CBR: Warner Bros. Restructures DC Comics

[CBR News]

Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov has implemented a plan to restructure DC Comics. WB's Diane Nelson has been put in charge of the publisher, and DC President Paul Levitz will report directly to her.


Full article here (http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22869).

[G. Wayne]

Maybe now we'll get to see a Justice League movie (or Flash or Wonder Woman or anything that isn't Superman or Batman) like, ever.

[The Batman]

And the press release from DC's Source blog:

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/09/09/warner-bros-creates-dc-entertainment/

[froinlaven]

Previously Autonomous?

More active interest?

There goes the neighborhood. I'm not surprised at all really. Marvel making big moves has finally got the WB scared to the point where it needs to make moves. That's good to see though. WB needs to start making movies about other heroes than Batman and Superman, and I'm not talking about those mediocre DVDs they keep putting out.

[Bevbos]

I wonder if this means anything for Didio?

[froinlaven]

I wonder if this means anything for Didio?

I wouldn't think so. Hopefully this change will effect how DC puts out feature films and it won't affect DC comic publishing.

[olympichero62]

Does DC Comics really need a "Restructuring"?

I totally understand the movies department needs major help, but restructuring comics?

[G. Wayne]

I wonder if this means anything for Didio?

It does for his boss. (http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22870) Time will tell how thorough this will prove.

[froinlaven]

Now, maybe DC can come up with a better strategy to gain some more of the comics market share. Getting your ass kicked for that long is just unacceptable.

[froinlaven]

Do we really need 2 different threads for this. It's all really the same news feed isn't it?

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=285822

[Armadillo]

I think currently the only DC films Im expecting right now are GL, Bats 3 and maybe TT which probely wont happen and even if it would happen it will suck :frown:

[Sean Walsh]

I wouldn't think so. Hopefully this change will effect how DC puts out feature films and it won't affect DC comic publishing.

Someone a few weeks back mentioned this move might be in the works, and noted "Diane Nelson is the person who managed JK Rowlings' relationship with WB."

Fanboy translation: "If there's ever been a time to get her or Harry involved with comics....." :wink:

[CMBMOOL]

Why do I have this weird feeling that this piece of news was due to the whole Marvel and Disney deal ? :redface:

[Ebon]

About time someone at Warner decided to get serious and address the huge, huge problem they have with their movies based on DC properties. The 'call back' is what saved Marvel in that regard, so here's hoping they can regain control from all the various rightsholders and not have stupid conflicts ruin potentially good movies or restrict what characters can appear where.

One can only hope that Horn will have a much reduced role in all this or that he's ready to be shuffled off to a career siding where he can't do any more damage.

[froinlaven]

Why do I have this weird feeling that this piece of news was due to the whole Marvel and Disney deal ? :redface:

Because DC realizes that they've been losing to Marvel for years and realizes that they need to make drastic changes to catch up. Finally, they are starting to get it.

[Sean Walsh]

Why do I have this weird feeling that this piece of news was due to the whole Marvel and Disney deal ? :redface:

This restructuring has been in the works for a while - I think THE BEAT ran an article about Diane Nelson possibly taking over DC Comics a few weeks ago, at least.

.......yup, since late August at least: http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/08/26/is-diane-nelson-the-new-overlord-at-dc/

[Patryn]

For a more Hollywood perspective of all this, and a tale of how this has been in the works for a long time, read here:
http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/exclusive-warner-bros-jeff-robinov-restructures-dc-comics-diane-nelson-put-in-charge-of-dc-business-existing-dc-titles-pulled-from-producers/

[KET]

Why do I have this weird feeling that this piece of news was due to the whole Marvel and Disney deal ? :redface:


It wasn't, although the Disney/Marvel deal probably helped accelerate this change. I'd say it's been in the works ever since DiDio came onboard, and Jeff Robinov became the head guy at WB.

[coconutphone]

I'm surprised there isn't more attention on this here. Taking a more active interest in DC is a HUGE deal and I don't know if it will just be limited ot the movies.

[froinlaven]

I'm surprised there isn't more attention on this here. Taking a more active interest in DC is a HUGE deal and I don't know if it will just be limited ot the movies.

This is HUGE news. I just don't think alot of people are cognizant of what just happened. Then again, some of the news is sort of ambiguous. It's exciting, but more people will get it once more news come out.

