As a long-time fan who has witnessed the rollercoaster ride that is Warner Bros., I can’t help but feel a mix of disappointment and amusement at their latest antics. It seems like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to revive their flagging reputation while also dealing with financial losses that would make even the most seasoned Wall Street investor cringe.
Over the past two years, Warner Bros. has encountered some tough times, with substantial financial setbacks. Recently, in August, the company reported a drop of more than 10% in its share price after revealing a $9.1 billion reduction in the value of its television networks and falling short of revenue projections.
From April 1st to June 30th, WBD reported a total revenue of $9.7 billion, marking a 5% decrease compared to the same period last year. During this time, the company also recorded a net loss of $9.9 billion, with a significant portion being a $9.1 billion non-cash goodwill impairment charge. The primary cause for these substantial losses appears to be a reduction in the estimated value of their cable network.
In simpler terms, WB’s films and TV shows haven’t been well-received by critics or audiences, but there have been a few exceptions lately. The recent DCEU movies have underperformed at the box office or just managed to break even, yet WB seems committed to ensuring this poor reputation won’t impact the upcoming introduction of the DCU, a new universe of films featuring DC characters.
Lately, Gunn’s DCU has been under fire due to perceptions of it being budget-restricted. Critics argue that the costumes, supporting characters, and filming locations in the Superman movie resemble small-screen productions rather than big-budget projects. Additionally, Kyle Chandler’s casting as Hal Jordan has sparked controversy, with fans doubting the choice of an older actor for the upcoming Lanterns series, branding it as “inexpensive” and “illogical.
Initially, there was strong criticism about the casting, but later on, a change took place as various internet users unexpectedly began to compliment it. This sudden praise seemed unnatural and formal, causing some people to question whether these comments were actually written by real users or possibly automated bots.
imagine being a billion dollar movie studio and also being this insecure over your own decisions
— Gunn Cultist Cringe (@GunntArchive) September 27, 2024
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that there are allegations that Gunn has been preventing users who express criticism towards his casting decisions from engaging with him.
In simpler terms, some of the least secure Hollywood executives might find themselves laughing out loud (lmao). It’s puzzling that they believe isolating themselves within a bubble and potentially losing a significant portion of their audience could be beneficial for business. And then, they’re surprised when their stocks hit record lows.
— Gunn Cultist Cringe (@GunntArchive) September 27, 2024
WB is using bots 😭😭😭
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) September 27, 2024
It’s clear that the source of this information might hold a significant bias, but it’s still important to scrutinize the details. Additionally, it’s not unprecedented for Warner Bros. to exaggerate their projects and hire employees to bolster their online reputation.
For instance, HBO officials Casey Bloys and Kathleen McCaffrey reportedly discussed enlisting employees to respond to critics on social media. Text messages obtained by Rolling Stone indicate their intention to assemble a “covert group” to combat unfavorable reviews, including a proposal from Bloys to identify someone to counteract a critic’s tweet about the series Perry Mason.
They chose not to respond directly to that specific critic, but they often used sarcastic remarks under false identities to tease others online on various instances instead.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Warner Bros. has faced issues with bots in the past. A joint study by Rolling Stone and Warner Bros. uncovered claims that Zack Snyder may have employed fake accounts and made intimidating statements towards company officials to ensure the launch of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (the Snyder Cut).
It was shown in the report that about 13% of the accounts involved in promoting the “#ReleaseTheSnyderCut” and “#RestoreTheSnyderVerse” hashtags might have been fabricated, which is significantly higher than the usual 5% of fake accounts found in most viral social media trends.
The research additionally brought attention to harassment towards Warner Bros. administrators, such as Ann Sarnoff, who encountered criticism following her statement that a Snyder Cut was non-existent. In essence, it underscored an expanding rift between Warner Bros. and Snyder, suggesting that the SnyderVerse was unlikely to continue.
Although it’s challenging to confirm if these alleged bots are directly linked to Warner Bros., it’s not unreasonable to speculate that connection could exist, particularly considering their past tactics.
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2024-09-29 13:14