In the last month, Warner Bros. Discovery and DC have seen significant transformations as new CEO David Zaslav has begun to implement his strategic plan. Batgirl isn’t getting made, Shazam 2 has been pushed back, and WBD has already started teasing fans with their new 10-year plan for DC. Finally, it appears that Zaslav, DC has discovered its own Kevin Feige. The Hollywood Reporter claims that producer Dan Lin is in discussions to replace DC’s current leader. If the arrangement is finalised, Lin will report directly to Zaslav, though negotiations are still ongoing. This would result in fewer people weighing in on every choice.
Meanwhile, Walter Hamada’s responsibilities will be transferred to the producer. Hamada had a tumultuous time at DC since he had to fix the problems that Justice League 2017 had caused. The previous regime’s choice to plan all WB releases during the epidemic to occur on the same day had a significant influence on his stay in DC. Both Wonder Woman (1984) and The Suicide Squad (both of which featured female heroes) were impacted by that problematic decision. However, Hamada did have several successes, including the singles Joker and Batman.
After rumours spread that DC’s current leader, George Perez, was considering leaving after the cancellation of Batgirl, all evidence pointed to Hamada’s departure. Recently, the position of DC’s leader has been highly sought after in Hollywood. Amy Pascal and Greg Berlanti, among others, were allegedly in contention for the position. On the other hand, a producer is an excellent option for Lin’s replacement at DC. Lin’s remarkable CV speaks for itself, and it’s not only because he got his start in the business working with current WB Advisor Alan Horn in a junior executive role. Lin has extensive expertise with huge brands and has worked on modern masterpieces including The Departed and The Two Popes.
A veteran of the blockbuster film industry, the producer has worked on blockbusters including Disney’s Aladdin and the Sherlock Holmes and It series for WB. Before the DCEU was even a notion, Lin had some experience with DC as a producer on George Miller’s doomed Justice League movie. Additionally, Lin has an extensive background in television. He has served in that role for series including “Lethal Weapon” and “Walker” on The CW. As of this writing, his firm Rideback is also finishing up post-production on the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series for Netflix. This is crucial, as Lin will be in charge of DC’s film and TV divisions. Right now, Zaslav is in the midst of a DC reset. As a result, his most recent choices haven’t endeared him to the DC faithful or Hollywood elites. However, if DC hires Lin, the producer may mark the beginning of the company’s road back to glory and a more secure future. Most of DC’s incredible back catalogue is available on HBO Max.