[Thok]

It's really too early to say what the news means (except that Leyritz gets to write the Legion again.) Diane Nelson should get two to three years breathing room to show us what she can get produced.

Of course, given what comic book fans are like these days, she won't get any breathing room.

[comicsmetal]

It's really too early to say what the news means (except that Leyritz gets to write the Legion again.) Diane Nelson should get two to three years breathing room to show us what she can get produced.

Of course, given what comic book fans are like these days, she won't get any breathing room.

Truth be told ,it start with the whole doom and gloom attitude.

[Dragen]

Does this mean that DC and WB is finally putting the movie franchises and tv franchises under the same producing-roof? Will this finally enable the possibility of a Batman live action show on TV that's not 30-40 years old?

[comicsmetal]

Does this mean that DC and WB is finally putting the movie franchises and tv franchises under the same producing-roof? Will this finally enable the possibility of a Batman live action show on TV that's not 30-40 years old?

It could be.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Now, maybe DC can come up with a better strategy to gain some more of the comics market share. Getting your ass kicked for that long is just unacceptable.

Marvel has always won the market share battle against DC. Even in the 1990's when Marvel cancelled 75+ books. The thinking that DC should try and fire/restructure its editoral team for some lofty goal at being #1 is silly. Its what led Bischoff to kill WCW and time Warner owned that once valuable asset ....til that dumb goal to be the #1 company had WCW $80+ million in debt , and Time Warner was like...."Ok that needs to be sold ASAP."

Being a productive #2 that makes money doing its own thing and catoring to its fans , there is nothing at all wrong with that thinking. Its the moment you think you have to try and be #1 and start alienating those core fans of your product....thats when the problems arise.

[SMARTASS8]

Great! Disney buys Marvel and DC fans are going to suffer the consequences. Well, if they put someone in charge that causes me to drop DC's books entirely(like Marvel did with JoeyQ), at least I'll be saving a lot of money.

[olympichero62]

Marvel has always won the market share battle against DC. Even in the 1990's when Marvel cancelled 75+ books. The thinking that DC should try and fire/restructure its editoral team for some lofty goal at being #1 is silly. Its what led Bischoff to kill WCW and time Warner owned that once valuable asset ....til that dumb goal to be the #1 company had WCW $80+ million in debt , and Time Warner was like...."Ok that needs to be sold ASAP."

Being a productive #2 that makes money doing its own thing and catoring to its fans , there is nothing at all wrong with that thinking. Its the moment you think you have to try and be #1 and start alienating those core fans of your product....thats when the problems arise.

Haha, "Professional" Wrestling.

[comicsmetal]

Great! Disney buys Marvel and DC fans are going to suffer the consequences. Well, if they put someone in charge that causes me to drop DC's books entirely(like Marvel did with JoeyQ), at least I'll be saving a lot of money.

:rolleyes: This was already planed before Disney buys Marvel.

[froinlaven]

:rolleyes: This was already planed before Disney buys Marvel.

Yeah, they didn't wake the day after Disney acquired Marvel and decide to fix all the problems at DC. This has been in the works for a while people. That's not how business works

[comicsmetal]

Yeah, they didn't wake the day after Disney acquired Marvel and decide to fix all the problems at DC. This has been in the works for a while people. That's not how business works

Then how can you take a guy seriously when he has picture of a women butt in his avatar.

[comicsmetal]

Haha, "Professional" Wrestling.

:biggrin: Bad example .It was a big deal when I was younger but meh for me now.

[americocaine]

You cancel all Didio-era launched titles by default (Power Girl, JSA, Magog, JSA All-Stars, Green Arrow/Black Canary, Red Robin, Wonder Woman volume whatever it is, Secret Six, current JLA and Nu-Justice Replacement League, etc).

And forget about Superstupidman he belong to Disney/Marvel after 2013 or whomever the Siegels decide to sell to publish stories in the U.S. with his bastardized identity.

[SMARTASS8]

Then how can you take a guy seriously when he has picture of a women butt in his avatar.

How do you take someone seriously when they use the phrase "women butt"? Did you mean woman's butt?

Why don't you just go back to reading your dog-eared copies of Captain Canuck and forget about American comics?

[comicsmetal]

How do you take someone seriously when they use the phrase "women butt"? Did you mean woman's butt? F you, you ignorant troll!

Why don't you just go back to reading your dog-eared copies of Captain Canuck and forget about American comics?

Never mind. Oh by the way you are not the grammer police.

