Warner Bros Discovery: WTF?!
A shift has happened at Warner Bros. David Zaslav (DZ), the new CEO, has taken the helm from predecessor; Jason Kilar, and is making major decisions to the DC comics franchise. To date, WB has merged with Discovery and has eliminated shows such as, Gordita Chronicles and two ready to stream movies: Batgirl and Scoob 2. This “media cleansing” has angered fans, movie and comic book enthusiasts alike.
2 years ago, David Zaslav (DZ) wrote a letter addressing the senseless killing of George Floyd to his staff at Discovery, INC. In his memo, he made some remarks on how Discovery, INC was making efforts to ensure that their people “listen, learn and talk”, and “create innovative ways to create content and elevate stories that matter”. Additionally, in this memo, he also wrote that “we can do what we do best.... use our portfolio of channels, respected talent, and powerful reach to tell critical stories and elevate the discussion”. He said these words, the link is here.
The date and time of this memo was around May-June 2020.
It is now 2022, and the times have changed, this time, for the worse. Discovery INC. has now merged with Warner Bros. and the memo from DZ, discussing unity and togetherness, has apparently been scorched from the merger as well. Equity and opportunity seem to have taken a back seat as Wall Street dollars are now front and center with the goal, as Zaslav says “to hire the best people he could find”, with gender and racial diversity not being a top priority. He’s done just that; replacing Warner Bros. Chief Ann Sarnoff, former chairman and first woman CEO of Warner Bros (respect to her and her accomplishments); additionally, he also “promised to trim $3 billion from the newly formed company’s budget” which equates to firing thousands of staffers and an elimination of programming.
For some of us, we are seeing those cuts in real time. Most notably the Batgirl movie, but Warner Bros Discovery has been cancelling DC comics IP for quite a while now: The Flash, Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, Wonder Twins, and Supergirl and as of this writing, the DC show: Strange Adventures, is dead in the water; a series introduced by Kevin Smith (shoutout to the GOAT).
While DZ claims these moves are business related; he also mentioned that he lent an ear to Hollywood to feel out the best course of action as he praised the creatives and offered to build friendships. Yet, I’m curious. Who exactly did he reach out to? Diverse teams of people like MACRO, an award winning media company that represents the voices and perspectives of people of color?, Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC?; Kimberly Godwin, President of ABC News?, Linda Yvette Chavez, an award winning screenwriter and producer, Tanya Saracho, another award winning writer, or Claudia Lyon, Executive vice president of talent and casting for CBS television? Probably not. He did, however, speak with coalition groups and provided them no assurance that he’d commit to diversity in the workforce. He did, nevertheless, hire peers whose demographic representation is the same as his or what he feels are the best choices in the entertainment industry; apparently, those who worked with him in the past. Some he even placed in board seats, with terms expiring in 2023.
Two years ago, he’d promise to listen, learn and talk with people about racial diversity, with the promise to create innovative ways to create content and elevate stories that matter. Batgirl was that moment. Batgirl had Latin representation, and she mattered to both fans of the culture and newcomers alike. I’m curious (followed by many DC fans) to see how this movie would have played out on the stream (check reddit r/Batgirl). Either way, with DZ and leadership canceling Batgirl because they didn’t believe in it, they also, without mentioning it, indicated that a female Latin - lead movie would not generate the necessary superhero revenue to keep the DC comics franchise afloat. Maybe, not super enough, like Blue Beetle? I mean, they have DMZ, a DC series created for TV by Robert Patino, and executive produced by Ava DuVernay, but It was 4 episodes and received mixed reviews.
Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios
Sidenote: Upon Batgirl’s cancelation, the directors were showed love by Kevin Feige, the head movie honcho at Marvel Studios and was praised by him on how hard they worked on the now defunct project. R.I.P Batgirl.
The “company’s leadership” stated that Batgirl did not “measure up as a prospective theatrical tentpole” and that a tax write-off was actually better than the release of the movie. Click here for that leadership list.
They stated their decision in a business way; I’m saying the truth of it... and, yes, their stock is still low with minimal gains, In a bull market. Read that again.
Research from Variety indicated that WB Discovery is in third place with 92.1M “paid” subscribers compared to the 205.6M subscribers from Disney+.
Image from Variety VIP+
While Kevin Feige’s energy is all over the Marvel multiverse with its diversity push, diverse character line-up, and a growing amount of diverse actors, actresses, and directors, Warner Bros has now decided to take Marvel’s blueprint to create their own 10-year DC-Universe. Except there’s a problem. Fans have grown to love the actors/actresses who’ve played these iconic characters and with the creation of a new 10-year window, some of them might not survive the transition:
Aquaman - Jason Mamoa – 43yo now – 53 in ten years,
Superman - Henry Cavill (If he comes back) 39yo now – 49 in 10 years
Wonder Woman - Gal Gadot – 37yo now – 47 in 10 years
Batman - Robert Pattison 36yo – 46yo in 10 years
Batman -Ben Affleck - 49 yo - 59 in 10 years
Cyborg - Ray Fisher - He’s not coming back
Flash - Ezra Miller (If he’s still in it) 29yo now – 39 in 10 years
Shazam! – Zachary Levi - 41 now -51 in 10 years
Green Lantern - Ryan Reynolds – He became Deadpool, he’s not coming back. He’s immortal.
