The Dish: What’s Behind The ‘Batgirl’ & ‘Scoob!’ Discard? David Zaslav’s Abject Rejection Of Jason Kilar’s HBO Max Strategy

William Earl With “House of the Dragon” debuting Sunday evening on HBO, “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin spoke with The Wall Street Journal about the network’s franchise, which is adapted from his hit book series.Although “Game of Thrones” was a superlative hit for HBO, becoming an Emmy darling and garnering a massive fanbase over the years, series co-creators David Benioff and D. B.

David Zaslav, president and chief executive officer of the newly-merged Warner Bros. Discovery, has high hopes for “House of the Dragon,” and touted the series in an email to staffers Friday.In his message to the team, obtained by TheWrap, Zaslav praised HBO boss Casey Bloys, and the premium cable network’s team that are behind “HOTD,” which premieres this Sunday night on HBO.“[They] have shepherded what looks to be the next big cultural moment,” Zaslav wrote.

EXCLUSIVE: In an email to staffers this morning, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav congratulated the HBO team and the overall conglom on what looks to be a fantastic weekend for both the linear channel and HBO Max in the premiere of The Game of Thrones spinoff, The House of the Dragon. 

Lady Gaga attempted to go incognito in a black trench coat, matching baseball cap and a pair of oversized shades while visiting her pal Tony Bennett in New York City. As she prepared to catch up with her frequent collaborator, who recently turned 96, the 36-year-old pop star kept a low profile as she kept her head down while strolling down the sidewalk in a pair of sky-high black leather booties and light-wash jeans. For the occasion, she also sported a hot pink lipstick and kept her platinum blonde pulled back in a sleek ponytail.

David Zaslav is a busy man, but I think he would benefit from a meeting with Alfred Hitchcock. They had this in common: Facing cycles of disruption, each decided to call a “time out” to gain perspective and design new strategies.

If there was one thing that the turbulent week at Warner Bros. Discovery displayed, it’s just how quickly conventional wisdom can change from one regime to the next, when each is trying to gin up the stock price for Wall Street.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorFive years almost to the day after it began, Hollywood’s evangelistic fervor for streaming has been extinguished this week by the “Batgirl” imbroglio. Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to scrap the completed DC Comics film that was bound for HBO Max marks the boldest example of Old Media economic rigor being applied to contemporary content spending. David Zaslav, CEO of the newly reconfigured media conglomerate, didn’t even mask his bewilderment at the decision-making process and optimistic profit projections made by the previous WarnerMedia regime.

Warner Bros. Discovery had their earnings call this afternoon, and CEO David Zaslav’s big announcement—as expected— was to confirm that HBO Max and Discovery+ will indeed be merging into a single service that will launch sometime next summer in the United States, with an international rollout happening afterward.

“We’re not going to launch a movie until it’s ready.”

In a complete about-face from the business strategy employed by former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav made it firm today that the new merged entertainment conglomerate “will fully embrace theatrical.” Period.

David Zaslav is addressing the controversial cancellation of Batgirl, as well as Scoob!: Holiday Haunt.

Imagine Entertainment announced that it has signed a multi-project deal for scripted television with Emmy-winning writer/producer Jason Katims and his True Jack Productions banner. Together, they have three projects in the works.

Batgirl star Leslie Grace has responded to Warner Bros. discarding of the DC film on social media, and they weren’t words of bitterness, just gratefulness to be on the journey.

“Batgirl” will remain shrouded in darkness.

The day after the David Zaslav-run Warner Bros Discovery completely shelved the HBO Max DC movie Batgirl which is in post production, the pic’s directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have responded with a statement.

Geoffrey Owens is “beyond words proud” of his son, Jordyn Owens, who’s following in his dad’s footsteps by making his acting debut in new Netflix comedy series “Uncoupled”.