[True Herald]

Its the moment you think you have to try and be #1 and start alienating those core fans of your product....thats when the problems arise.

DC's already been alienating core fans without aiming for #1.
If they do it while aiming for #1, at least they'll be trying to accomplish something productive.

[True Herald]

Then how can you take a guy seriously when he has picture of a women butt in his avatar.

HEY!! Don't disparage the butt! :mad:

The butt is SOUND!!
The butt is IMPORTANT!!
:biggrin:

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Haha, "Professional" Wrestling.

:biggrin: Bad example .It was a big deal when I was younger but meh for me now.

Uhhh no....good example.


1.) Pro wrestling is a business that has the same values of comics story telling : Good vs Evil. The characters are created , they go into their battles and move forward. The entire idea is to make the storyline sell to the intended audiance and make $$$.

2.) Ala comics writers like Geoff Johns to handle characters , writers like Vince Russo , Brian Gerwitz , Paul Heyman ....they sit backstage and plot out future storylines and where things will go.

3.) WWF was a family ran business by Vince McMahon's father for years. He bought it and took it global. WCW at one time was owned by the DC Comics bosses. Ala the comic book wars we see today , the Monday Night Wars raged for years.

WCW at 1st was owned by Ted Turner and thru the merger with Time Warner the company was absorbed in. At one time in 1998 a NFL owner wanted to buy WCW for $500 million. Time Warner turned them down. WCW had made over $200+ million in one year....would you sell that ?

4.) But the pressure by Bischoff to stay #1 and beat the WWF/E cost him. The WWF had retaken the #1 position and Bischoff started tossing away long held plans. He started alienating viewers and changes soon happened that led to WCW being sold away at $3 million dollars in 2001. Its clear...had Bischoff realized , he didn't need to beat the WWF and be #1. There was enough money around to be a #2.


The moral of this is.... DC doesn't need to try and be #1. If they are making money (and reports are ...they have been making a lot more since Didio got in charge) ya stay the course. You stay with being a money making #2.

[comicsmetal]

HEY!! Don't disparage the butt! :mad:

The butt is SOUND!!
The butt is IMPORTANT!!
:biggrin:

Sure but in a fourm that we are not allowed to swear ,that avatar is inappropriate.

[comicsmetal]

Uhhh no....good example.


1.) Pro wrestling is a business that has the same values of comics story telling : Good vs Evil. The characters are created , they go into their battles and move forward. The entire idea is to make the storyline sell to the intended audiance and make $$$.

2.) Ala comics writers like Geoff Johns to handle characters , writers like Vince Russo , Brian Gerwitz , Paul Heyman ....they sit backstage and plot out future storylines and where things will go.

3.) WWF was a family ran business by Vince McMahon's father for years. He bought it and took it global. WCW at one time was owned by the DC Comics bosses. Ala the comic book wars we see today , the Monday Night Wars raged for years.

WCW at 1st was owned by Ted Turner and thru the merger with Time Warner the company was absorbed in. At one time in 1998 a NFL owner wanted to buy WCW for $500 million. Time Warner turned them down. WCW had made over $200+ million in one year....would you sell that ?

4.) But the pressure by Bischoff to stay #1 and beat the WWF/E cost him. The WWF had retaken the #1 position and Bischoff started tossing away long held plans. He started alienating viewers and changes soon happened that led to WCW being sold away at $3 million dollars in 2001. Its clear...had Bischoff realized , he didn't need to beat the WWF and be #1. There was enough money around to be a #2.


The moral of this is.... DC doesn't need to try and be #1. If they are making money (and reports are ...they have been making a lot more since Didio got in charge) ya stay the course. You stay with being a money making #2.

:smile: maybe you are right,professional wrestling just get's a bad rap.

[SMARTASS8]

Never mind. Oh by the way you are not the grammer police.

I made a statment based on an incorrect assumption and you felt the need to chastise me in multiple posts.:rolleyes: Don't act like I was going after you while you were innocently minding your own business.

No, I don't think I'm the grammer police. In fact, I don't even know what "grammer" is. Oh, do you mean grammar?

[SMARTASS8]

Sure but in a fourm that we are not allowed to swear ,that avatar is inappropriate.

How is it inappropriate? Not only does it not feature nudity, I've seen more "skin" in previews for upcoming comics on this site.

