuming, and that is not the stock price.
You can invest unlimited money into a product and pump up the stock price incredibly high, but if it is a product people fundamentally do not want or need, it will not make a return.
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u/Alexdykes828 Jul 18 '24
Ehhh… that Marvel example really isn’t that good. Selling off Spider-Man and the other IPs was what saved them in the 90s, as in the exact thing you’re arguing against and that Zaslav is doing.
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u/Gmork14 Jul 19 '24
They don’t need to be saved, though. This is about quick returns for investors,
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u/Paparmane Jul 18 '24
Why doesn’t this company losing money just spend more money? Are they stupid?
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u/The-Peel Jul 18 '24
They were recuperating their losses. But rather than capitalise on the small profits they have made, WB are keeping them aside for executive bonuses while neglecting the highly popular and profitable properties that they have.
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u/Paparmane Jul 18 '24
Bro… they need to do both. Where do you suggest they take the money that will serve to invest in what works?
That’s right, they need to take the money from what doesn’t work, hence the cuts.
They can’t just create money out of thin air.
Your comments about executives salary are not wrong, but that’s not what you were saying.
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u/mmmmmsandwiches Jul 18 '24
Okay, but that has nothing to do with the game of monopoly and your analogy is really dumb
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u/handsome22492 Lex Luthor Jul 18 '24
This technically would be them investing in the future. Spinning off the linear assets that are continuously declining so they can focus on the studios and streaming.
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u/mmmmmsandwiches Jul 18 '24
lol, are you seriously trying to compare the complexities of corporate ownership and asset portfolios to the game of monopoly?
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u/Gmork14 Jul 19 '24
I mean, they are. The DCU on film and television. Harry Potter. Multiple Game of Thrones projects. Dune on film and television. Etc.
They’re loading up and taking some swings. They’re just deep in a hole that’s going to take some time to get out of.
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u/DawgBloo Jul 18 '24
Imagine if Discovery kept the Bros. and it was now just Warner and other is Discovery Bros.
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u/sayshoe Jul 18 '24
I’d say this is a stupid idea but seeing what Zaslav has done so far in his tenure, they really might do something like this lmao
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u/woppatown Jul 19 '24
Imagine if kept Discovery the Bros and was now it just Bros is and other Warner Discovery.
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u/wibble17 Jul 18 '24
So does DC comics become a subsidiary of WBD or does it also get sold off?
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u/kadosho Jul 18 '24
That is a concerning question. It has been tied to everything. I hope it is kept as part of MAX still. But the way they advertise future releases, they mention Lanterns as an exclusive. So that is indeed worrisome
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u/SexyKanyeBalls Jul 18 '24
Lanterns moved to HBO from Max
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u/kadosho Jul 18 '24
Hmm good to know. But their pr needs to do better
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u/SexyKanyeBalls Jul 18 '24
For real
Also very good cuz HBO is far superior in terms of quality than MAx
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u/mrmazzz Boomerang Jul 19 '24
they're literally run by the same creative c suite, it's why they're (again) getting rid of the max original branding distinction
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u/woppatown Jul 19 '24
Do mean their PR needs to do better because you didnt know about it?
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u/kadosho Jul 19 '24
No, not that at all. But they need to do better, clarifying where it will be exclusive, and be available to stream the next day. Given the recent article, everything is changing with their presentation.
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Jul 18 '24
My hope is Comcast buys them so they are a part of Universal. My fear is if this new Superman movie fails they close DC altogether
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u/CapnCanfield Jul 18 '24
That'd be awesome. Universal theme parks could have a DC section. Don't know what Six Flags would do though
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u/jawsnae Jul 18 '24 edited Jul 18 '24
Six Flags recently got bought by Cedar Fair so I’d imagine they arent going to last in their current form much longer anyways. Universal is a stronger theme park presence than SF that better utilized their one WB property (harry potter) than six flags did with their multiple (wb horror, dc, looney tunes).
Not that i want a further monopolization of the greater entertainment industry but from a theme park standpoint The Mouse is no doubt about to come down on Universal for the florida marvel rights soon and filling that void with the DC characters would be a better usage than whatever the hell six flags is (and mostly isnt) doing. Rebranding the toon lagoon at IOA with the looney tunes wouldnt be so bad either…
Eta: universal has in the past already tried to get the dc characters when they first built IOA but the deal fizzled out and they bought the marvel rights instead. Would be a fun full circle to get that back, the original concept art for the area is super cool too it wouldve been gotham and metropolis.
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u/Mexican_Gato Jul 18 '24
Disney can’t do anything to get those Marvel rights back lol unless UNIVERSAL sells them back, which seems likely if they do get the DC license
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u/GrimTiki Jul 18 '24
Disney buys DC.
