Written By Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Warner Bros Discovery feels that Walter Hamada’s DC Films was a failure. In fact, DC Films didn’t compete with rival Marvel Studios. Rather, DC Films copied it and failed.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav inherited a mess. A source observed:
DC Films should’ve been the crown jewel of Warner Bros. Instead, it’s like a car with no headlights driving in the dark.
Zaslav fired the first shot with killing The Wonder Twins live-action film on HBO Max. Specifically, budget cuts chopped the project from the schedule. Zaslav balked at its $75 million price tag.
However, even if it was cheaper, insiders added Zaslav would’ve still cancelled it. A source revealed:
Zaslav felt The Wonder Twins wouldn’t even have clicked on the CW. It’s too obscure and silly.
The Wonder Twins debuted on The All-New Super Friends Hour cartoon in 1977. They later appeared in Super Friends No. 7 that year. But the Wonder Twins don’t have much of a following. In fact, many fans consider them a joke.
The same could be said for Hamada’s DC Films.
Granted, the problems began before Hamada walked in the door.
Warner Bros. Discovery Not Impressed With Walter Hamada’s DC Films
Image: DC Films
First of all, Warner Bros. butchered 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Specifically, they chopped 30 minutes from director Zack Snyder’s movie. Critics slapped the theatrical version with a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Afterwards, the film didn’t grab the $1 billion global executives sought.
The longer, R-rated Ultimate Edition proved Warner Bros.’ mishandling.
DC Films then formed that year. Its goal was to basically replicate Marvel Studios, away from Snyder’s darker vision.
Thus, director Joss Whedon emasculated Snyder’s Justice League. In addition, DC Films gave David Ayer’s Suicide Squad the Guardians of the Galaxy treatment.
Hamada became DC Films’ president in 2018. Since then, they’ve gained no ground against Marvel Studios.
Granted, both 2018’s Aquaman and 2019’s Joker grabbed a billion worldwide. But Hamada didn’t want Joker.
Director Todd Phillips admitted:
They put a guy in charge at DC, Walter Hamada, who had been running a small horror label at New Line. So he didn’t have muscle to stop it, and I’m not saying he would have, but he didn’t get it.
In other words, Hamada got lucky.
Unfortunately, he followed up Joker with a trio of disappointments. Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, and The Suicide Squad fizzled at the box office.
Although Matt Reeves’ The Batman performed well, it still earned below Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Warner Bros. Discovery Not Impressed With Walter Hamada’s DC Films
Image: DC Films
In addition, Zaslav doesn’t agree with DC Films’ disconnected franchises. Instead, he prefers a cohesive cinematic universe.
I scooped Zaslav’s plans for a new DC Studios on February 1. Hamada hangs on until Zaslav chooses his replacement. Indeed, you don’t remove someone without anyone to take their place.
Warner Bros. Discovery feels they had the right idea with Snyder’s DCEU. Alas, corporate interference botched its success.
In a way, Zack Snyder’s Justice League restarts the DCEU. Forget Whedon’s version ever happened. Warner Bros. Discovery seeks to keep what worked.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max did just that. It was a hit.
Going forward, Warner Bros. Discovery prioritizes theatrical.
Zaslav isn’t much of a risk-taker. His choice is to start from scratch or #restorethesnyderverse.
Faith, Alfred, faith?
Only patience is needed now.