The swearing censorship is also BS. If "bad language" is frowned upon here, why does Jonah, the founder of this site, frequently curse in his video interviews. Since some of the mods have such an issue with it, why don't they install a program that automatically censors certain words?

[comicsmetal]

I made a statment based on an incorrect assumption and you felt the need to chastise me in multiple posts.:rolleyes: Don't act like I was going after you while you were innocently minding your own business.

No, I don't think I'm the grammer police. In fact, I don't even know what "grammer" is. Oh, do you mean grammar?

:smile: Okey sorry but can you please change the avatar.

[DeTroyes]

It wasn't, although the Disney/Marvel deal probably helped accelerate this change. I'd say it's been in the works ever since DiDio came onboard, and Jeff Robinov became the head guy at WB.

Its also quite possible that, Hollywood being what it is, both groups had an inkling of what was going on with the other even before the announcements were made. Some of it was already known and widely reported weeks ago (Diane Nelson moving to DC, for instance was reported weeks ago; and its no secret that Warner Brothers has been signaling some kind of rethinking in the way it exploits its DC catalogue). Its quite possible, for instance, that the Disney/Marvel deal was announced when it was in order to make the headlines before the Warner Brother/DC restructuring.

As for people like Dan Didio and company, it remains to be seen where this leaves them. Many times, when a restructuring like this occurs, the new chiefs like to bring in their own flunkies rather than work with those from the previous regime. But so far as the bottom line is concerned, Didio has been more successful than most in his position, and that coupled with his Hollywood experience and connections will probably keep him in his job for the time being. It might, however, mean that some lower tiered but long-time staffers like Eddie Berganza might be eased out in favor of newer blood.

Geoff Johns, Marv Wolfman, and Grant Morrison all got mentioned by name in at least one of the press releases I've seen. That probably means the prospects for a Flash, Teen Titans, and whatever Morrison is being asked to work on (Doom Patrol, perhaps?) movie have probably increased. But even so, we're probably at least three or four years away from any of those projects coming to fruition, probably longer. In the short term, the likelihood for more TV series - especially animated - have probably now skyrocketed. Expect a Blue Beetle (Jamie Reyes) series in the near future.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

DC's already been alienating core fans without aiming for #1.
If they do it while aiming for #1, at least they'll be trying to accomplish something productive.

Or they'll chase away those who have came on since 2004 under Didio. Junking editors to chase Marvel and believing if ya change your direction asap to beat them is a risk. In 1994 when Bischoff started his quest to beat McMahon he said he needed Hulk Hogan. He also soon added all of Hogan's friends and the product morphed a lot.

The oldschool NWA/WCW fans left , but enough came in to justify the move. Those being the old WWF fans who loved nostalgia. And seeing Hulk interact with Sting , Luger and Flair in WCW.

Now once things got bad and so many left the company and things took a nosedive , even those fans left once Russo tried the risky move of making the WWF Attitude come to WCW. It never worked. The fans wanted long Cruiserwieght matches...not 20 crash TV scenes with characters....no matter how funny it was,

DC has seemingly under Didio built a steady fanbase since he came in. Why risk alienating them to proclaim your #1 ? Because being #1 is hard....and keeping that slot is harder . As Bischoff showed us.

[Gabe99]

Maybe now we'll get to see a Justice League movie (or Flash or Wonder Woman or anything that isn't Superman or Batman) like, ever.

From Collider 12/22/2009:
Producer Dan Lin on the JUSTICE LEAGUE Movie, SUICIDE SQUAD, and Stephen King’s IT (http://www.collider.com/2009/12/22/producer-dan-lin-on-the-justice-league-movie-suicide-squad-and-stephen-kings-it/)



He also confirmed what I’d been hearing about WB’s plans for their DC superhero movies and that’s “they’re unveiling their DC strategy in January”. Meaning, we’re probably going to hear what other DC characters are getting movies very soon!

From Latino Review 11/16/2009:
WB To Announce Formal 'Batman 3' Plans In January? (http://www.latinoreview.com/news/wb-to-announce-formal-batman-3-plans-in-january-8559)

There’s some scuttlebutt that in early 2010, Warner Bros. and Chris Nolan will finalize the plan for BATMAN 3, according to a solid and longtime BOF source. Whether there will be an announcement or not remains to be seen. Our guy told BOF that in his opinion, the longer we don’t here a Nolan/B3 announcement in 2010, the less likely it is that the director will return.


