Theaters or HBO Max? Warner Bros. movie plans take shape as Discovery merger looms

On Dec. 3, Warner Bros. — the 98-year-old studio known for such gems as “Casablanca” and “The Dark Knight” — stunned Hollywood by announcing its entire 2021 film lineup would be available on HBO Max and in theaters on the same day in the U.S., where theaters were hobbled by the coronavirus. But as the $43-billion Discovery merger ambles toward regulatory approval next year, Warner Bros.’ risky release strategy, internally dubbed “Project Popcorn,” appears to be working. “I’m both happy and relieved, because it has ultimately played out almost exactly as we hoped it would,” said Carolyn Blackwood, chief operating officer of Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Warner Bros. Pictures Group Chairman Toby Emmerich said, “What we’re really excited about is, when HBO Max is a big, robust global platform — which will happen — we will have first-class direct-to-consumer as well as worldwide theatrical capability, and I think that’s an advantage.” The studio’s 2022 theatrical film lineup features five DC movies: “The Batman” with Robert Pattinson, “Black Adam” starring Dwayne Johnson, “The Flash” with Ezra Miller, the animated feature “DC Super Pets” and James Wan’s “Aquaman 2.” “This movie has to be played on the biggest screen around the world, and the studio gets that as well,” said Wan, who directed two “Conjuring” horror films with the studio. Hopefully we’ve restored trust.” Charles Roven, producer of “Wonder Woman 1984,” was pleased that Warner Bros. promised to return to theatrical windows for next year’s movies, even though his upcoming movie “The Suicide Squad” is still among the films going on HBO Max and theaters.