Film producer Dan Lin is in talks to become head of Warner Bros.’s film and television division. Discovery DC Comics won’t ultimately take the job, say people familiar with the matter.
Lego Movie: The two sides ended negotiations without reaching an agreement.
CEO David Zaslav is trying to overhaul WarnerMedia following its merger with Discovery in April, including cutting and removing content from streaming service HBO Max. Its shares are down about 50% since the merger closed.
After discussing a possible offer from Warner Bros., Lin decided to stay with Rideback, the film and television company he founded and directed, said the people, who spoke anonymously because the talks were private. He has produced films such as The Lego Movie and the two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment. Lynn was not immediately available for comment.
The 49-year-old film producer is a favourite for the role, as Lin reports directly to Zaslav and heads up HBO and HBO Max, Warner Bros. Television and Warner Bros. Pictures. Two people said that contract negotiations caused complications because Lynn owned Rideback, and Warner Bros. Discovery would compensate her.
One of the people said that the two sides exchanged contract terms and that Lynn wants to keep Rideback going with the equity stake held by WBD.
One of the people said that the two sides decided to continue after the talks broke down.
Warner Bros. recently pushed back its Aquaman sequel scheduled for release in March 2023 to December 2023. The Flash, also slated for a release next year, has been controversial as its star Ezra Miller has faced several charges, including childcare. Zaslav removed the almost complete “Batgirl” from his HBO Max playlist, allowing the company to take the tax write-off.
In April, it was reported that Zaslav had approached Emma Watts, a former top executive at 20th Century Studios and Paramount, to take over the post, but Watts did not accept the job. One of the people said that Warner Bros. Discovery spoke to several other candidates for the job. Zaslav personally met with Lin to convince him to take the job, another person said.