Warner Bros. to Produce at Least 10 Movies Exclusively For HBO Max in 2022

Warner Bros. has announced that the studio is set to produce at least ten films exclusively for HBO Max in 2022. WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar released the announcement Thursday, saying, “motion pictures matter and will continue to matter.”

Kilar said in AT&T’s second quarter earnings call that he doesn’t see the industry “going back to the way the world was in 2015, 2016 or 2017” with a long 75 to 90-day window for a title’s theatrical run before its first home video release. Warner Bros. has already said it will shift to a 45-day window for key tentpole movie titles.

Variety reports that “The day-and-date move created waves in Hollywood’s creative community as it came as a surprise to filmmakers, some of whom were vocal about their anger.”

WarnerMedia has said that distribution plans for the studio’s 2022 slate will be take on a film-by-film basis. Kilar’s comments on Thursday indicate the studio is leaning toward the 45-day window plan for movies that bow first in theaters while at the same time Warner Bros. will step up the volume of made-for-HBO Max originals. It’s unclear if any of Warner Bros.’ theatrical-bound slate will get the same kind of day-and-date theatrical and HBO Max treatment that the studio has done since December with the release of Wonder Woman: 1984.