Warner Bros.’ `Justice League’ Letdown Spurs Management Changes

(Bloomberg) -- Warner Bros.' superhero team-up “Justice League” wasn't super enough for the Hollywood studio, so the Time Warner Inc. unit is making changes.

Studio executives Jon Berg and Geoff Johns will no longer lead Warner's DC Comics films, a year after they were put in charge of the franchise. The DC unit will get a new leader and will be folded into the motion-picture division led by Toby Emmerich, a person familiar with the matter said.

Johns will remain chief creative officer for DC, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Berg will step down from the studio's executive ranks and become a producer on the lot, the company said Thursday. The personnel moves were reported earlier by Variety.

“Justice League,” released last month, was beset by misfortune. Director Zack Snyder stepped down during production because of the death of his daughter. The film was mauled by critics despite a star-studded cast including Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman.

The film has generated $200 million in North America and $572 million worldwide -- big numbers, but far short of expectations. Disney's two “Avengers” movies, which also united large casts of superheroes, have brought in more than $1.4 billion apiece.

“Justice League” was a letdown after Warner turned out a hit in June with “Wonder Woman,” which generated $822 million worldwide, with about half coming from the U.S. and Canada. A sequel is already planned for 2019. “Aquaman” is scheduled to be released next December.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anousha Sakoui in Los Angeles at asakoui@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Crayton Harrison at tharrison5@bloomberg.net, Rob Golum

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