Who are Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy? The Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reportedly meeting with candidates to replace company heads

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reportedly had meetings with potential candidates to replace Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy as film studio heads. The report was shared by Bloomberg, which was then cited by other media outlets.

For the unversed, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy are film producers and studio executives. Currently, De Luca is the chairperson of Warner Bros. Entertainment, while Abdy is the CEO of the company.

According to an unidentified source, discussions with possible replacements are in the early stages and remain informal, with no final decision yet on the future of De Luca and Abdy. Meanwhile, a Warner Bros spokesperson, Robert Gibbs, shared a statement to Bloomberg saying:

“The rumor of an imminent leadership change at the studio is not accurate.”

According to Variety, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy led the studio to success with Barbie in 2023 and Dune: Part Two in 2024, while also facing a setback with Joker: Folie à Deux. Mike De Luca and Abdy’s contracts reportedly run until 2026, per the outlet.

They were brought in by David Zaslav to help rebuild Warner Bros.'s reputation. Before taking on their roles at Warner Bros., they led the film division at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Abdy began her career as an intern at Jersey Films through Emerson College’s internship program. She was later hired as a receptionist and eventually became Danny DeVito’s assistant. Pam Abdy became President of the company, working on films like Man on the Moon, Caveman’s Valentine, and others.

She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and serves on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Executive Board.

Looking back at Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy’s work at Warner Bros.

Speaking to Variety recently, Pam Abdy dismissed claims that she and De Luca had turned against each other, emphasizing their long-standing friendship of over 30 years, which goes beyond work. Mike De Luca echoed the sentiment, calling their bond unbreakable.

Both also denied any conflicts with their teams, stating that their leadership style is passionate but never hostile, focusing solely on making the best decisions for their films. Dana Nussbaum, an official at Warner Bros., said:

“I haven’t seen any open infighting in the past months. We’ve felt incredibly supported by Mike and Pam, who have been leaned-in and transparent leaders.”

Mike De Luca acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the Joker sequel, saying everyone felt it. He emphasized their commitment to delivering for David Zaslav and expressed optimism that Minecraft would mark a turning point, helping to strengthen their diverse film lineup.

Speaking to the magazine outlet in 2023, Todd Phillips, known for directing Joker and its sequel, shared that he has remained at Warner Bros. because he considers it the best studio for filmmakers. However, he felt the studio had lost direction in recent years.

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He praised De Luca and Pam Abdy’s understanding of the creative process. David Zaslav emphasized their strategy of keeping films in theaters for as long as possible rather than rushing them to streaming.

Meanwhile, De Luca and Pam Abdy suggested early on that DC Studios should operate as a separate entity, similar to how Disney handles Marvel. As a result, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over leadership at DC last year. Mike De Luca expressed confidence in Gunn’s deep connection to the characters, believing in his vision for the franchise.

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