Warner Bros. and DC Comics Create DC Entertainment Inc.
DC Entertainment, a separate division of WBEI, will be charged with strategically integrating the DC Comics business, brand and characters deeply into Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses. DC Entertainment, which will work with each of the Warner Bros. divisions, will also tap into the tremendous expertise the Studio has in building and sustaining franchises and prioritize DC properties as key titles and growth drivers across all of the Studio, including feature films, television, interactive entertainment, direct-to-consumer platforms and consumer products. The DC Comics publishing business will remain the cornerstone of DC Entertainment, releasing approximately 90 comic books through its various imprints and 30 graphic novels a month and continuing to build on its creative leadership in the comic book industry.
In her new role, Nelson will report to Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, in order to best capitalize on DC Entertainment's theatrical development and production activities and their importance to drive its overall business with each of the divisions of Warner Bros.
Nelson will bring her expertise and more than 20 years' experience in creative brand management, strategic marketing and content development and production to ensuring DC Entertainment's dual mission of marshalling Warner Bros.' resources to maximize the potential of the DC brand while remaining respectful of and collaborative with creators, talent, fans and source material. Additionally, Nelson will continue to oversee the franchise management of the Harry Potter property, which she has done since 2000, and also continue to represent the Studio's interests with the author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling. Nelson will segue from her post as President, Warner Premiere but maintain oversight responsibilities of that division. (An executive succession plan for Warner Premiere will be announced shortly.)
Paul Levitz, who has served as President & Publisher of DC Comics since 2002, will segue from that role to return to his roots as a writer for DC and become a contributing editor and overall consultant to DCE. This transition will take place as expeditiously as possible without disrupting DC's business operations.
In his new role, Levitz will be called upon for his deep knowledge and more than three-decade history with DC Comics, both as a comic creator and an executive. Besides serving as a writer on a number of DC Comics titles, he will be a contributing editor and consultant to DC Entertainment on projects in various media. Additionally, he will consult as needed on the transition and integration of the DC Comics organization into DC Entertainment and will utilize his unique experience, knowledge and relationships with the comics industry's creative community to help achieve DC Entertainment's goal of maximizing the value of DC properties. Further, Levitz will advise DC Entertainment on creative and rights-holder relationships, in particular regarding the legacy relationships that have been a part of DC Comics for decades.
Widely recognized and respected for his support of writers, artists and creators in the comics industry, Levitz is best known creatively for his work with DC Comics, having written most of the classic DC characters, including Batman, Wonder Woman and the Superman newspaper strip. At Comicon International in 2008, Levitz was awarded the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the only industry executive ever so honored.
"DC Comics and its super hero characters are truly touchstones of popular culture, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a major step in our company's efforts to realize the full potential of this incredible wellspring of creative properties," said Meyer. "Diane knows our studio as a creative executive, a marketer and a senior manager, and this varied background will help her effectively and creatively integrate the DC brand and properties across all our businesses. We're also thrilled that Paul will remain involved with DC and we'll be able to tap his expertise to help us reach our goals for this new business."
"It's no secret that DC has myriad rich and untapped possibilities from its deep library of iconic and lesser-known characters," said Horn. "While we've had great success in films and television, the formation of DC Entertainment will help us to bring more DC properties across additional platforms to fans around the world, while maintaining brand integrity and authenticity. Diane is a terrific choice to lead DC Entertainment, and with Paul in his new role as a valued consultant and contributing editor, both our company and comic fans win."
"Based on the great success we've had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful super hero films of all time, I've long believed that there was much more we could do across all of Warner Bros.' businesses with this great body of characters and stories," said Robinov. "The prioritization of DC and the creation of DC Entertainment is a great opportunity that reaches far beyond the film group. There are endless creative possibilities to build upon the many significant successes already achieved by my colleagues Kevin Tsujihara and the Home Entertainment Group in the videogame, home video and direct-to-platform arenas and Bruce Rosenblum and the Television Group in live-action, animated and digital series. Collectively, we have the ability to grow a body of properties highlighting the iconic characters and the diversity of the creative output of DC Comics."
"The founding of DC Entertainment fully recognizes our desire to provide both the DC properties and fans the type of content that is only possible through a concerted cross-company, multi-platform effort," said Nelson. "DC Entertainment will help us to formally take the great working relationships between DC Comics and various Warner Bros. businesses to the next level in order to maximize every opportunity to bring DC's unrivalled collection of titles and characters to life."
"After so many roles at DC, it's exciting to look forward to focusing on my writing and being able to remain a part of the company I love as it grows into its next stage," said Levitz. "It's a new golden age for comics and DC's great characters, and I hope my new position will allow me to contribute to that magic time."
