HBO Max Executive Provides Update on Warner Bros – Abrams Deal

An executive from HBO Max offers an update regarding the progress of their deal with renowned filmmaker and producer J.J Abrams. 

Warner Bros. Discovery has collaborated with various producers and filmmakers over the last few years. However, they’ve always struggled to work out a partnership with Abrams. 

Finally, Abrams signed a $250 million deal for five years with Warner Bros. Studios in 2019. As per the deal, the filmmaker must produce original content for various branches of Warner Bros. Media, including HBO Max and Warner Bros. Pictures. 

But it’s been three years and very few of his projects have been released, which brings us to discuss where Warner Bros. Discovery stands on their partnership with Abrams. According to HBO head of originals, Sarah Aubrey, Abrams is still very much on board as far as the streaming platform is concerned. 

In a recent interview with Variety, Aubrey speaks about where Warner Bros. Discovery stands with regard to Abram’s deal. Recent reports suggest that Warner Bros. is frustrated with Abrams for not being true to his words. However, Aubrey’s statement suggests otherwise. 

Here’s what Aubrey said in the interview – 

“We have the TV series ‘Duster,’ that’s on the runway with him and that is going to be — knock wood — up and running very soon. I’m very bullish about that, and it’s one that JJ has been intimately involved with and that’s a really fun process to be a part of. People want to grab onto stories, and development comes together and doesn’t come together all the time. That’s actually a very normal part of our jobs, and more often than not, it doesn’t, honestly. So I think to draw a circle around one or two shows and make an overall judgment is a little inaccurate. I’m very excited about the work that we have at Max with J.J.”

Thus, Aubrey confirms that Abrams’ TV show Duster is still on board and she’s confident that they’ll have a good partnership with the filmmaker. However, she doesn’t mention any other upcoming projects from Abrams. 

Although it seems like Duster is in safe hands for now, Abrams must come up with a winner for his WarnerMedia deal. The filmmaker has reportedly been developing a big show called Batman: Caped Crusader for HBO Max. Alongside Abrams, Batman director Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm were also attached to the project. 

However, no progress has been made in the show’s production which puts Abrams’ deal with WarnerMedia at risk. Earlier, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav said that they’re cutting ties with several employees to make the studio profitable again. 

If Abrams does not manage to produce good content for the company, Warner Bros. might sever ties with the filmmaker.

Two of Abrams’ DC shows, Madame X and Constantine, are also not happening on HBO Max anymore. However, they’re not canceled and are being shifted to other streaming platforms. No progress has been made regarding Justice League Dark series either. 

As of now, we can hope all of Abrams’ future projects come to fruition soon enough within the next two years.