From Coming Soon February 4, 2010:
DC Entertainment Announcements Just Weeks Away (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62995)

"We are going to have a fairly interesting set of announcements and presentations pretty soon like in a matter of weeks, I think, about our plans for DC," Bewkes said. "And basically if you look across the title of the whole band of hits whether its Batman, The Dark Knight, Green Lantern coming up, Superman, there have been a huge number of franchised films that have been part of the Warner [tent pole] strategy that's been the reason for Warner's unparallel high and consistent earnings advantage over the other studios and DC has already been a part of that and we are now going to outline an even more expansive plan for that in the coming months."

Earlier in the call, he said that you'll "hear more about our plans to mine more aggressively the deep catalogue of DC Comics characters across Warner Brothers' theatrical, home video, TV and games divisions and across our other divisions as well."

[KET]

Notice that none of these announcements have anything to do with actual comics-making. :frown:

[superchick]

KET I think we have to accept that DC is considered profitable research and development as far as comics are concerned. The publisher and dan will have free reign unless they start losing money

[Gabe99]

From Bleeding Cool:
Is Harry Potter’s Barbara Marcus The New Publisher Of DC Comics? (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/02/12/is-harry-potters-barbara-marcus-the-new-publisher-of-dc-comics/)

[superchick]

multiple problems with that potential hiring
1) she has no comics experience
2) she is known as a kids publisher, comics are not suitable for children most of the time and they have been priced out of the market.

Seems to me Diane Nelson and co don't understand the medium

[The Batman]

2) she is known as a kids publisher, comics are not suitable for children most of the time and they have been priced out of the market.


Sure, but isn't that a bad thing?

Maybe somebody with a fresh perspective and a bit of experience in reaching out to a broad audience is who DC needs in the big chair right now?

[Darrell D.]

multiple problems with that potential hiring
1) she has no comics experience
2) she is known as a kids publisher, comics are not suitable for children most of the time and they have been priced out of the market.

Seems to me Diane Nelson and co don't understand the medium

Jenette Kahn came from a similar background, if I recall correctly.

[Barcus]

I'm not exactly sure what to make of this.

However, I'd be very happy if DC started to catch up to Marvel. As they always say, competition between two companies always ends up in the favor of the consumer. If DC continues to raise it's quality, Marvel will eventually be forced to as well.

[superchick]

Sure, but isn't that a bad thing?

Maybe somebody with a fresh perspective and a bit of experience in reaching out to a broad audience is who DC needs in the big chair right now?

It is a bad thing but costs won't come down on floppies. There are areas for kids in comics, trades are good value and digital may work but that is common sense and needs to done anyway. Having a kids publisher to do the inevitable under the guise of 'great change' is silly. Also keep in mind that with prices as they are and genuine disinterest from children the last thing DC needs is to alienate its adult market. Sure, I can go with not seeing Marvin's half eaten body again but it was no grosser than the decaying corpses that we are seeing in Blackest Night. Where do we draw the line?

[The Batman]

It is a bad thing but costs won't come down on floppies. There are areas for kids in comics, trades are good value and digital may work but that is common sense and needs to done anyway. Having a kids publisher to do the inevitable under the guise of 'great change' is silly. Also keep in mind that with prices as they are and genuine disinterest from children the last thing DC needs is to alienate its adult market. Sure, I can go with not seeing Marvin's half eaten body again but it was no grosser than the decaying corpses that we are seeing in Blackest Night. Where do we draw the line?

Common sense, good ideas, and necessity don't always translate into action though. Sometimes you need a fresh perspective and the will to change. Maybe that's Barbara Marcus, maybe it's not. Writing her off right away as a "kids publisher" is a mistake I think.

Because the thing is, kids do like superheroes and they do like comics, just not mainstream superhero comics. The problem is, I think, that there's not too much to appeal to them in superhero comics. You can change that without alienating the "grown ups" though. It's possible to have different books that appeal to different audiences, some for the younger crowd and others for the older crowd or even to have books that will appeal to a broader audience, young and old.

Look at the phenomena that is Harry Potter. It was something that was targeted to appeal to both kids and adults (or, if you will, children of all ages) and it got those kids reading when the conventional wisdom was that kids weren't at all interested in reading.

It's a bit of corporate-think I know, but maybe one of the hands that helped to guide Harry Potter and grew Scholastic's business won't be the worst thing to happen to DC Comics.