Warner Bros. Film Chiefs De Luca and Abdy Reportedly Depart as James Gunn Remains at DC

The future of Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy at Warner Bros. has been a hot topic in Hollywood for months. With the $110 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery set to close on Oct. 6, their positions have remained uncertain even after Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín approved Paramount’s settlement with 12 state attorneys general.

De Luca and Abdy took the helm of the Warner Bros. film studio in 2022 and had a remarkable year in 2025, tying the studio’s all-time record with 11 Academy Awards from 30 nominations, including a Best Picture win for ‘One Battle After Another.’ They also oversaw successful projects like ‘Sinners,’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ and ‘Weapons,’ with their contracts renewed almost exactly a year ago.

Now, reports indicate that the Warner Bros. film executives are on their way out. According to Puck, citing two well-placed sources, De Luca and Abdy will not be joining the merged company. The decision has reportedly been made, but David Ellison still needs to deliver the news, with calls expected by Tuesday morning. Variety has also reported that multiple sources confirm the pair will not be part of Ellison’s management team.

Paramount has declined to comment. A source close to the executives informed TheWrap that neither De Luca nor Abdy had received any communication from Paramount leadership. This news broke the same night David Zaslav hosted a farewell party in Beverly Hills, attended by De Luca, Abdy, James Gunn, and Peter Safran.

Paramount co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are reportedly set to oversee both film studios, which will produce 30 movies annually under the new agreement. A new executive will be hired from outside or promoted from within to lead Warner Bros. under their guidance. De Luca and Abdy are expected to be compensated through 2030.

The timing is challenging for the departing duo, as 2026 has proven to be more difficult than 2025, with films like ‘Supergirl’ and ‘The Bride’ struggling to attract audiences. Their final Warner Bros. release is Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger,’ which is projected to open to just $12 million to $15 million domestically.

There is also a financial aspect to consider. Paramount needs to identify $6 billion in savings to ensure the merger’s success, and letting go of two studio chiefs could save tens of millions annually. However, the relationships De Luca and Abdy cultivated with talent may be invaluable for a studio releasing 30 films each year.

This news contradicts earlier speculation. A previous report from TheWrap suggested that the studio intended to retain Abdy and De Luca in a merged structure alongside Gunn and Safran, but that plan now seems to be off the table for the film chiefs.

On the DC side, things appear more stable for now. Puck reports that Gunn and Safran, who have been co-CEOs of DC Studios since its inception in November 2022, will be invited to stay on, at least for the time being. This caveat carries significant weight.

Gunn’s contract reportedly expires in 2027 following ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ with no new extension currently in place. Some analyses suggest that the sequel could be a pivotal moment for the duo. While ‘Supergirl’ underperformed, ‘Lanterns’ has been described as a major success on HBO Max.

Ellison has consistently indicated a preference for stability. Bloomberg reported last October that he aimed to maintain the creative teams of both studios. With De Luca and Abdy’s exit, Gunn’s long-term future now appears to hinge on Greenstein and Goldberg.

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