News Analysis India

Tag: Warner Bros

  • ‘Dune: Part Two’ release postponed to 2024 as actors strike lingers

    By Associated Press

    NEW YORK: The release of “Dune: Part Two,” one of the fall’s most anticipated films, has been postponed from November until next year, Warner Bros. confirmed Thursday.

    Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction sequel had been set to open Nov. 3, but will instead land in theaters March 15 next year. With the actors strike entering its second month, “Dune: Part Two” had been rumoured to be eyeing a move. Variety earlier this month reported Warner Bros. was mulling the delay.

    Warner Bros. is opting to wait until its starry cast can promote the follow-up to the 2021 Oscar-winning “Dune.” “Part Two” stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.

    “Dune: Part Two” is one of the biggest 2023 films yet postponed due to the ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters. Recent releases have mostly opted to go ahead, despite lacking their stars on red carpets or on magazine covers. SAG-AFTRA has asked its members not to promote studio films during the work stoppage.

    Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” an MGM Studios release starring Zendaya, earlier withdrew from its Venice Film Festival opening night slot and postponed its debut to next April. Sony also pushed its next “Ghostbusters” film from December to next year and removed the early 2024 release “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” from its schedule.

    As part of the “Dune” delay, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are shifting “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” one month, to April 12. Warner Bros.’ “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” will vacate that April date and move to December 2024.

    Warner Bros. didn’t change its other 2023 releases, including “Wonka” (Dec. 15), “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (Dec. 20) and “The Color Purple” (Dec. 25).

    NEW YORK: The release of “Dune: Part Two,” one of the fall’s most anticipated films, has been postponed from November until next year, Warner Bros. confirmed Thursday.

    Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction sequel had been set to open Nov. 3, but will instead land in theaters March 15 next year. With the actors strike entering its second month, “Dune: Part Two” had been rumoured to be eyeing a move. Variety earlier this month reported Warner Bros. was mulling the delay.

    Warner Bros. is opting to wait until its starry cast can promote the follow-up to the 2021 Oscar-winning “Dune.” “Part Two” stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “Dune: Part Two” is one of the biggest 2023 films yet postponed due to the ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters. Recent releases have mostly opted to go ahead, despite lacking their stars on red carpets or on magazine covers. SAG-AFTRA has asked its members not to promote studio films during the work stoppage.

    Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” an MGM Studios release starring Zendaya, earlier withdrew from its Venice Film Festival opening night slot and postponed its debut to next April. Sony also pushed its next “Ghostbusters” film from December to next year and removed the early 2024 release “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” from its schedule.

    As part of the “Dune” delay, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are shifting “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” one month, to April 12. Warner Bros.’ “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” will vacate that April date and move to December 2024.

    Warner Bros. didn’t change its other 2023 releases, including “Wonka” (Dec. 15), “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (Dec. 20) and “The Color Purple” (Dec. 25).

  • New streaming app to ‘Max’ programming from HBO, Discovery

    By Associated Press

    Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled a streaming service Wednesday combining iconic HBO programming such as “The Sopranos” with a mix of unscripted TV series in a push to reap more subscribers from what so far has been a muddled media merger.

    The $16-per-month service, called Max, will be released on May 23 in the U.S. and automatically replace the company’s existing HBO Max service in what is being promised as a seamless transition. Max will gradually become available in the rest of the world, with Latin America next up on the slate.

    The existing Discovery Plus app featuring reality and unscripted series such as “Fixer Upper” and “Naked and Afraid” from a collection of TV networks will continue to be offered. That’s even as all that programming is made available within the new Max app, which will be marketed with the tagline “The One To Watch.”

    The transition comes a year after the completion of a roughly $43 billion deal that spun off AT&T’s WarnerMedia Division which includes HBO, CNN and TBS into Discovery, whose stable includes the TLC, HGTV, Magnolia and Food networks.

    When the deal was announced in 2021, Warner Bros. Discover CEO David Zaslav envisioned it creating “the best media company in the world” backed by a vast library of movies, TV series, documentaries and children’s programming. The goal was to stand out among an array of streaming options competing for subscribers at a time many households are trimming discretionary spending amid stubbornly high inflation.

    With Max now on the verge of rolling out, Zaslav said he still sees big things ahead.

