Warner Bros. Discovery Shake-Up, Toby Emmerich Steps Down

Toby Emmerich is stepping down as chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group and will launch his own production company at the studio, focused on film, TV and streaming.

As part of an exclusive five-year agreement, Warner Bros. Discovery will finance Emmerich’s venture and have distribution rights to films and series.

“I have known Toby for many years and have tremendous respect for his vision and ability to create extraordinary cinematic experiences,” said David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. “He has led a best-in-class studio team and was the driving force behind an incredible, diverse collection of films and series. Toby is also an exceptional person and longtime friend to me and to many, and I am personally very happy to continue our working relationship. I am thrilled that he’s chosen to remain a part of our Warner Bros. Discovery family with this long-term production deal and look forward to seeing the fantastic stories that he and his team will create for us in the years ahead.”

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to be part of this storied company these last three decades and to lead the world-class Warner Bros. film studio team, and I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish together,” said Emmerich. “This seemed like the perfect time to transition to something new, and I am excited to be pursuing my passion for storytelling in a more hands-on way with my own production company.”

Emmerich has led Warner Bros. Pictures Group since 2017, previously serving as president and chief content officer, and before that as president and COO of New Line Cinema. He is a 30-year veteran of Warner Bros., having joined the company in 1992 as a dual development and music executive.

Industry veterans and former MGM film executives Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy have been appointed co-chairpersons and CEOs of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, which currently includes Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, DC-Based Film Production and Warner Bros. Feature Animation.

Zaslav commented, “Michael and Pam are supremely talented creative leaders with a proven track record of success. We are thrilled to welcome them both to our Warner Bros. Discovery family and look forward to seeing them take this nearly century-old iconic studio to even greater heights of excellence in film.”

“Warner Bros. is home to the best creatives in the business, and Pam and I look forward to executing on David’s directive to ‘dream big and dream bold’ as we strive to create the next generation of hit movies with the power to entertain, excite and inspire,” said De Luca. “We’re grateful to Toby for the tremendous impact he has had on this studio and our industry, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue to benefit from his vast experience and creativity.”