WB Discovery CEO Praises 10-Year DCU Plan While Talks Of Company Split Intensify

WB Discovery CEO Praises 10-Year DCU Plan While Talks Of Company Split Intensify

David Zaslav recently told investors that he feels bullish about DC Studios' ambitious 10-year slate, even as reports emerge suggesting the company might be looking to shed some underperforming assets.

By MarkJulian - May 10, 2025 01:05 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios
Source: via Reddit

During the Q1 earnings call with investors, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav voiced strong confidence in the company’s upcoming film slate, particularly when it comes to the DCU.

Said Zaslav, "Looking ahead, we are excited about the strong slate across all of our studios, starting with DC Studios launching Superman in July."

"We’re wrapping on Supergirl and are deep into production on Lanterns, all part of our ten-year plan to reignite the DC brand globally and drive long-term franchise value."

Revealed in January 2024, the Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters rollout slate of the DCU has grown and expanded since the original announcement.

Somewhat recently, it's been revealed by DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran that The Authority, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, and Waller have all been put on the back burner for various reasons, while other projects not originally part of the slate announcement, like Teen Titans, are moving to the forefront.

  • Creature Commandos animated TV series 
  • Waller live-action tv series 
  • Superman: Legacy live-action movie 
  • Lanterns live-action TV series
  • The Authority live-action movie
  • Paradise Lost live-action TV series
  • The Brave and the Bold live-action movie
  • Booster Gold live-action TV series
  • Teen Titans live-action movie
  • Sgt. Rock live-action movie
  • Bane and Deathstroke team-up movie
  • Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow live-action movie
  • Swamp Thing live-action movie

This vote of confidence from Zaslav arrives as reports surface of change on the horizon at WBD. Industry experts think WBD is heading towards a potential breakup, three years after WarnerMedia and Discovery finalized their merger.

In particular, it's said that WBD may be looking to jettison some of its television assets such as CNN, TNT, Discovery, Animal Planet, TBS, HGTV, Cartoon Network, and a host of other networks. Instead, the studio would potentially only retain HBO and its Max streaming service as the television arm of the company.

In December, WBD took initial steps toward selling off its television assets by implementing an internal restructuring that split its streaming and studio divisions.

"WBD would be leaner and have stronger growth potential without cable assets. But finding a buyer could be difficult. Linear TV is deteriorating and WBD has big debts," said eMarketer analyst Ross Benes [via Reuters].

Without a steady stream of content from its television networks to bolster Max’s lineup, this could present an ideal opportunity for WBD to ramp up production of more DCU TV series.

On the other hand, Marvel Studios and Disney+ provides a clear-cut warning of what could happen if quantity is stressed over quality. 

The once infallible MCU brand has been diluted by a stream of Disney+ offerings, which has led to even Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stating that the MCU was starting to feel like homework and not entertainment.

As WBD navigates potential corporate restructuring, the success of its upcoming DCU slate will be crucial in shaping the future of the iconic superhero franchise on both the big and small screens.

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AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/10/2025, 1:30 PM
While Talks of Company Split Intensify there is NO plan,

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NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 5/10/2025, 1:31 PM
"all part of *our* ten-year plan" Yeah I don't think he has the slightiest idea of what even that plan is.

Shedding off all those things and just keeping HBO and Max isn't a good idea, so I'll just grab my popcorn and sit back to see the new clusterfrack this dingus creates.

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jst5
jst5 - 5/10/2025, 3:35 PM
@NinnesMBC - Why would it not be a good idea?Most of those so called "assets" cost the company the most important thing...money.Cutting cost is always the way to go when the overall company is having money issues.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 5/10/2025, 1:35 PM
lol, the Warners CEO is excited about DC's future plans.
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Truoptimusprime
Truoptimusprime - 5/10/2025, 1:40 PM
HackSlav will be fired soon, especially if Superman underperforms. Hack and Slashing cutting everything, whole movies decimated SMH!
Arthorious
Arthorious - 5/10/2025, 2:21 PM
@Truoptimusprime - I’m betting Universal will be waiting to swoop in and grab DC if WB gets sold off
Truoptimusprime
Truoptimusprime - 5/10/2025, 3:45 PM
@Arthorious - It's about time let someone else play with DC.
WB has been dickin around with DC for far too long!!
FrankenDad
FrankenDad - 5/11/2025, 7:23 AM
@Arthorious - For sure. Hopefully they get there before Disney.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 5/11/2025, 1:57 PM
@FrankenDad - Same, I personally think Universal could handle DC better than WB.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 5/10/2025, 1:51 PM

Just spouting optimistic bullsh!t.

ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 5/10/2025, 1:58 PM
Just hope they start off on a good foot with Superman.
AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/10/2025, 2:04 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - Me too I miss the Marvel VS DC good old days.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/10/2025, 2:13 PM
@AllsGood - shut your whorish mouth. You weren't even around for those times. You have no idea how bad the flame wars were.

Nolanite out
AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/10/2025, 2:30 PM
@Nolanite - You do know I'm DoubleD don't you? Ask anyone.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 5/10/2025, 2:33 PM
@AllsGood - I’d take the jollem LED flame wars over the political drama this site’s fallen into any day.
AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/10/2025, 2:41 PM
@MyCoolYoung -
User Comment Image
AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/10/2025, 3:51 PM
@MyCoolYoung - True
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/10/2025, 5:07 PM
@AllsGood -
I'm not a dumbass pal, I know who you are. You have my blessings.

Just needed to confirm who you were.

Carry on.

