Warner Bros. and Discovery have merged their media businesses, creating a huge amount of controversy. David ZaslavWarner Bros. CEO, a new company. Discovery corporation, addressed the company’s decision to scrap the already-produced movie Batgirl—leading audiences to point out a significant discrepancy.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s ‘Strategic Shift’
In spring 2021, Discovery and Warner Bros. merged. This change hasn’t affected viewers in any notable way until now. It was announced last week that HBO Max and Discovery+ would merge to create a new streamer. The name has yet to be revealed.
With this already puzzling decision came another blow: two of the company’s direct-to-stream films, Scoob! Holiday Haunt And BatgirlThere will be no more release.
During the company’s Q2 earnings call, CEO David Zaslav remarked: “We’re not going to launch a movie to make a quarter and we’re not going to put a movie out unless we believe in it.”
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“These are brands that are known everywhere in the world, and as part of that, we’re going to focus on quality. DC is something that we think we could make better and we’re focused on it now.”
Although Zaslav starts his explanation by emphasizing the importance of creating high-quality content and not just making a profit, his tone seems to shift as he goes on.
“This idea of expensive films going direct to streaming—we can’t find an economic case for it, we can’t find an economic value to it, so we’re making a strategic shift.”
Zaslav concludes his statement by saying that the company is “committed to being disciplined about a framework that guides our comfortable investment for maximum return.”
Actions speak louder then words
From Zaslav’s somewhat contradictory statement, it’s difficult to glean if the choice to scrap Batgirl This has more to do than production value and financial return. But actions speak louder than words, so the company’s interests become a bit clearer with the knowledge of its subsequent announcement.
Zaslov confirmed during the same call that The Flash Starring would not stop us from moving forward with post production and release. Ezra Miller’s many disturbing scandals over the past two years.
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Miller This has been the topic of much controversyA video showing them choke a woman in Iceland has been released. Their violent behavior continued, leading to multiple charges of assault and disorderly behaviour as well as protective orders as allegations of kidnapping.
Regardless of Miller’s highly unsettling and illegal behavior, they will keep their leading role in The FlashThe release of the movie is anticipated for 2023.
“We have seen The Flash, Black Adam, and Shazam 2,” Zaslav said. “We are very excited about them. We’ve seen them. We think they are terrific, and we think we can make them even better.”
Why It’s Problematic
These decisions, made independently or in combination, have provoked a lot of backlash, and even outrage, from the public. It is seen as hypocritical by Zaslav, who claims to be canning. Batgirl in the interest of DC’s reputation when keeping Miller as one of the faces of the brand will only serve to tarnish it.
Zaslov added to the hypocrisy by insisting that the decision was made to scrap. Batgirl It had nothing to do money but the author then cited the lack of it. “economic case”For its release and for a promise to “maximum return.”
Warner Bros. Discovery is a company, so money would be their primary concern. However, scrapping a Films worth $90 MillionIt is counterintuitive to save money in the interests of savings.
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It is especially evident when you consider that the brand chose to keep an individual with so many allegations of violence at its forefront.