Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) confirmed that roughly 10 % of staff—about 50 to 60 employees—inside its Motion Picture Group (MPG) will exit this summer. Warner Bros Discovery Layoffs 2025
The cuts arrive only weeks after the company announced plans to spin off its film/streaming and cable assets into two separate public companies in mid-2026.
Below is everything we know so far, including affected departments, leadership commentary, and what the layoffs signal for Hollywood’s evolving studio landscape.
Warner Bros Discovery Layoffs 2025
Why Are the Layoffs Happening Now?
- Preparation for the 2026 split.
WBD will divide into- Warner Bros. – films, TV production, games, DC Studios and HBO Max
- Discovery Global – CNN, TNT/TBS, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network and Discovery+
- Cost discipline after a mixed 24-month box-office run.
- 2024 titles like Joker: Folie à Deux and Furiosa under-performed.
- 2025 has rebounded with A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, and James Gunn’s Superman, but studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy said in an internal memo that “sustained profitability requires leaner operations.”
- Industry-wide pivot from legacy to global day-and-date strategy.
As major studios chase worldwide event movies and streaming growth, WBD is folding its former U.S./International split into a single P&L, eliminating regional marketing and distribution silos.
Departments & Roles Most Affected
| Area | Examples of Roles Impacted | Rationale for Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Theatrical Marketing | International one-sheets, regional digital buys | Centralized campaigns run from Burbank |
| Distribution Ops | Territory bookers, print/ship specialists | Digital distribution pipelines |
| Physical Production | Location scouts, production services admin | Fewer overlapping hub offices |
| Strategy & Analytics | Regional research leads | Global data hub created in 2024 |
| Stage Plays & Live | Small theatrical productions unit | Focus shifting back to tentpoles |
Laid-off employees will depart beginning October 2025 and receive severance packages, extended healthcare, and job-placement assistance, according to HR emails viewed by THR .
What Executives Are Saying
- Pamela Abdy & Michael De Luca (Co-Chairs, MPG) “These decisions are never simple. To compete globally we must operate as one team, with unified creative, marketing, and distribution pipelines.”
- Gunnar Wiedenfels (Future CEO, Discovery Global) “The new structure will let each company pursue growth on its own terms—blockbuster filmmaking for Warner Bros. and cash-flow stability for Discovery Global.”
- David Zaslav (Current WBD CEO, future Warner Bros. CEO) “We’re positioning Warner Bros. to double down on DC, franchises, and streaming profitability while helping Discovery Global manage linear’s transition.” Warner Bros Discovery Layoffs 2025
Industry Context: Not an Isolated Event
- Warner Music Group, Disney, Netflix, and Paramount have all announced head-count reductions or cost-cuts in the past 24 months.
- Analysts at MoffettNathanson estimate legacy cable ad revenue will decline 9 % YoY in 2025, pressuring conglomerates to right-size overhead.
- Conversely, WBD’s direct-to-consumer segment posted $103 million in Q1 2025 EBITDA, up from a loss a year earlier—highlighting management’s pivot toward high-margin streaming. Warner Bros Discovery Layoffs 2025
What Comes Next for Employees and Investors
Warner Bros Discovery Layoffs 2025
- October 2025 departures conclude this round of layoffs.
- One-title marketing teams will pilot on Superman (July 2025) and Harry Potter series spin-up.
- Proxy statements detailing the tax-free spin-off mechanics are expected Q4 2025.
- Wall Street will watch whether trimmed overhead and global alignment boost studio operating margin to the 18 %–20 % range De Luca has targeted.
Key Takeaways
- 10 % state-side and international MPG cuts = ~50–60 jobs.
- Layoffs designed to reduce duplication, integrate global ops, and burnish each division’s balance sheet before the 2026 split.
- Despite 2024 flops, 2025 hits show content wins when marketing is focused, not fragmented.
- Employees leaving this fall may find open roles at streamers or indie producers as demand for experienced tentpole talent remains high.
Need deeper insight?
Keep an eye on SEC filings this winter for spin-off ratios and debt allocations, and bookmark this page—we’ll update with any additional workforce changes, severance details, or corporate structure moves as Warner Bros. Discovery reshapes itself for the next era of Hollywood. Warner Bros Discovery Layoffs 2025
