Courtenay ValentiWarner Bros. Pictures, president of production and development, will leave the studio at the end of October after more than three decades at the Hollywood studios.
The studio’s longtime executive steps down and the head of Warner Bros. New Discovery, David Zaslav, replaces Warner Bros. “Leaving the WB after 33 years was not an easy decision to make. Reflecting on my time at Warner Bros., I take extraordinary pride in what my colleagues and I have contributed to the studio and to the big screen. And the utmost gratitude for the time spent with them and one of cinema’s most dynamic and creative icons,” Valenti said in a statement on Friday.
“I want to thank David Zaslav, Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdi for their support as I begin my next chapter. They are passionate about history, cinema, filmmakers and above all the theatrical experience. Like me, they love Warner Bros. And I know they will take this legendary studio to great heights.”
Valenti’s departure was announced on September 2 by Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdi of Warner Bros. Co-Presidents and CEOs of Pictures Group. He was promoted to president of production and development in 2017, reporting to Warner Bros president and chief creative officer Toby Emmerich.
His departure was followed by new owner Warner Bros. Discovery announcing that studio head Emmerich, a former boss and employee of Valenti, is retiring. Emmerich, who has been at the helm of Warner since 2017 after a long stint at New Line, will sign a production deal with Warner Bros. with Discovery.
The CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav wants a fresh start, and Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdi were managed by Warner and New Line once Amazon released them from their MGM contracts.
Among the latest and upcoming titles provided by Valenti Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets, Elvis, Barbie, The Color Purple s Furious.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