    “This is our rendezvous with destiny,” he declared during a presentation in the same studio where movies such as “Casablanca” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” were made. Those movies, as well as other Warner Bros. films, will be available in Max, which Zaslav hailed as “the streaming version of must-see TV.” Zaslav hinted that live sports events and news will be added to Max before the end of the year.

    Given that the Max app will bring more pedestrian programming from the Discovery networks alongside the boundary-breaking series that have been HBO’s hallmark, Warner Bros. Discovery executives periodically emphasized HBO would remain the same groundbreaking network that recently caused a stir with the series “The Last of Us,” and is currently making waves with the final season of “Succession.”

    Toward that end, the company said it would be announcing another offshoot of its most-watched series, “Game of Thrones,” and is developing a new live-action “Harry Potter” series featuring a different cast from the popular film franchise based on the books by J.K. Rowling.

    Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping the Max app helps turn the tide after a year of turbulence.

    Since taking over the combined company, Zaslav has been shedding thousands of workers and slashing other expenses to cope with the roughly $50 billion debt that the company took on largely because of the merger. The cost-cutting included a decision to pull the plug on CNN’s streaming service a month after its launch in a move that quickly raised doubts about whether the Warner Bros. Discovery deal would turn out to be a flop.

    The ongoing scepticism has been reflected in New York-based Warner Bros. Discovery’s stock price, which has dropped by more than 40% since the merger’s completion, including further erosion Wednesday that occurred after the company laid out its plans for the Max app.

    Shares in Netflix, the world’s top streaming service, have fallen by 7% during the same stretch amid concerns about its own slowing growth, which included a loss of 920,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada territory in 2022 represents its biggest market.

    Netflix, which ended last year with 231 million worldwide subscribers, is just one of a bevy of deep-pocketed streamers that the new Max app will be competing against. Other notables include Apple, Amazon, and Walt Disney Co., which offers apps for Hulu TV and ESPN in addition to Disney Plus.

    The stiff competition prompted Netflix to introduce a lower-cost streaming plan that includes ads, an option that Max will offer for $10 per month for viewers willing to tolerate periodic commercial interruptions.

    Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled a streaming service Wednesday combining iconic HBO programming such as “The Sopranos” with a mix of unscripted TV series in a push to reap more subscribers from what so far has been a muddled media merger.

    The $16-per-month service, called Max, will be released on May 23 in the U.S. and automatically replace the company’s existing HBO Max service in what is being promised as a seamless transition. Max will gradually become available in the rest of the world, with Latin America next up on the slate.

    The existing Discovery Plus app featuring reality and unscripted series such as “Fixer Upper” and “Naked and Afraid” from a collection of TV networks will continue to be offered. That’s even as all that programming is made available within the new Max app, which will be marketed with the tagline “The One To Watch.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The transition comes a year after the completion of a roughly $43 billion deal that spun off AT&T’s WarnerMedia Division which includes HBO, CNN and TBS into Discovery, whose stable includes the TLC, HGTV, Magnolia and Food networks.

    When the deal was announced in 2021, Warner Bros. Discover CEO David Zaslav envisioned it creating “the best media company in the world” backed by a vast library of movies, TV series, documentaries and children’s programming. The goal was to stand out among an array of streaming options competing for subscribers at a time many households are trimming discretionary spending amid stubbornly high inflation.

    With Max now on the verge of rolling out, Zaslav said he still sees big things ahead.

    “This is our rendezvous with destiny,” he declared during a presentation in the same studio where movies such as “Casablanca” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” were made. Those movies, as well as other Warner Bros. films, will be available in Max, which Zaslav hailed as “the streaming version of must-see TV.” Zaslav hinted that live sports events and news will be added to Max before the end of the year.

    Given that the Max app will bring more pedestrian programming from the Discovery networks alongside the boundary-breaking series that have been HBO’s hallmark, Warner Bros. Discovery executives periodically emphasized HBO would remain the same groundbreaking network that recently caused a stir with the series “The Last of Us,” and is currently making waves with the final season of “Succession.”

    Toward that end, the company said it would be announcing another offshoot of its most-watched series, “Game of Thrones,” and is developing a new live-action “Harry Potter” series featuring a different cast from the popular film franchise based on the books by J.K. Rowling.

    Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping the Max app helps turn the tide after a year of turbulence.

