Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call 2022 recap: Every DC announcement

The Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call took place on August 4, 2022. Find out what DC Comics announcements were made during the call. 

From the moment Discovery announced its acquisition of Warner Bros., DC Comics fans have been eager to know what could be coming for their favorite shows and movies.

While fans expected changes to come as a result of the acquisition, nothing quite prepared them for the wave of disappointing announcements that would follow in the months after the deal was finalized.

After witnessing The CW’s darkest hour yet earlier this year with the cancellations of several beloved Warner Bros. titles — including a handful of DC TV titles — things began coming to a head in recent days as Warner Bros. Discovery began pulling previously announced projects beginning with the shocking news that Batgirl would not be released on HBO Max (or anywhere else) as the company looked to shelve the project in order to take a tax break.

In the days since, rumors have swirled about delays to additional films, a decision not to proceed with reintroducing Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight in a broader role within the DCEU and additional projects being scrapped.

Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call (Aug. 4, 2022) – Every DC Comics announcement

Although earning calls are not typically events fans look forward to, the Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call is one that is managed to get fans buzzing. Unfortunately, it didn’t bring with it much news about the future of many Warner Bros. titles but the call did seem to suggest the company still sees value in the DC Comics brand.

Heading into the call, it was expected that the Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call would help to provide clarity regarding the future of many Warner Bros. Studios projects including the many DC Comics projects hanging in limbo following the decision not to release Batgirl. 

Instead, the company seemed to throw a bit of shade Batgirl‘s way while showing support for future theatrical films, while touting plans to build its own Marvel-like universe.

David Zaslav addressing axing Batgirl

While there wasn’t much news shared regarding the future of DC to start the call, as soon as the Q&A portion of the Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call began the focus quickly shifted to Batgirl. 

Although budgeting was the lead factor reported to be the driving force behind the decision when news first broke of the decision, David Zaslav’s comments during the Q&A seemed to suggest the decision was more about a lack of belief in the film telling those on the call:

"“We’re not going to launch a movie until it’s ready. We’re not going to launch a movie to make a quarter and we’re not going to put a movie out unless we believe in it.”"

From a financial standpoint, Zaslav noted that “the idea of expensive films going direct to streaming” is something the company doesn’t find valuable leading the company to make a strategic shift.

"“This idea of expensive films going direct to streaming — we can’t find an economic case for it, we can’t find an economic value to it, so we’re making a strategic shift.”"

Warner Bros. Discovery  wants to develop a 10-year plan for DC

While the future of the DC Comics Extended Universe remains uncertain, David Zaslav seemed to hint that DC is still a major focus for the company. In fact, the company sees DC as a “big opportunity” for the company and is hoping to draw inspiration from Kevin Feige and Marvel in creating a ten-year plan for DC.

"“As we look at the opportunities that we have broadly, DC is at the top of the list for us. You look at Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, these are brands that are known everywhere in the world and the ability to drive those all over the world with great stories is a big opportunity for us. We have done a reset. We’ve restructured the business where we’re going to focus. There will be a team with a ten-year plan focusing just on DC. It’s very similar to the structure that Alan Horn and Bob Iger put together very effectively with Kevin Feige at Disney.”"

WB shows support for The Flash and upcoming DC movies

As rumors swirl regarding potential release date delays and a reduced role for Michael Keaton in upcoming films, David Zaslav spoke highly of upcoming DC films The Flash, Black Adam, and Shazam 2 during the Q&A portion of the Warner Bros. Discovery Earning Call.

"“We have seen The Flash, Black Adam and Shazam 2. We are very excited about them. We’ve seen them. We think they are terrific, and we think we can make them even better.”"