Recent Film Deals Could Signal Return Of Big-Budget Productions

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Why it matters: With last year’s writers and actors’ strikes halting most film productions, 2024’s slate of upcoming theatrical releases and potential blockbusters is less robust than it might have been. But if Warner Bros.’ recent motion picture deals are any indication, it looks like big-budget productions are getting back on track.

Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman (the duo behind production company T-Street) just signed a two-picture deal with the studio, although there’s no word on what those titles will be. If you look back at other recent WB announcements, they certainly haven’t been tight with their budget as they wrangle some major Hollywood talent who don’t come with small price tags. These lucrative deals indicate that studios are ramping up for larger-scale projects — a promising sign for both the industries which reply upon film production and, ultimately, moviegoers.

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Mission: Profitable: Back in January, Tom Cruise announced his next mission: a deal to develop and produce multiple theatrical releases for Warner Bros. Discovery. Other stars who have revealed projects with WB include Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, who have a shrouded-in-mystery event movie in the works whose theatrical release date was just moved up to March 7, 2025.

Up, up, and away: While WB also recently won a massive bidding battle with Calamity Hustle (an action-comedy starring Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds), perhaps their most eagerly awaited project is James Gunn’s Superman, which will usher in a new beginning for Warner’s DC Cinematic Universe.

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