Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy Exit Warner Bros. After Paramount Merger

Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy are leaving their leadership roles at Warner Bros. after control of both film divisions was assigned to Paramount Pictures co-chairs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg.

The executives learned of the decision shortly before it was publicly reported. De Luca and Abdy had run Warner Bros.’ film operations since 2022.

Their five-year contract renewal, signed last year, runs through 2030, and they are due the payments specified under the agreement.

Four years of uneven results

Their tenure included major commercial successes, including Sinners and Weapons, as well as films with weaker financial prospects. Sinners generated $370 million in worldwide ticket sales, while The Bride! made $23.9 million on a $90 million budget.

Tom Cruise’s Digger, opening this weekend, is projected to earn only $8 million to $15 million domestically in its debut against a budget exceeding $125 million.

De Luca and Abdy also backed large-scale auteur projects from filmmakers including Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Emerald Fennell. Supporters saw that approach as a commitment to ambitious cinema; critics argued the executives spent too aggressively.

A call amid ouster rumors

More than a month ago, De Luca heard that he and Abdy could be removed. Sources familiar with the conversation said Greenstein had discussed getting rid of the pair with other executives, while others said his remarks concerned Warner Bros.’ broader stability and a project he was pursuing.

De Luca called Greenstein directly. Greenstein denied the accusation and attributed it to a misunderstanding; because the antitrust process was unresolved, he could not legally make personnel decisions.

Before the merger, De Luca and Abdy believed they would remain after David Ellison indicated during a meeting that they might stay. That expectation changed with the new leadership decision.

Netflix emerges as a possible destination

After their exit, the executives told associates they could move to Netflix. De Luca also developed a relationship with Netflix chief Ted Sarandos during discussions held when the streamer was rumored to be pursuing Warner Bros.

Industry sources said their filmmaker relationships could help Netflix expand its theatrical strategy. Other observers cautioned that Netflix’s audience has generally favored mainstream titles over auteur-driven films.