    Since taking over the combined company, Zaslav has been shedding thousands of workers and slashing other expenses to cope with the roughly $50 billion debt that the company took on largely because of the merger. The cost-cutting included a decision to pull the plug on CNN’s streaming service a month after its launch in a move that quickly raised doubts about whether the Warner Bros. Discovery deal would turn out to be a flop.

    The ongoing scepticism has been reflected in New York-based Warner Bros. Discovery’s stock price, which has dropped by more than 40% since the merger’s completion, including further erosion Wednesday that occurred after the company laid out its plans for the Max app.

    Shares in Netflix, the world’s top streaming service, have fallen by 7% during the same stretch amid concerns about its own slowing growth, which included a loss of 920,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada territory in 2022 represents its biggest market.

    Netflix, which ended last year with 231 million worldwide subscribers, is just one of a bevy of deep-pocketed streamers that the new Max app will be competing against. Other notables include Apple, Amazon, and Walt Disney Co., which offers apps for Hulu TV and ESPN in addition to Disney Plus.

    The stiff competition prompted Netflix to introduce a lower-cost streaming plan that includes ads, an option that Max will offer for $10 per month for viewers willing to tolerate periodic commercial interruptions.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery sues Paramount over ‘South Park’ deal

    By Associated Press

    NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is suing Paramount Global, saying its competitor aired new episodes of the popular animated comedy series “South Park” after Warner paid for exclusive rights.

    Warner says it signed a contract in 2019 paying more than $500 million for the rights to existing and new episodes of the irreverent show, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in New York State Supreme Court.

    HBO Max, Warner’s streaming platform, was scheduled to receive the first episodes of a new “South Park” season in 2020. But the company was informed the pandemic halted production, the lawsuit says.

    In spite of Warner’s exclusive rights to the show until 2025, the company alleges South Park Digital Studios, which produces the shows and is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, offered two pandemic-themed specials to Paramount, which aired them in September 2020 and March 2021.

    The lawsuit claims the pandemic specials should have been offered to Warner under the initial contract. The move, called “verbal trickery” in the lawsuit, drove the show’s fans to the competing Paramount platform. Nearly all South Park episodes premiere on Comedy Central, one of Paramount’s cable channels, the lawsuit says.

    Show creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who launched the show in 1997 and oversee the franchise, were not named in the lawsuit.

    Gaining streaming rights to “South Park” is a competitive process because of the potentially lucrative market attracting more subscribers, advertisers and a loyal fan base that Warner’s lawsuit says consists mostly of young adults.

    The 24-page court filing also cites a $900 million deal in 2021 between a Paramount subsidiary and South Park Digital Studios for exclusive content on the Paramount Plus streaming service, which launched the same year.

    Warner claims the deal was a deliberate “scheme” between Paramount, its subsidiary MTV Entertainment Studios and South Park Digital Studios to “divert as much of the new South Park content as possible to Paramount Plus in order to boost that nascent streaming platform.”

    Warner paid $1,687,500 per episode and alleges it has not yet received all episodes covered by the contract, resulting in damages of more than $200 million.

    Paramount Global did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment on the lawsuit.

    NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is suing Paramount Global, saying its competitor aired new episodes of the popular animated comedy series “South Park” after Warner paid for exclusive rights.

    Warner says it signed a contract in 2019 paying more than $500 million for the rights to existing and new episodes of the irreverent show, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in New York State Supreme Court.

    HBO Max, Warner’s streaming platform, was scheduled to receive the first episodes of a new “South Park” season in 2020. But the company was informed the pandemic halted production, the lawsuit says.

    In spite of Warner’s exclusive rights to the show until 2025, the company alleges South Park Digital Studios, which produces the shows and is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, offered two pandemic-themed specials to Paramount, which aired them in September 2020 and March 2021.

    The lawsuit claims the pandemic specials should have been offered to Warner under the initial contract. The move, called “verbal trickery” in the lawsuit, drove the show’s fans to the competing Paramount platform. Nearly all South Park episodes premiere on Comedy Central, one of Paramount’s cable channels, the lawsuit says.

    Show creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who launched the show in 1997 and oversee the franchise, were not named in the lawsuit.

    Gaining streaming rights to “South Park” is a competitive process because of the potentially lucrative market attracting more subscribers, advertisers and a loyal fan base that Warner’s lawsuit says consists mostly of young adults.

    The 24-page court filing also cites a $900 million deal in 2021 between a Paramount subsidiary and South Park Digital Studios for exclusive content on the Paramount Plus streaming service, which launched the same year.

    Warner claims the deal was a deliberate “scheme” between Paramount, its subsidiary MTV Entertainment Studios and South Park Digital Studios to “divert as much of the new South Park content as possible to Paramount Plus in order to boost that nascent streaming platform.”

    Warner paid $1,687,500 per episode and alleges it has not yet received all episodes covered by the contract, resulting in damages of more than $200 million.

    Paramount Global did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment on the lawsuit.

  • Warner Bros gearing up for new ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies

    By Express News Service

    Studio giant Warner Bros. and its film label  New Line have announced a deal that includes developing more Lord of the Rings films.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. and New Line have closed a multi-year deal with Embracer Group AB, which holds the film, gaming, merchandise, theme parks and live productions rights to Lord of the Rings.

    Peter Jackson directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, released from 2001-03. The series has grossed a combined $2.9 billion at the box office, with 2003’s Return of the King winning the Oscar for best picture. Then  Jackson returned to direct The Hobbit trilogy from 2012-2014. 

    The upcoming films are not expected to be remakes of the previous trilogies of Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. In a statement, Jackson and his Lord of the Rings partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens noted they were aware of the latest development. Amazon holds the TV rights to Lord of the Rings, with its big-budget Rings of Power debuting last year.  

    Studio giant Warner Bros. and its film label  New Line have announced a deal that includes developing more Lord of the Rings films.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. and New Line have closed a multi-year deal with Embracer Group AB, which holds the film, gaming, merchandise, theme parks and live productions rights to Lord of the Rings.

    Peter Jackson directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, released from 2001-03. The series has grossed a combined $2.9 billion at the box office, with 2003’s Return of the King winning the Oscar for best picture. Then  Jackson returned to direct The Hobbit trilogy from 2012-2014. 

    The upcoming films are not expected to be remakes of the previous trilogies of Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. In a statement, Jackson and his Lord of the Rings partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens noted they were aware of the latest development. Amazon holds the TV rights to Lord of the Rings, with its big-budget Rings of Power debuting last year. 
     

  • New poster of ‘Shazam 2’ out

    By Express News Service

    A new poster from the upcoming film Shazam! Fury of the Gods has been released by Warner Bros. The poster has been credited as the final theatrical poster, with the trailer releasing on Friday. The film is a long-awaited sequel to 2019’s adaptation of DC’s Captain Marvel mythology.

    In the new movie, the Shazam family squares off against the children of the gods. The poster hints at a new look of Zachary Levi, who plays the main lead, along with other main characters in the film. 

    Shazam! Fury of the Gods will feature the return of Asher Angel and Zachary Levi as they reprise their respective roles as Billy Batson and Shazam. Joining them are most of the first film’s main cast, including Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy, Faithe Herman and Meagan Good as Darla, Ian Chen and Ross Butler as Eugene, Grace Fulton as Mary, Jovan Armand and DJ Cotrona as Pedro, Marta Milans, and Cooper Andrews. 

    Shazam! Fury of the Gods is once again being directed by David F Sandberg with a screenplay written by Chris Morgan and Henry Gayden. It is produced by Peter Safran. The film will hit the theatres in March.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    WATCH TRAILER HERE

    A new poster from the upcoming film Shazam! Fury of the Gods has been released by Warner Bros. The poster has been credited as the final theatrical poster, with the trailer releasing on Friday. The film is a long-awaited sequel to 2019’s adaptation of DC’s Captain Marvel mythology.

    In the new movie, the Shazam family squares off against the children of the gods. The poster hints at a new look of Zachary Levi, who plays the main lead, along with other main characters in the film. 

    Shazam! Fury of the Gods will feature the return of Asher Angel and Zachary Levi as they reprise their respective roles as Billy Batson and Shazam. Joining them are most of the first film’s main cast, including Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy, Faithe Herman and Meagan Good as Darla, Ian Chen and Ross Butler as Eugene, Grace Fulton as Mary, Jovan Armand and DJ Cotrona as Pedro, Marta Milans, and Cooper Andrews. 

    Shazam! Fury of the Gods is once again being directed by David F Sandberg with a screenplay written by Chris Morgan and Henry Gayden. It is produced by Peter Safran. The film will hit the theatres in March.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    WATCH TRAILER HERE

  • Warner Bros announces 2023 theatrical slate for India

    By Express News Service

    It is going to be a big year for Warner Bros. With more films set to release than any other studio in India this year, the studio has an exciting line-up of films scheduled for 2023. Speaking about the theatrical line-up, Denzil Dias, the VP and Managing Director of India Theatrical says, “We are extremely excited to bring in a huge number of films in 2023 that will delight fans of all ages.

    These are films that span across various genres and will showcase films from incredible filmmakers and talent. We are sure that fans across India will swarm cinemas to be entertained by these fantastic films, which include movies from the DC Universe, Fast & Furious Franchise, the Conjuring Universe, and many more.”

    Warner Bros will be kicking off this year with Creed III starring Michael B Jordan on March 3. The much-awaited DC film slate for the year starts with Shazam! Fury of the Gods on March 17 followed by the long-delayed The Flash on June 16. DC Studios will be introducing the superhero Blue Beetle on August 18 while Jason Momoa’s sequel to Aquaman titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is releasing on December 21.

    The iconic horror franchise Evil Dead will be releasing its fifth instalment titled Evil Dead Rise on April  21. Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the beloved toy line Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling is all set to hit theatres on July 21. The sequel to Jason Statham’s 2018 sci-fi thriller film Meg, titled Meg 2: The Trench will be released on August 4. 

    The Conjuring spinoff The Nun 2 will release on September 8 while the sequel to Academy Award-winning sci-fi space opera from director Denis Villeneuve Dune: Part Two will release on November 3. The origin story of Willy Wonka,  titled Wonka, with Timothée Chalamet playing the titular role, will be released on December 15.

    Warner Bros. Pictures will also be distributing films from Universal Pictures, including M Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin on February 3, and thriller-dark comedy Cocaine Bear on February 23. The film adaptation of the beloved game franchise titled The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be released on April 7. Nicholas Cage starrer Renfield, a modern take on Dracula’s long-suffering assistant, will be released on April 14. The Fast and Furious franchise comes to an end with Fast X on May 19.

    Christopher Nolan’s film about the making of the nuclear bomb, Oppenheimer will be released on July 21. A new chapter in the iconic The Exorcist franchise from the creative team behind The Halloween trilogy will be released on October 14. 

    Warner Bros’ addition to the animation genre this year involves Trolls Band Together from Dreamworks Animation on November 17 along with Illumination Entertainment’s Migration on December 29. 

    It is going to be a big year for Warner Bros. With more films set to release than any other studio in India this year, the studio has an exciting line-up of films scheduled for 2023. Speaking about the theatrical line-up, Denzil Dias, the VP and Managing Director of India Theatrical says, “We are extremely excited to bring in a huge number of films in 2023 that will delight fans of all ages.

    These are films that span across various genres and will showcase films from incredible filmmakers and talent. We are sure that fans across India will swarm cinemas to be entertained by these fantastic films, which include movies from the DC Universe, Fast & Furious Franchise, the Conjuring Universe, and many more.”

    Warner Bros will be kicking off this year with Creed III starring Michael B Jordan on March 3. The much-awaited DC film slate for the year starts with Shazam! Fury of the Gods on March 17 followed by the long-delayed The Flash on June 16. DC Studios will be introducing the superhero Blue Beetle on August 18 while Jason Momoa’s sequel to Aquaman titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is releasing on December 21.

    The iconic horror franchise Evil Dead will be releasing its fifth instalment titled Evil Dead Rise on April  21. Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the beloved toy line Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling is all set to hit theatres on July 21. The sequel to Jason Statham’s 2018 sci-fi thriller film Meg, titled Meg 2: The Trench will be released on August 4. 

    The Conjuring spinoff The Nun 2 will release on September 8 while the sequel to Academy Award-winning sci-fi space opera from director Denis Villeneuve Dune: Part Two will release on November 3. The origin story of Willy Wonka,  titled Wonka, with Timothée Chalamet playing the titular role, will be released on December 15.

    Warner Bros. Pictures will also be distributing films from Universal Pictures, including M Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin on February 3, and thriller-dark comedy Cocaine Bear on February 23. The film adaptation of the beloved game franchise titled The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be released on April 7. Nicholas Cage starrer Renfield, a modern take on Dracula’s long-suffering assistant, will be released on April 14. The Fast and Furious franchise comes to an end with Fast X on May 19.

