Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Unveils Ambitious Plans For Underused And Dormant Franchises

In a recent appearance at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav expressed his views on the untapped potential of some of the entertainment giant’s most beloved franchises, such as “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter,” and the DC Universe. Zaslav’s remarks shed light on the company’s strategies for revitalizing these iconic properties, which have, in his opinion, been underutilized for too long.

Zaslav’s acknowledgment of the latent potential within Warner Bros.’ vast portfolio of intellectual properties underscores the studio’s commitment to leveraging its greatest assets. He stated, “One of the other real strengths of Warner Bros. is we talk about the great IP that Warner Bros. owns. But, for us, the challenge is that our content, our great IP — Harry Potter, DC, Lord of the Rings — that content has been underused.”

While recognizing the need to exercise caution and avoid overexposure of these cherished franchises, Zaslav emphasized the importance of creating comprehensive, long-term plans around them. “We haven’t done anything with Harry Potter for more than a decade. We haven’t done anything with Lord of the Rings,” he revealed. “We think there’s a lot of shareholder value in attaching a 10-year DC — a real plan around DC, bringing Harry Potter back to HBO for 10 consecutive years, doing multiple movies of Lord of the Rings.”

The potential of these iconic franchises is undeniably vast, with Zaslav asserting, “When you put those franchises in, it’s the best-performing studio in the world. We need to deploy our best capital, and we need to do it with the best creative people in the world.”

Recent developments in Warner Bros.’ handling of these properties support Zaslav’s vision. The Wizarding World franchise has seen the release of “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” in 2022, the third installment in the Harry Potter spinoff series, and the launch of the highly anticipated video game “Hogwarts Legacy.” The next project in line is a TV series based on the original Harry Potter books, with a remarkable ten-year commitment ensuring a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels.

Moreover, “Lord of the Rings” enthusiasts have much to look forward to, as an agreement between New Line, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Embracer Group promises “multiple” films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved series. This announcement comes alongside the development of the animated film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” scheduled for release in 2024.

Zaslav also addressed the absence of a “long-form Superman” project in the past decade, with “Man of Steel” from 2013 being the last solo outing for the iconic character. However, the future holds promise, as the character is set to return in James Gunn’s “Superman Legacy,” signifying the dawn of a new era for the DC Universe, with actor David Corenswet poised to take on the lead role from Henry Cavill.

In summary, David Zaslav’s strategic vision for Warner Bros. Discovery involves breathing new life into dormant franchises like “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter,” and DC. With a focus on long-term commitments, diverse creative talents, and expansive storytelling, Warner Bros. Discovery aims to reinvigorate these beloved properties and bring fresh, engaging content to fans worldwide.

[h/t IGN]