David Zaslav Vows Warner Bros. Discovery ‘Will Not Overspend to Drive Subscriber Growth’

EXCLUSIVE: We hear on very good authority that Warner Bros. has taken a Jason Momoa project off the table after an intense bidding war, tentatively titled The Executioner. 

Another top Warner exec, John Rogovin, is heading for the exits amid a major corporate shakeout following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery last month.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterWarner Bros. executive vice president and top legal boss John Rogovin has resigned his post, sources familiar with the company told Variety.The well-liked and respected Rogovin was general counsel for the former WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, which encompassed units like Warner Bros.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe major entertainment studios spoke out against Georgia’s “heartbeat” abortion bill in 2019, saying they would “rethink” their production plans in the state if the law ever went into effect.That moment appears to be approaching fast.On Monday night, Politico reported that a Supreme Court majority has signed on to a decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 opinion protecting the right to abortion. The Georgia law — which would outlaw abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy — has been on hold pending the outcome of that case.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentTop European industry players including senior executives from Pathé Films, Mikros, Wild Bunch Distribution and Warner Bros. have joined forces to launch a one-stop-shop production banner called N9ne Studio.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentPaolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-nominated autobiographical drama “The Hand of God” took top honors at Italy’s 67th David di Donatello Awards, winning best picture, director, supporting actress and tying for the best cinematography statuette.Sorrentino’s Naples-set film about the personal tragedy and other vicissitudes that drove him to become a top notch film director had been the frontrunner along with young helmer Gabriele Mainetti’s second feature, the elegant effects-laden historical fantasy “Freaks Out.”“Freaks Out” won six prizes, including for its producer, Andrea Occhipinti, as well as cinematographer, set design, and effects.The cinematography prize, which was a tie, was split between “Hand of God” DP Daria D’Antonio, marking the first time this David goes to a woman, and Michele Attanasio for “Freaks Out.” The Davids were held as a fully in-person ceremony at Rome’s Cinecittà studios just as the famed facilities undergo a radical renewal being implemented by former Sky and Warner Bros. executive Nicola Maccanico.Italian Culture Minister Enrico Franceschini took the stage at the start of the ceremony to reaffirm the Italian government’s support for the local film industry, shortly after announcing plans to widen the window between a movie’s theatrical release date and the time it can drop locally on a streaming platform.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterParamount+ and Showtime topped a combined 63 million subscribers at the end of the first quarter, Paramount Global revealed Tuesday. From that new total, 6.8 million are Paramount+ sub additions from Q1.That’s up from the combined 56 million subscribers that the company reported the streamers hit by the end of 2021.

Munich-based production and distribution house Beta Film has created a Spanish scripted division, with former Atresmedia exec Mercedes Gamero and Warner Bros. Pictures International España’s Pablo Nogueroles tapped to lead it.

Naman Ramachandran The Warner Bros. Discovery Sports network is launching a cross-platform weekly sports show featuring leading names on May 4.“The Power of Sport,” an 18-week magazine show, will look towards the week of sport ahead while also accessing Warner Bros.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“Ghosts” may be the unlikeliest comedy hit in recent CBS history. It’s a single-camera half-hour, adapted from a cult U.K.

Is Amber Heard about to be canceled?

Warner Bros. had taken the reigns on a live-action “Barbie” movie from Sony as previous versions of the project, featuring variations of talent, including screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno“) and actresses Anne Hathaway and Amy Schumer, fell apart.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterPeacock ended the first quarter of the year with 28 million monthly active accounts (MAAs) and 13 million paid subscribers, Comcast revealed along with its Q1 earnings results Thursday.That total is up from the 24.5 million Comcast reported for the streamer’s end of 2021 figure. During Q1, Peacock streamed Super Bowl LVI and the Beijing Winter Olympics, along with debuting splashy titles like “Bel-Air,” its dramatic take on the ’90s classic “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Jennifer Lopez’s theatrical-and-streaming release “Marry Me,” and “Tiger King” scripted series “Joe vs.

Warner Bros. had taken the reigns on a live-action “Barbie” movie from Sony as previous versions of the project, featuring variations of talent, including screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno“) and actresses Anne Hathaway and Amy Schumer, fell apart.

Robert Pattinson is set to reprise his role as the Caped Crusader in a sequel to the recently released hit movie The Batman.Warner Bros revealed the news on Tuesday at the CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, Nevada, as announced by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group boss Toby Emmerich.Writer and director Matt Reeves, who attended the event, will also be back to helm the movie.No further details about the plot or release date were revealed.Taking to the stage briefly, Reeves told the room: ‘Thank you all for your tremendous support for The Batman.

Those clamoring for more middle adult fare in movie theaters will have their fill with Olivia Wilde’s upcoming 1950s thriller, Don’t Worry Darling. 

Warner Bros. brought a lot of DC — a lot — to its CinemaCon session today. In addition to a The Flash trailer, Dwayne Johnson showing up to push DC League of Super-Pets and Black Adam, the cast of Shazam: Fury of the Gods stopped by with a trailer, in addition to James Wan how had a sizzle reel of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. 

Olivia Wilde put on a sizzling display as she arrived to the Warner Bros. presentation during this year'sCinemaCon on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada.The actress, 38, strolled the red carpet in a gorgeous blue velvet suit that was tailored perfectly to fit her slender frame.Olivia wore her fitted suit jacket over a skimpy bralette top, which allowed her to showcase her enviably smooth décolletage.

The new Warner Bros. Discovery leadership is starting to unify its policies across the two parts of the company. I hear that Adria Alpert Romm, chief people and culture officer, sent an email this morning to WarnerMedia employees about the implementation of a new hybrid work schedule.

In news that won’t be much of a surprise to anyone, today, at CinemaCon, Warner Bros. chief Toby Emmerich announced a sequel to Matt Reeves’ successful “The Batman” is in the works with Robert Pattinson in the lead once more.

TNT and TBS are moving out of the scripted game under new parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, which under CEO David Zaslav has promised $3 billion in cost savings in the post-WarnerMedia merger era, Variety has learned exclusively.The WarnerMedia-run cable channels will no longer develop new scripted content, two sources close to the matter tell Variety.