Nolanite out
RolandD
RolandD - 5/10/2025, 7:55 PM
@MyCoolYoung - Right? Is he here under a different username?
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 5/10/2025, 9:12 PM
@RolandD - doesn’t seem like it to me, unless he rebranded to a political flame warrious( yeah I made that word up)
RolandD
RolandD - 5/10/2025, 9:47 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I don’t even remember what he was like, except that his comments were obnoxious, but he’s got nothing on some of these guys now. Like you said.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 5/10/2025, 10:07 PM
@RolandD - not at all. He was obnoxious but he'd at least try to act like he was making sense. Like he wasn't just like "that shit ass because I said so" he'd explain his side and try to make it sound sophisticated even though it wasn't lol
grif
grif - 5/10/2025, 2:07 PM
why praise it? there has only been one shit show cartoon so far and a bunch of things canceled and others in development hell


CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 5/10/2025, 2:10 PM
I understand they wanted to keep Reeves Batman separate, or Reeves did anyway but that lineup is really strange. If you were kicking off your 10 year plan, you start with your strongest stuff. Feige once knew how to do this leaving breadcrumbs to the interconnected MCU.

Streaming services are probably going to die soon. The draw was they were cheaper than cable but they got gready. Its more expensive now if you are just talking regular cable. Its easily cheaper if you are a sports fan.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 5/10/2025, 2:24 PM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - "that lineup is really strange. If you were kicking off your 10 year plan, you start with your strongest stuff."

This. Why is Supergirl getting a movie instead of Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, & Zatana ? Any one of these three characters would've brought far more to the universe than Supergirl. I'm not against her getting a movie, I just think you shouldn't be starting with sidekicks/side characters this early on.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 5/10/2025, 3:11 PM
@TheJok3r - Gunn said he wants to create Superman Family, which was a comic title he likely read in the late 1970s. At some point we will see Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes, and i suspect a Legion of Doom (from Superfriends).
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 5/10/2025, 3:21 PM
@GeneralZod - Which is fine, I have no issues with side characters getting their own projects; I just think it shouldn't be this soon.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 5/10/2025, 5:27 PM
@TheJok3r - 💯
RolandD
RolandD - 5/10/2025, 7:59 PM
@TheJok3r - More people know who Supergirl is than Hawkgirl or Zatanna, GA of course. I mean, it probably wouldn’t be my second movie either, though but I don’t see Hawkgirl or Zatanna bringing them in on notoriety alone.
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 5/11/2025, 2:59 PM
@TheJok3r - Exactly. You need to set the foundation before exploring lesser known characters. Plus, lets be honest. Gunn needs wins right away. The DCU or whatever is still reeling from their last attempt and it wasn't that long ago. We might see our 4th Batman actor in under 20 years.

If it was me, and I knew cinema itself was going through some things, and CBM movies were on thin ice, I would come out swinging and save the passion projects for later. I like Supergirl as much as the next guy but I would have established the big three first. I also wouldn't be putting so much on Max. Its too much to keep up with. I had to explain to my wife 10 times where Penguin sat in the timeline and which Batman he belonged to. The MCU was easy to follow because all you had to do is see the movie, wait until the end credits scene. For the most part, it was straightforward and you didnt need to keep track of 5 subplots going on in differnt order and on different platforms.

The more and more I think about it, they should have recasted anyone whos contract was expiring (RDJ, Evans) and just pretended nothing happened. Like James Bond.

@GeneralZod
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 5/11/2025, 6:52 PM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - Yep. Marvel Studios same problem. They can't let go of their golden geese from 2008 to 2019. I suppose with the second upcoming Avengers movie they will solve this problem and give all the 2008 to 2019 characters a reboot ... although I could see Hemsworth's Thor surviving.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 5/12/2025, 12:50 AM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - "The more and more I think about it, they should have recasted anyone whos contract was expiring (RDJ, Evans)"

You should never kill off a character just because the actor who plays them isn't available to do so anymore. If Robert Downey Jr is asking for too much money, then just move on from him, not the actual Iron Man character. If an actor like Chadwick Boseman tragically passes away, then recast the character with someone who can continue the work of that great actor. When Michael Keaton didn't want to play Batman anymore, WB didn't cancel the next Batman movie for him, they recast and moved on.
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/10/2025, 2:11 PM
Just let James Gunn control it all. [frick] the rest and [frick] Zaslav
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/10/2025, 2:11 PM
There's no 10 year plan.

It's just James Gunn plan and we should all be grateful for taking on such a huge responsibility for bringing our favorite characters to our big and small screens soon!

As much as I loved the DCEU, we needed something new and fresh. I'm happy for Zack Snyder to complete his vision of his DCEU. His JL movie was epic AF.

Now it's time for Gunn to shine. Excited for what is to come!

Also, I absolutely hate every single one of you idiots.

Nolanite out
AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/10/2025, 2:37 PM
@Nolanite - DoubleD is Back.

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DoubleD Out
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/10/2025, 5:08 PM
@AllsGood - splendiferous!

Welcome back my fiery friend.

Nolanite out
DraculaX
DraculaX - 5/10/2025, 6:01 PM
@AllsGood - oh you're that DoubleD. For a sec, I thought you were Intruder or SageMode from back in the day
RolandD
RolandD - 5/10/2025, 8:00 PM
@DraculaX - OMG! It was obvious to me the first time that I saw an AllsGood post. 😂
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/10/2025, 11:45 PM
@RolandD - literally first post ever we all knew
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 5/10/2025, 2:30 PM
Won't make 5
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