The exit of Warner Bros. CEO and chairman Kevin Tsujihara came just as the studio’s DC films are gaining momentum with the success of “Aquaman” and high hopes for “Shazam.” But the departure isn’t likely to stop the progress.Tsujihara wasn’t actively involved in the day to day management of the DC brand, according to three sources familiar with the situation. So his exit won’t be too disruptive.“They will not be affected by his departure,” said one insider with knowledge of the situation.Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros.’ motion picture group, already had the power to greenlight films, and will keep it. Walter Hamada, the president of the DC Films production unit who oversees the development of the DC Films properties, reports directly to Emmerich.Also Read: Kevin Tsujihara to Step Down as Warner Bros CEO and Chairman Amid Investigation Over Ties to ActressMeanwhile, Richard Brener oversees projects like “Shazam” and the upcoming “Black Adam” as the president and chief creative officer of Warner Bros.’ New Line unit.John Stankey said in a memo to employees that an “interim leadership structure” would be announced on Tuesday. The interim leadership team will most likely include Emmerich.Tsujihara’s tenure included films like the successful “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Wonder Woman,” as well the disappointing “Justice League.” It’s biggest success, last year’s “Aquaman,” has earned $1.1 billion worldwide.Tsujihara, who has worked for two decades at the studio and served as chairman for the last six years, stepped down Monday, ten days after The Hollywood Reporter published texts indicating that actress Charlotte Kirk sought his help landing acting jobs while they were in a sexual relationship. Both have denied any wrongdoing.Tsujuhara said in a memo to staff Monday that his leadership could become a “distraction and an obstacle to the company’s continued success.”“The hard work of everyone within our organization is truly admirable, and I won’t let media attention on my past detract from all the great work the team is doing,” he said.Read original story Why Warner Bros.’ Big Change Won’t Disrupt the DC Universe At TheWrap
“Aquaman 2,” the sequel to last year’s hit Warner Bros. and DC superhero film, will open on December 16, 2022, the studio announced Wednesday.
The sequel will bring back star Jason Momoa, who starred in the original as hero Arthur Curry opposite Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Dolph Lundgren.
James Wan directed the film, which brought in $1.13 billion at the worldwide box office and $332.9 million domestically when it opened ahead of the Christmas holiday weekend late last year, making it the first DC film to cross $1 billion globally since “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Wan and Peter Safran are producing the sequel, and frequent Wan collaborator David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick is writing “Aquaman 2.” He co-wrote the original film with Will Beall based on a story by Geoff Johns, Beall and Wan.
Warner Bros. is also developing an “Aquaman” spinoff movie called “The Trench.” Screenwriters Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald have been tapped to write “The Trench.” That film involves a swarm of evolved, former residents of Atlantis who now are mindless monsters devouring everything in their path.
“Aquaman” kicked off a significant reshuffling of the DC division at Warner Bros. following disappointing results for “Justice League,” which introduced audiences to Momoa’s Arthur Curry and Aquaman. Looking ahead to DC’s 2019, the studio has the light-hearted “Shazam” set for April and the mid-budget “Joker” origin story for the iconic Batman villain starring Joaquin Phoenix in October.
They’ll then follow that up with the much anticipated “Wonder Woman 1984” set for June 2020.
