The LEGO Movie and It producer Dan Lin won’t be overseeing DC movie projects for Warner Bros after all.
A week, it seems, is a very long time in the DC Extended Universe. Under the remit of David Zaslav, CEO of the newly-merged Warner Bros Discovery, a week can see films such as Batgirl get cancelled, other movies get significantly delayed or in this case, unseat the favourite contender for the job of running a new-look version of the DCEU.
We’ve known for a few weeks that Zaslav is keen to bring in a figure akin to Kevin Feige at Marvel Studios, the kind of creative visionary who can forge a clear path for the DCEU moving forwards. Not just creating a ten-year plan but managing the much harder task of actually implementing the thing, and successfully too.
A week ago, it was looking like Dan Lin, producer of Aladdin, The LEGO Movie, and the It films was Zaslav’s preferred man for the role. Lin had reportedly risen to the top of a name-worthy gallery of contenders that included some huge producers like Amy Pascal and Greg Berlanti. However, despite Warner Bros reportedly holding talks with Lin, including discussions over pay and that all-important vision, negotiations are said to have broken down.
The sticking point is believed to be Rideback, Lin’s production company, which has a slate of projects that the producer is committed to. Rideback also has a sister company, a non-profit endeavour which will also draw some of Lin’s focus. It was believed that Warner Bros might seek to take a stake in the company to bring it and Lin into the fold but that doesn’t seem to have materialised and instead, it seems that the search will continue in a different direction.
Whoever does end up taking the reins will have a huge task in front of them. That person though will not be Dan Lin. If the key here is Zaslav wanting somebody whose sole focus is the DCEU, then that may complicate Warners’ search somewhat. Most producers with the profile of Lin either have their own production companies or are tied to other organisations contractually or otherwise. Prising them free of such commitments could cost a pretty penny and in the case of Lin, that’s a price that Zaslav elected not to pay. The search for a new leader of the DCEU continues. Maybe they should sod it, and just go for Lex Luthor…
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