Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who recently resigned as heads of MGM’s film division, have reached a deal to run Warners and New Line for Warner Bros. Discovery, replacing Toby Emmerich.

Following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the company’s new film division is shaping up. The two new heads are set to take over from Toby Emmerich after they leave their current contract with MGM. Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy recently resigned as heads of MGM’s film division and will be released from their contract there with Amazon, MGM’s parent company, next month.

New Plans For Warner Bros.’ Future

Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy will be leading Warners and New Line, which will form one of three film divisions reporting directly to Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav. Alongside Warner Bros.-New Line will be DC and Animation. While De Luca and Abdy will only be heading Warner Bros.-New Line, DC Films President Walter Hamada will report to them until a new head of DC is found. The company is yet to name a head of animation.

Toby Emmerich has been head of Warners and New Line since 2017. While he is due to be replaced by Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, he is expected to get a production deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.

David Zaslav is understood to have spoken to former Disney studio chairman Alan Horn about the potential for Horn to serve as an advisor as Zaslav continues to restructure Warner Bros. Discovery’s film division. Zaslav is looking to model the new company structure on the system implemented at Disney by former CEO Bob Iger.

As DC remains a priority and major challenge for Zaslav, it may be that the new head of DC acts as Warner Bros.’ equivalent to Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, who oversees Marvel’s film, animation, television and publishing output. DC properties have generally been less integrated than Marvel’s, something Zaslav may want to reassess.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter