They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and though Marvel’s lucrative MCU continues to inspire and inform other interconnected universes – both directly and indirectly – all across Hollywood, Warner Bros. has vowed to do its own thing, even after Justice League was raked over the coals late last year.
Word comes by way of The Wrap, where Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Kevin Tsujihara stressed that the DC Extended Universe must remain on course, otherwise it risks becoming a derivative carbon copy of its biggest rival, the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Part and parcel of that strategy will involve “fewer cooks” in the kitchen, after the studio chose to part ways with Sue Kroll, a 23-year industry veteran. In her absence, Warner Bros. Pictures Chairman Toby Emmerich is expected to answer to no one but Tsujihara, and this editorial oversight will hopefully – hopefully – help course-correct the flagging DCEU.
Here’s confirmation of that Tsujihara quote, courtesy of The Wrap:
Warner Bros needs to continue doing what it’s always done: producing the biggest, most diverse slate in the business. That’s what’s made us successful. We can’t do what Disney’s done. It’s worked really, really well for them, but it’s not who we are. We need to continue to create a balanced slate of all types of movies and all genres.
Indeed, we understand the studio is already in the process of overhauling its DC Films division. Case in point: Walter Hamada (It, The Conjuring) has been named as president, and will oversee Warner’s superhero output henceforth. Further down the chain of command, Geoff Johns and former DC Films head Jon Berg will now assume different roles entirely – the former will work alongside Roy Lee (It: Chapter Two), while Johns is expected to hold an “advisory role” within the DC Extended Universe from here on out.
And with Aquaman and Shazam! – not to mention sequels to both Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad – all on the horizon, the next two-to-three years will be crucial if the Warner Bros. franchise is really to turn things around. More on the DCEU when we have it.