DC Comics will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2010 (NEW FUN COMICS #1, the first DC comic, began publishing in 1935), at which time more explicit details regarding DC Entertainment's corporate and management structure, film and content release slate, creative roster and business objectives will be unveiled at a multi-faceted anniversary celebration and press conference in the first quarter of the year.
Current DC properties in development and/or production at Warner Bros. Entertainment include:
-- Human Target is being produced by Warner Bros. Television for a mid-season debut on Fox.
-- Midnight Mass is in series development at Warner Bros. Television for consideration for the 2010-11 season.
-- Jonah Hex, Warner Bros. Pictures' supernatural Western starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich, recently wrapped production in Louisiana.
-- The Losers, Dark Castle/Warner Bros. Pictures' action-adventure drama starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, began principal photography mid-July in Puerto Rico.
-- Green Lantern, Warner Bros. Pictures' next big superhero tentpole release, recently cast Ryan Reynolds as the titular character. The film has a projected second quarter 2011 release date.
-- Lobo, based on the DC Comics anti-hero, has Guy Ritchie attached as a director; Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona are producing for Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.
-- Warner Premiere's direct-to-platform DVD animated release of Green Lantern: First Flight debuted July 28.
-- Warner Bros. Animation currently produces Batman: The Brave and The Bold, which airs on Cartoon Network.
-- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released Batman: Arkham Asylum on August 25, a dark, action packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows.
Prior to being named President, DC Entertainment, Nelson most recently served as President, Warner Premiere since its founding in 2006. Warner Premiere is a Studio-based production company which develops and produces high-quality, direct-to-DVD and short-form digital content, including the highly successful line of DC Universe animated DVD titles, and also pioneered the development of the motion comics category. Under Nelson's leadership, Warner Premiere functions as a full-service production entity with its own resources and release schedule, furthering the Studio's mandate of being a destination for both established and up-and-coming talent to create stand-alone properties as well as experiment in new media.
Before that, Nelson served as Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management, Warner Bros. Entertainment, with the primary responsibility of working cross-divisionally and throughout Time Warner to maximize and optimize all the various windows and outlets available to the Studio's signature franchises, brands and event properties on a global basis. In this post, Nelson's primary focus was the management of the Harry Potter brand, which she has overseen since the brand's launch at the Studio in 1999. These efforts have helped drive the success of the brand to become the most successful film franchise of all time, as well as a respected consumer property that has generated billions of dollars for the Studio.
At Global Brand Management, Nelson and her team of more than 15 employees worked in all media and platforms to support a number of other key franchise properties, including The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Happy Feet, The Polar Express and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, among others.
Prior to overseeing Global Brand Management, Nelson had served as Executive Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures. Nelson rose quickly through the ranks, having also served as Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures and prior to that, Senior Vice President, Family Entertainment, Warner Bros. Corporate Worldwide Marketing and Planning. She was also Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Promotions, a post to which she was promoted in March 1998, after joining the Studio in September 1996 as Director of Worldwide Corporate Promotions.
Nelson came to the Studio from Walt Disney Records, where she served as Director of National Promotions. She is a graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications.
Comments (39)
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J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director
Comrade is correct, Time Warner has owned DC Comics for ages within their subsidary production company known as Warner Brothers Pictures for ages.
This article is just confirming that DC & Warner have created a division called 'DC Entertainment INC' apparently Warner is meant to be at the front, but i don't know if that a confirm to be honest.
DC Entertainment INC is a division solely created to bring more DC products to our screens in numerous mediatrical ways such as TV shows, films etc etc through the utilisation of Warner Bros.
Seriously, man you people gotta read the articles and then post your comments, and well if you don't understand the article at all then plz don't post random idiocracy.
And to the person impersonating Newkill....seriously grow uo get a f*cking life or GTFO.
2 years agoby @chronicFlag
Chad Vital
I think everyone who simply justs talks sh*t like the 10 newkill profiles should just be banned. Get it over with.
2 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
Mutant
Mystery solved, the fake is a girl.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Mutant
Newkill, your gayness is what's annoying. Every word that comes out of your mouth means nothing,wake up and smell the roses.
No one likes you here, I'm just trying to point out that you and your fake name sake are nothing but bullies.
yell all you want, scream all you want, rant all you want, but your pet name for yourself should stay in that bedroom and your gayness.
I have an open mind when it comes to people, at least I treat them the way I want to be treated. If you can't even treat other humans nice and stop calling others names, you'll end up alone. Very alone.
You think I'm annoying, try looking in the mirror. It'll crack at the sight of you.
Diaigma your right, the real one must be a fake. I only come here for one thing, the news. I bet when aliens do attack both newkills would join their side rather than ours.