Black Lighting Family (L to R) Cress Williams, Nafessa Williams, China McClain, and Christine Adams
Aside from those star-studded characters, the many additional characters, those we caught a glimpse of in the DCEU, will probably never see the light of day again as DC is now back to step one. For example, Black Lightning, a phenomenal DC comics series about a superhero named Jefferson Pierce, who retired, came back (with family) and whooped some major ass as he fought the government, (ASA) and the evil (fantastically played by Marvin “krondon” Jones III) Tobias Whale, was a great series. However, compared to the famous Flash, Black Lightning only lasted four seasons (with the Flash lasting 9). Although the fan base for Black Lighting was smaller in number, we were devoted to it, praised the acting and the characters, loved the soundtrack, but after both series experienced a decrease in viewership, The Flash survived the aftermath, Black Lighting didn’t.
Small fan bases matter. Remember that.
Given DC’s track record of making movies and their variety of comic book TV miniseries, they have what it takes to captivate the audience (DC animation is superior to all). The problem, in my opinion, is that they think the audience is this homogenous group of people that only want to watch one particular style of movie, character, or actor/actress on one particular screen. Batman, Superman much? I mean, how many Superman and Batman movies are they going to make? You have a whole universe out there. I’m still waiting on Sinestro and the Yellow Lantern Corps.
Data from Variety VIP+
Additionally, with their alleged 10-year plan, their approach might not create new fans as some of us are quickly moving away from the DC brand and are watching newer, more “awesomer superheroes” in the guise of the Boys, Invincible, and whatever Marvel’s newest endeavor is at the time (She-Hulk as of now). In all fairness, James Gunn and Zack Snyder helped to shape and revive some characters, with Justice League lending more viewing time to Ray Fisher’s - Cyborg in the Snyder cut, and James Gunn’s Peacemaker with John Cena’s character, Peacemaker, taking the world by fvcking storm against brain parasites. These were great shows. Harley Quinn, The Animated Series is also leading the charge at DC, and although it’s animated, they have a hardcore fanbase that will RIOT, if you turn out their lights.
The love between Ivy and Harls, outstanding…..
To date, Marvel is in phase 4/5/6, and many have been loyal followers for almost 15 years....and while some of us are venturing to other universes for a fresh feel (Image Comics and the Ripperverse to name a few), some are also gravitating to the world of anime (in lieu of DC) with stories and timelines that are longer than the Justice League Snyder Cut (Seen One Piece yet, I heard its over 1000+ episodes). Streaming comes with a cost, and HBO Max doesn’t seem to be worth the price to view the now “on life support” DC Comics Universe. In that regard, DC isn’t winning at all and may not catch up in this superhero race. Is it safe to say that they are finally done?
Warner Bros have held on to these characters, perhaps too tightly, but given their stock price, outstanding debt and their unwillingness to take creative risks, they might as well, pardon me for saying this, license their characters out to Sony, Amazon, and Disney. Spiderman and Venom are having good runs (we don’t talk about Morbius), and Disney’s Marvel, well, they’re doing just fine.
Leslie Grace Martinez aka Batgirl
A Latina Batgirl would’ve been great. It would’ve also signified DZ’s commitment, as stated in his memo, to “create innovative ways to create content and elevate stories that matter.” This story mattered, and it would have been nice to see the quirks, smiles, laughs, tears, fights, family, friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, and enemies that mattered to Leslie Grace Martinez’s Batgirl. There were talks for a sequel. Not anymore. This death hurts. A LOT.
DC comics is also running out of time. Warner Bros might survive and Discovery, well, they’re there. The DC fans however, may not ride with the DC brand for long. I can’t imagine what they are planning to do with Milestone Media, but then I realized, DC comics only publishes them, the Milestone company still has complete creative control over their characters. BDE right there. Hopefully Amazon would be able to finance some Milestone Media projects (Wink-Wink) with Michael B. Jordan at the helm. Disney could pitch in too. We see you Kev.
Jessica Alba as Sue Storm
Also, while Marvel is moving forward, they too are also experiencing issues with Latin representation as well. Jessica Alba, famed Marvel actress from the Fantastic Four series (played Sue Storm), expressed her concerned about diversity and how there’s a lack of Latin representation at Marvel Studios. She’s no stranger to issues in Latin representation as past casting agents stated to her that she wasn’t Latin enough to play a Latina or Caucasian enough to play the leading lady, only an exotic one...
WOW.
Research has demonstrated that Latinos are the biggest movies goers in America. While some companies are accepting of their hard earned funds to power their media companies, they should also be accepting of their faces on the big screen as well. Batgirl as well as Blue Beetle, would have made a fine start at Warner Bros. Sacrificing one for tax money and keeping the other isn’t progress, it’s regression, plain and simple.
R.I.P Batgirl, you were a real one. Latin Representation matters, on all fronts, stream and the big screen.