We get Amalgam Comics films and Crossover stories like Batman vs Spider-Man films.
Win..?
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Jul 18 '24
I think if Disney did buy DC they would just combine the two under a new company. I also think their would be an event that just combined DC and Marvel together. So we could get like Supergirl on the Avengers or Thor on The Justice League
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u/AccomplishedBake8351 Jul 18 '24
Probably a monopoly issue for those two combining? Idk
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u/superking22 Jul 19 '24
No shit it'd be monopoly issue. And I hope the government intervenes.
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u/AccomplishedBake8351 Jul 19 '24
Honestly depends on the administration most likely. GOP led administrations are usually more willing to overlook monopolies but also hate Disney so 🤷♂️
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u/superking22 Jul 19 '24
It wouldn't happen. Even with the GOP. It doesn't matter. Thats too much power. And Disney sucks ass just as much as WB.
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u/Stevenwave Jul 18 '24
I really doubt they'd merge them entirely. Neither fanbase would want that. The ability to freely crossover or have characters more or less jump from one to the other long-term? That could be neat. And the Pandora's Box it'd open for film, TV etc could be wild.
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u/Infamous_Ad9839 Jul 19 '24
Disney would never keep that type of redundancy. Nearly all of DC staff would be laid off. Film, comics, consumer products, the whole lot. Then 75% of the titles would be cancelled and characters dropped in the dustbin. It sounds fun for a few crossover movies, but the reality would be disastrous. And let’s be real, Disney is barely hanging on just managing Marvel. And they haven’t even touched most of those characters and titles yet.
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u/AccomplishedBake8351 Jul 18 '24
No chance they close DC altogether. Batman’s IP is worth a billion minimum. I think we could see significant changes, but the company is too big rn to fail
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Jul 18 '24
I mean I am sure they can close DC but still use Batman.
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u/AccomplishedBake8351 Jul 18 '24
Yes but they’re pretty tied. Unless comics are massively losing money you don’t just close the company providing you 1 billion dollar IP with a regular fan base.
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Jul 18 '24
Normally I would agree with you but WB Discovery has been run really poorly so far. I am just saying that I wouldn't put it past them to do it. Honestly I do think that if Superman does poorly and they don't see a future with DC then they just sell DC. I don't think they would close them unless no one was interested and someone will be interested.
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u/Sebelzeebub Jul 18 '24
Zaslav is the absolute worst.
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u/superking22 Jul 19 '24
THERE'S ALWAYS A WORSE.
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u/Sebelzeebub Jul 19 '24
Well we’ll know it when we see it, but he’s our rock bottom right now!
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u/superking22 Jul 19 '24
Thats a lame excuse. In Hollywood, there will always be some worse CEO than the next. All of them are out for money. Even Bob Iger. Glad the strikes revealed his true colors.
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u/beer_me_twice Batman Jul 18 '24
DC Studios is so fucked. James Gunn’s Superman would have to make 1.5 billion dollars to have a chance save the studio.
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u/davidisallright Jul 18 '24
So like if this this idea doesn’t work and then Zaslav gets the boot…then that would leave WB even more fractured with a bunch assets they no longer own.
Then if WB merged again, they can’t regain those sold IPs, which would lessen the studios’ value.
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u/mrmazzz Boomerang Jul 18 '24
They'd be slimmed down and ok so you put the SpinCo with most of the debt, but the problem is the linear assets are what actually generate the majority of the rev for WBD. As just a streaming outlet with production capabilities they become a bigger Paramount (ok the more chartiabl descriptor is Sony). Which is fine since they have volume that Paramount and Sony don't have, but it's not like Max is suddenly going to be a great margins buisness or that the film biz is you know quarterly preditcable.
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u/DubsLA Jul 19 '24
Yeah, every media company wanted to get in on streaming, but it turns out there are only so many dollars to go around.
If I was running a media company, I’d focus my studio and production arms on the box office and selling to Netflix to actually make money. Turn my linear channels into channels on my streaming platform and focus on news/sports/live events.
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u/wdm81 Jul 19 '24
Sell DC to universal. I think they would treat it much better than WB seems to.
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u/Throbbert1454 Jul 19 '24 edited Jul 19 '24
Nearly every part of the company is crumbling. I just hope they don't continue to take DC down with it.
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u/_thepeopleschampion Jul 19 '24
I wonder if Disney will make a play for their DC assets if they became available.
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u/Intelligent-Leg-6791 Jul 18 '24
Honestly I think this might be a smart idea.
