Rumors of Warner Bros. Ouster Spark Tense Call Between De Luca and Paramount Exec

Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy are out at Warner Bros., but the road to their exit was reportedly paved with rumors and a heated phone call. According to The Hollywood Reporter, De Luca began hearing whispers over a month ago that he and co-head Abdy were on the chopping block.

Sources said the rumor was linked to Josh Greenstein, co-chair of Paramount Pictures. Some claimed Greenstein told other executives he wanted to see Abdy and De Luca gone, though other sources countered that his comments were about Warner Bros.' general stability, not a personal attack. The report says De Luca confronted Greenstein directly over the phone, demanding to know if the executive was "seriously saying this."

Greenstein reportedly denied making personnel decisions, blaming the talk on a game of telephone and noting legal restrictions during the pending merger. The conversation proved prescient, as De Luca and Abdy learned last week that Greenstein and his Paramount co-chief Dana Goldberg would take control of the combined film divisions.

The duo had believed they were safe after earlier meetings with Skydance's David Ellison. Their tenure was marked by criticism for overspending on flops like "Digger," but also praise for hits like "Sinners" and "Weapons," and the Oscar win for "One Battle After Another."

Now, their next act could be at Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter says the pair have told associates they could join the streamer, with De Luca having grown close to Netflix's Ted Sarandos. Sources debate whether their filmmaker-driven approach fits Netflix's mainstream taste, but some see them helping the streamer expand into theatrical releases.

Meanwhile, the new leadership faces the challenge of managing a massive combined slate. The merger settlement mandates 30 films a year for two years, then 32, with penalties for missing targets. Labels like DC Studios and New Line will continue under their current heads.