the 'Ellison in the Room'
Variety • • general
Key Points:
- Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) opened its annual upfronts presentation with a tribute to Ted Turner and showcased a wide range of upcoming projects, including James Gunn’s “Superman” movie and HBO’s “Harry Potter” TV series.
- WBD executives addressed industry changes, including the pending Paramount Skydance acquisition, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a strong content portfolio and supporting advertisers through the transition.
- The event featured appearances by cast members from HBO’s “Heated Rivalry,” comedian Leslie Jones, and partnerships aimed at engaging younger audiences through platforms like TikTok and Food Network programming.
- CNN promoted new original series with Anderson Cooper and Craig Ferguson, while Warner Bros. highlighted upcoming films like “Minecraft Movie 2” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Remain.”
- The presentation concluded with a focus on HBO and HBO Max’s popular shows, teasers for new seasons, and a reminder of WBD’s valuable intellectual property, ending slightly over the promised hour with positive audience reception.