Warner Bros. He keeps their most prolific TV producer of the past decade in the fold. Greg Berlanti He struck a huge new exclusive four-year overall deal to keep Berlanti Productions in the studio for his TV operations through 2027.
No financial terms were disclosed, but sources indicate that the agreement is structured differently than Berlanti’s most recent total deal with Warner Bros. TV Group, which has been estimated to be worth more than $300 million and up to $400 million over six years. That agreement included the studio buying Berlanti’s back-end on his shows, sources said, while the new deal is a joint venture with a high probability of Berlanti.
In success, depending on how many series the new deal turns out to be and how profitable it is, it could be Warner Bros.’ largest ever television deal. It’s the first reinvention of top TV creative talent since the Discovery merger, with the company’s new leadership sending a signal that even with the cost-cutting measures, including a slew of writedowns, that have made headlines over the past nine months, they’re willing to step up from In order to keep the biggest names on their talent list.
Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav said. Discovery: “Greg is a huge talent, and the impact of his prolific and powerful narratives on Warner Bros. and audiences, and on our culture, is just ‘wow.'”
Under the terms of the deal, Berlanti Productions, in which Berlanti partners with longtime collaborator Sarah Schechter, will continue to develop new television shows to be produced by divisions of Warner Bros. Television. TV Group for all platforms, including WBD’s HBO Max, third-party broadcast services, and cable and broadcast networks.
Like the last time Berlanti renewed with Warner Bros. TV Group, the new agreement came together quickly with about two years remaining on his previous deal as Berlanti’s new agents worked at CAA over the holidays and Channing Dungey closed the deal for the studio, sources said.
But the circumstances are very different.
Five years ago, Berlanti had been public about his intention to stay at Warner Bros. Television, which at the time was run by one of its biggest champions, Peter Roth, who had taken him two decades earlier for a four-year stint at WBTV, during which Berlanti created his first series, everwood, then lured him back into the studio in 2011. Berlanti worked at Warner Bros. Television. TV since then, and has increased its footprint to break the record for a television producer with the most number of shows at the same time, including 20 shows on the air or in production during the 2019-22 season, which runs more than five nights of the week across six networks and devices. broadcast different. Berlanti Productions currently presents over 15 live or shooting shows.
Meanwhile, the past year has seen a major upheaval in Berlanti Productions’ TV business, triggered by sweeping changes at Warner Bros. and DC and CW. After the Discovery merger, there were executive changes and restructurings across all Warner Bros. divisions. , including Studio TV, HBO Max, and DC whose IP commanded a large portion of Berlanti’s television portfolio. In addition, Warner Bros. and CBS subsidiary Paramount Global the majority of its 50% ownership interest in The CW, where most of Berlanti Productions’ broadcast series aired, putting the future of original scripted programming on that network in limbo. (With questions growing about the fate of The CW over the past year or so, Berlanti Prods has ramped up its HBO Max portfolio as the company has emerged as a major supplier of scripted series.)
With so much uncertainty around, many wondered if Berlanti would stay put or choose a new TV home. (In terms of features, Berlanti/Schechter Films has an exclusive Netflix First Sight feature film deal, which ran for another two years.) Speculation about his future intensified a couple of weeks ago when Berlanti made a movie. Rare agency change, leaving his longtime representative at WME for CAA, where his team is led by heavyweights Bryan Lourd and Joe Cohen. According to sources, WME has been in discussions with Warner Bros. TV Group about extending Berlanti’s previous deal before his departure. He went on to strike a new deal with his new agents.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with one of the most accomplished, celebrated and compelling storytellers in the industry,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group. “Greg is a visionary, pioneer and leader, but more than that, he is a cherished member of the family. Warner Bros. It’s been a tremendous privilege to collaborate with Greg, and we can’t wait to see what stories he and his team will bring to life in the years to come.”
Working with Dungey on the deal was the head of Warner Bros. Television Brett Paul, a studio veteran and the only member of the WBD/WBTV leadership team to also participate in Berlanti’s previous agreement.
Berlanti began his television career as a writer for the Dawson’s Creek He became executive producer and showrunner of the series after only a year on the staff. That first gig launched a meteoric career rise for Berlanti who has produced or created over 40 shows in the past 20 years, with over 1,300 hours of television under his belt..
“Every day I wake up grateful that I get to live stories with so many talented people that I love. With this deal, I’ll be lucky enough to go into my third decade of making television and call Warner Bros. my home,” Berlanti said. “The TV business has changed and Warner Bros. has changed, too, but I’m more grateful than ever to be making TV and working with a passionate, brilliant, kind leader like Channing Dungey and alongside a wise and formidable old friend like Bret Paul. Around the time I got to know David Zaslav, He was Hollywood’s rarest leader: honest, dedicated and visionary about the kind of thriving Warner Bros. wants to build for a future where storytellers like myself can have a home to tell stories that excite and move audiences around the world for years to come.”
Berlanti Productions hostess Received dozens of Emmy Award nominations. Season 3 of You are, Co-created by Berlanti, it spent three consecutive weeks at #1 on Netflix. Several Berlanti Productions series such as All Americans And All Americans: Homecoming It held positions in the Netflix Top 10 list for over 15 weeks.
Berlanti was the architect of DC’s live-action television universe on The CW featuring major comic book characters like The Flash, Superman, Green Arrow, Supergirl, and Batwoman, spanning 38 seasons (and counting). In addition, Berlanti started the second DC universe with Titans, Doom Patrol, and DC Star Girl The upcoming new series is scheduled to be launched dead boy detectives for HBO Max as well Gotham Knights on the CW this year.
Upcoming TV series also included is found for NBC as well more And girls on the bus for HBO Max. In addition to Berlanti and Schechter, Berlanti Productions leadership includes President Lee London Redman.
Throughout his career, Berlanti has been a trailblazer and voice for inclusion in the entertainment industry, both on screen and behind the camera. In 2022, he received the PGA’s Norman Lear Achievement Award for his career achievement and influence on the art and craft of television.
Berlanti, who is currently directing the feature film Artemis Project For Apple, starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, was starred by CAA attorney Patty Felker.
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