I'm done with talking to bullies, but think about this I'm a bi.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
knobie09
a few blogs down,you can realize i concur with comrade. w.b. owns d.c.. and like i said before... about time they have there own movie company!!! best of success to all at d.c.!!:D
2 years agoby @knobie09Flag
luca_frontino
Actually, DC bought WB. Here's the whole story:
http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/09/03/comic-book-legends-revealed-223/
2 years agoby @luca-frontinoFlag
Davon's Movieweb
Its much better than Walt Disney owing Marvel. But Dc seem to be with Warner Brothers all the time anyway. Either way it still good.
2 years agoby @davon29Flag
-comrade-
WB already owned DC, you taint. They just gave them their own production company. Did you even read the f*cking story?
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
Bawnian-Dexeus
no offence, but can ya quitthe gay crap for a little while?
2 years agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Diaigma
Scratch that. There are two fakes. Double the lame. Chew your gum. :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Diaigma
Well, at least they didn't sell to Disney :P
Dude, someone's impersonating Newkill again? LOL. Didn't that happen last year? That's lame, dude. I think I dropped something in the garbage disposal. Will you fish it out for me, fake Newkill? :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Newkill3000
From the real Newkill: Todd shut the f*ck up! Your very annoying. How bout you do a challenge and see how far your head can fit up your ass.
2 years agoby @newkill200Flag
Mutant
Now for my second test, if the fake newkill is not man enough to step forward then the real one would have to fight him/her with insults. Our both of you up to the challenge.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Mutant
Now the question remains can the fake newkill step forward or can't he/she face up to the truth.
I was testing for the real one first of, I never did believe it. I did see the fake and real one, I had to lure out the real newkill to see if he would take the bait.
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Chad Vital
orionbolt, it's pretty obvious. Why would the REAL newkill be offering to suck people's dicks? It's not rocket science to figure out that is not him.
2 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
Newkill3000
Disney, a large entertainment company, buying Marvel, an entertainment company involving movies, books and other properties from characters such as Iron Man, Spider Man, and X men. Warner Brothers, another large entertainment company that buys a different movie, comics and other property based products, known as DC comics, and Comrade you say there's no similar situation at all. Wow, I guess your gonna tell me next that people come from reptiles, right.
By the way, Orion, the real Newkill, has a much bigger and better profile than the fake Newkill.
2 years agoby @newkill200Flag
Chad Vital
I guess the big difference here Comrade is that we are happy to read this news haha.
2 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
Orionbolt
Whoa WHao WHoa.......there are 2 Newkills? Which one is real?
2 years agoby @orionboltFlag
XxxHolic
Honestly, I'm glad this happened because they make so many damn superhero movie that they might as well get their own movie company. Just me though...
2 years agoby @xxxholicFlag
-comrade-
This has nothing to do with the Disney takeover, it isn't even a similar situation, so shut the f*ck up if you don't know what you're talking about.
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
knobie09
warner bros owned d.c. comics WAY before "superman:THE MOVIE"!!! about time warner(no pun intended)made an annex movie firm dedicated only to d.c. comics superheroe movies!!!
2 years agoby @knobie09Flag
Bawnian-Dexeus
forget what i said
i'm all for this, as long as wbei doesn't make errors
2 years agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
to the fake Newkill200, get a f*cking life.
Now, Idk about this. I mean I am fine with it, and I actually thought they already owned the rigths to it. Lol. I guess I'm behind.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag
Newkill3000
Lol, Todd, that just shows how much of a dumbass you are to actually believe that i would say that previous comment. When you click on that avatar it doesn't go to my page.
2 years agoby @newkill200Flag
Mutant
I bet you would
2 years agoby @zenderFlag
Rufio
typical DC comic style... stay a step behind the competition. congrats to WB for trying to stay relevant. seeing that the two companies already have a successful partnership, i'm not sure what either truly gains (or audience goers, for that matter) from this deal. oh well..
2 years agoby @rufioFlag
-comrade-
More good news.
2 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
kingbrady
To be honest, Disney is laughing at this anyways, DC Comics is a joke, i like superman, batman, green lantern and everything but seriously Superman is dead, all DC comics has in regards to making big money and success is Batman, Marvel will still make more movies regardless of quality and make more money....you know what I find hilarious as well, the TV show Entourage even had Warner Bros control Aquaman lol maybe they should make that a reality and have it do better than Spiderman like the TV show did
2 years agoby @kingbradyFlag
JonSpidey07
nice
2 years agoby @jonspidey07Flag
isa98
Haha it's f*ckin hilarious how both companies parallel each other. Disney/Marvel Warner/DC
09/09/09 everyone.
2 years agoby @isa98Flag