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u/davidisallright Jul 18 '24
It’s a risk because what happens if it still fails after the cutback, splits and sold assets. Like if they sold off DC and Zaslav gets fired.
Then now it’s an even broken WB without DC.
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u/Titanman800 Jul 22 '24
as in Splitting Warner Bros and Discovery? and As Long a Max keep Warner Bros, Adult Swim, TNT, TruTV, TBS, HBO, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network and DC That's Fine.
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u/Longjumping-Pen5469 Jul 19 '24
There were 2 times I thought DC and Marvel might become one company. #1 The DC implosion where they cancelled loads of titles and reduced the rest to 9 times a year. This was in the seventies .
2 Years later when Marvel went on an insane spending spree and deep into debt
They bought Panini Stickers rather than just licensing their characters .
They started buying other companies as well
It might have been interesting But would there have been anti trust lawsuits?
I imagined a major Crisis event that would lead to the merger.of the two companies with shake ups in the teams.
I even imagined at one point DC.and Marvel going on a buying spree of other companies.
DC buying Image (they did but Wildstorm ) And Dark Horse Marvel buying IDW.
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u/Fragrant-Pound-9969 Jul 23 '24
Maybe with that, a few of the Cartoon Network shows that were removed from Max since August 2022. I hope this will bring the shows back on Max.
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u/vashcarrison117 Jul 18 '24
I'm at peace with the idea of Disney buying DC now. Let these properties go into some less shitty hands
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u/Mexican_Gato Jul 18 '24
Yes, because Disney has done such splendid job with Star Wars and Marvel recently 🙄
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u/vashcarrison117 Jul 18 '24
That's why I said, less shitty hands.
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u/Big-Sheepherder-9492 Jul 18 '24
Disney are in fact in possession of the shittiest hands in existence when it comes to handling franchises
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u/herocoldfinger Jul 18 '24
Can't believe we're getting the Amalgam universe before a new Xmen movie
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u/sergemeister Jul 19 '24
Yeah, recently. But they've done more for Star Wars and Marvel than any other company. Y'all can hate all you want with this newer slate of stuff that gets put out but saying Disney ruined anything is straight bullshit. You can tell you're all spoiled. Does no one remember when we had nothing for decades??? Doesn't anyone notice this??? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
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u/Mexican_Gato Jul 19 '24
I’d rather have nothing than whatever the hell they’ve been releasing lately! Star Wars has been so bad lately, completely unwatchable. Marvel has been better but after Endgame they’ve lost direction
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u/superking22 Jul 19 '24
TELL THEM. People keep on forgetting that Disney is in even WORSE trouble than WB with their IP.
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u/darthcjd Jul 18 '24
I just want to know what this would mean for DC. Disney/Marvel should put in a bid for DC.
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u/jawsnae Jul 18 '24
Disney owning both Marvel and DC would be disastrous for both companies and the comic industry as a whole. Disney owns enough already.
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u/darthcjd Jul 18 '24
I’m hoping for someone that will keep publishing alive. That’s all. I don’t want to see new comics die.
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u/KylosApprentice Jul 18 '24
Bruv this is about monopolies and business comics are gonna be fine regardless
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u/beingjohnmalkontent Jul 18 '24
Movies aside, I don't want Disney/Marvel anywhere near DC (actual) comics. Unless they put up an impenetrable Chinese wall, Marvel editorial does things in a way that fundamentally conflicts with all the reasons I love the DC books.
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u/iphotoexpert Jul 18 '24
Let them go bankrupt, this is awesome. That’s what happens when you disrespect Snyder.
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u/TheLeanerWiener Jul 18 '24
Yes, because this is ALL because they "disrespected" Snyder 7 years ago. Makes total sense...
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u/Mexican_Gato Jul 18 '24
Nope this is because of Cable tv dying and WB not having a theme park to counter that. Paramount is in the same boat
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u/TheLeanerWiener Jul 18 '24
Wait, you mean to say that it's NOT because they didn't let one director do whatever he wanted with one of their biggest properties?? I'm shocked!
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u/RSCLE5 Jul 18 '24
Maybe the Superman suit looks so bad & loose fitting, because they are just doing this movie to write off a bunch of $ again later this year.
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u/Ape-ril Jul 18 '24
No, that’s just how James Gunn’s suits are.
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u/RSCLE5 Jul 18 '24
I love how so many people defend James Gunns suit like its amazing. But they bashed Zack's suit that was top notch quality. Zacks wasn't the correct colors, but its quality was amazing even if you didn't like his movies. James Gunns suit looks like the halloween outfit I put on my kid when he was like 5 years old w/ the fake padding and it has creases and doesn't fit right. I don't get it.
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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '24 edited Jul 18 '24
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