    Christopher Nolan’s film about the making of the nuclear bomb, Oppenheimer will be released on July 21. A new chapter in the iconic The Exorcist franchise from the creative team behind The Halloween trilogy will be released on October 14. 

    Warner Bros’ addition to the animation genre this year involves Trolls Band Together from Dreamworks Animation on November 17 along with Illumination Entertainment’s Migration on December 29.
     

  • Neil Gaiman shuts down rumours of ‘The Sandman’ cancellation

    Express News Service

    Amid multiple cancellations at Warner Bros and their recent issues with Netflix, writer/showrunner Neil Gaiman has come out assuring the fans that they are still going ahead with the second season of The Sandman. The series is based on the graphic novel of the same name written by Neil Gaiman.

    It was earlier reported that Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav was disappointed with Netflix’s payment structure and as a result, has halted his studio from “selling finished shows to Netflix.” The streaming giant apparently takes around 18 to 24 months to pay their producers. 

    According to sources, Zaslav’s discontent with Netflix happened after they renewed The Sandman for a second season. The fantasy series premiered on 5 August 2022 and became a critical and commercial success, with around 200 million hours of viewership within the first 10 days of its release.

    Despite its success, Netflix took more than three months to renew the series for a second season. This led to speculation that the series was cancelled. However, The Sandman was renewed for a second season in November. 

    Neil Gaiman recently confirmed that the fan-favourite character Delirium from the graphic novel would make an appearance in the second season. Although the makers are yet to confirm a release date, the second season is expected to drop anytime between September to December of 2023.

    Amid multiple cancellations at Warner Bros and their recent issues with Netflix, writer/showrunner Neil Gaiman has come out assuring the fans that they are still going ahead with the second season of The Sandman. The series is based on the graphic novel of the same name written by Neil Gaiman.

    It was earlier reported that Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav was disappointed with Netflix’s payment structure and as a result, has halted his studio from “selling finished shows to Netflix.” The streaming giant apparently takes around 18 to 24 months to pay their producers. 

    According to sources, Zaslav’s discontent with Netflix happened after they renewed The Sandman for a second season. The fantasy series premiered on 5 August 2022 and became a critical and commercial success, with around 200 million hours of viewership within the first 10 days of its release.

    Despite its success, Netflix took more than three months to renew the series for a second season. This led to speculation that the series was cancelled. However, The Sandman was renewed for a second season in November. 

    Neil Gaiman recently confirmed that the fan-favourite character Delirium from the graphic novel would make an appearance in the second season. Although the makers are yet to confirm a release date, the second season is expected to drop anytime between September to December of 2023.

  • Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Mickey 17’ to release on March 2024

    By Express News Service

    Warner Bros, on Tuesday, announced the release date of its upcoming film Mickey 17, starring actor Robert Pattinson. The film is directed by Bong Joon Ho and will mark the director’s first release after his award-winning film Parasite. Mickey 17 is set to release in theatres on March 29, 2024.

    The film is currently in production and is directed, produced and scripted by the filmmaker. Mickey 17 is based on the science fiction novel Mickey 7  by Edward Ashton. Starring Robert in the titular role, Mickey 17 also stars Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.

    The film is produced by Plan B Entertainment, Dooho Choi of Kate Street Picture Company, and Bong Joon Ho under his Offscreen, Inc banner. 

    Mickey 17 is shot by cinematographer Darius Khondji, with production design by Fiona Crombie. Jinmo Yang who has worked in Parasite will be the editor of this film as well. The music is by composer Jae-il Jung, who has also worked in Parasite. Mickey 17 will be released worldwide by Warner Bros Pictures.

    Warner Bros, on Tuesday, announced the release date of its upcoming film Mickey 17, starring actor Robert Pattinson. The film is directed by Bong Joon Ho and will mark the director’s first release after his award-winning film Parasite. Mickey 17 is set to release in theatres on March 29, 2024.

    The film is currently in production and is directed, produced and scripted by the filmmaker. Mickey 17 is based on the science fiction novel Mickey 7  by Edward Ashton. Starring Robert in the titular role, Mickey 17 also stars Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.

    The film is produced by Plan B Entertainment, Dooho Choi of Kate Street Picture Company, and Bong Joon Ho under his Offscreen, Inc banner. 

