Warner Brothers Entertainment has announced some major changes affecting DC Comics. To wit, the media giant has created a new division, called DC Entertainment, Inc., “to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms.” The changes were announced by Warner’s Chairman & CEO Barry Meyer, and President & COO Alan Horn.
As a division, DCE will “be charged with strategically integrating the DC Comics business, brand, and characters deeply into Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses.” The new division “will work with each of the Warner Bros. divisions, [and] will also tap into the tremendous expertise the Studio has in building and sustaining franchises and prioritize DC properties as key titles and growth drivers across all of the Studio, including feature films, television, interactive entertainment, direct-to-consumer platforms and consumer products.”
The plan is to leave the publishing business as the “cornerstone” of DCE, where it will continue to publish about 90 comic books and 30 graphic novels a month.
The other major changes afoot are personnel: Paul Levitz, who had been President & Publisher of DC Comics since 2002, will “segue from that role to return to his roots as a writer for DC and become a contributing editor and overall consultant to DCE.” But Warner seems eager to reassure the industry that Levitz is not being forced out, saying that, in his new role, he “will be called upon for his deep knowledge and more than three-decade history with DC Comics, both as a comic creator and an executive. Besides serving as a writer on a number of DC Comics titles, he will be a contributing editor and consultant to DC Entertainment on projects in various media. Additionally, he will consult as needed on the transition and integration of the DC Comics organization into DC Entertainment and will utilize his unique experience, knowledge, and relationships with the comics industry’s creative community… Further, Levitz will advise DC Entertainment on creative and rights-holder relationships, in particular regarding the legacy relationships that have been a part of DC Comics for decades.”
Taking over management of the new division is Diane Nelson, who will be President of DC Entertainment. She will report to Jeff Robinov, President of the Warner Brothers Pictures Group, “in order to best capitalize on DC Entertainment’s theatrical development and production activities.” Nelson is already a part of Warner Brothers, and has been for a long time. She will “continue to oversee the franchise management of the Harry Potter property, which she has done since 2000, and also continue to represent the Studio’s interests with” author J.K. Rowling. Nelson’s current title is President of Warner Premiere, and she will maintain oversight responsibilities for that division.
Talking about the reorganization, Meyer said, “DC Comics and its superhero characters are truly touchstones of popular culture, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a major step in our company’s efforts to realize the full potential of this incredible wellspring of creative properties.” And of the appointment of Nelson, he said, “Diane knows our studio as a creative executive, a marketer, and a senior manager, and this varied background will help her effectively and creatively integrate the DC brand and properties across all our businesses. We’re also thrilled that Paul will remain involved with DC and we’ll be able to tap his expertise to help us reach our goals for this new business.”
Horn added “It’s no secret that DC has myriad rich and untapped possibilities from its deep library of iconic and lesser-known characters. While we’ve had great success in films and television, the formation of DC Entertainment will help us to bring more DC properties across additional platforms to fans around the world, while maintaining brand integrity and authenticity. Diane is a terrific choice to lead DC Entertainment, and with Paul in his new role as a valued consultant and contributing editor, both our company and comic fans win.”
Since its found in 2006, Nelson has been President of Warner Premiere, which is a “Studio-based production company which develops and produces high-quality, direct-to-DVD and short-form digital content, including the line of DC Universe animated DVD titles.” Previously, she was Executive Vice President of Global Brand Management for Warner Brothers. With that title, her primary focus was the management of the Harry Potter brand (which she has overseen since the brand’s launch at Warner in 1999). Before that, she was Executive Vice President of Domestic Marketing, Senior Vice President of Family Entertainment, and Vice President of Worldwide Corporate Promotions. Her first job at Warner, when she joined the company in late 1996, was as Director of Worldwide Corporate Promotions. Earlier, she was the Director of National Promotions for Walt Disney Records.
The full press release is available on this page.