    Mickey 17 is shot by cinematographer Darius Khondji, with production design by Fiona Crombie. Jinmo Yang who has worked in Parasite will be the editor of this film as well. The music is by composer Jae-il Jung, who has also worked in Parasite. Mickey 17 will be released worldwide by Warner Bros Pictures.

  • ‘Harry Potter’ TV series may come soon, says Warner Bros TV CEO

    By Express News Service

    A TV series based on Harry Potter may come soon, revealed Warner Bros TV CEO, Channing Dungey.According to a report by Eonline.com, Dungey said, “There is a tremendous amount of ambition for that and we are engaged in a number of different conversations. I wish I could tell you that something was imminent on the horizon but there is a lot of interest and a lot of passion for it.”

    Dungey also stated she’s optimistic about what the future holds. “We’re just trying to figure out what the right next step is,” she added. Last year, Warner Bros. TV has started dipping its toes into Harry Potter content. 

    In November 2021, TBS aired Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, a four-part quiz hosted by Helen Mirren which featured appearances from Harry Potter favourites like Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton and Luke Youngblood.

    HBO Max then premiered Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts on New Year’s Day 2022, which featured a reunion of numerous actors from the film series, including stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

    A TV series based on Harry Potter may come soon, revealed Warner Bros TV CEO, Channing Dungey.
    According to a report by Eonline.com, Dungey said, “There is a tremendous amount of ambition for that and we are engaged in a number of different conversations. I wish I could tell you that something was imminent on the horizon but there is a lot of interest and a lot of passion for it.”

    Dungey also stated she’s optimistic about what the future holds. “We’re just trying to figure out what the right next step is,” she added. Last year, Warner Bros. TV has started dipping its toes into Harry Potter content. 

    In November 2021, TBS aired Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, a four-part quiz hosted by Helen Mirren which featured appearances from Harry Potter favourites like Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton and Luke Youngblood.

    HBO Max then premiered Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts on New Year’s Day 2022, which featured a reunion of numerous actors from the film series, including stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

  • Warner Bros CEO expresses interest in continuing ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Superman’ franchise

    By Express News Service

    David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery has expressed interest to extend the company’s franchises by making more films, including that of the Harry Potter title. David has also dabbled in the idea to collaborate with the author of the book, JK Rowling.

    “We’re going to focus on franchises. We haven’t had a Superman movie in 13 years. We haven’t done a Harry Potter in 15 years. The DC movies and the Harry Potter movies provided a lot of profits for Warner Bros. … over the past 25 years. If we can do something with J.K. on Harry Potter going forward.,” Zaslav was quoted as saying The Hollywood Reporter.

    It is to be noted that all eight Harry Potter films from the franchise were released by Warner Bros during the period between 2001-2011. The banner is also Rowling for the Fantastic Beasts franchise, which is also set in the same Harry Potter universe. However, that did not yield as many returns as the Harry Potter films.

    Meanwhile, recently actor Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular character in the Harry Potter franchise had said that it is important to speak out against Rowling’s controversial opinions on the transgender community. While Rowling has strongly established her conservative thoughts on the community and has been branded as TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), Daniel had previously published an open letter stating that “Transgender women are women”.

    (This story was originally published in Cinema Express)

    David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery has expressed interest to extend the company’s franchises by making more films, including that of the Harry Potter title. David has also dabbled in the idea to collaborate with the author of the book, JK Rowling.

    “We’re going to focus on franchises. We haven’t had a Superman movie in 13 years. We haven’t done a Harry Potter in 15 years. The DC movies and the Harry Potter movies provided a lot of profits for Warner Bros. … over the past 25 years. If we can do something with J.K. on Harry Potter going forward.,” Zaslav was quoted as saying The Hollywood Reporter.

    It is to be noted that all eight Harry Potter films from the franchise were released by Warner Bros during the period between 2001-2011. The banner is also Rowling for the Fantastic Beasts franchise, which is also set in the same Harry Potter universe. However, that did not yield as many returns as the Harry Potter films.

    Meanwhile, recently actor Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular character in the Harry Potter franchise had said that it is important to speak out against Rowling’s controversial opinions on the transgender community. While Rowling has strongly established her conservative thoughts on the community and has been branded as TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), Daniel had previously published an open letter stating that “Transgender women are women”.

    (This story was originally published in Cinema Express)