It’s time for Warner Bros. Discovery According to crisis management experts, we talk about Ezra Miller.
Actors who play superhero Flash in the studio’s DC Extended Universe, including upcoming big-budget films, have been scrutinized for disturbing behavior patterns and allegations of cheating in recent months.
Miller, 29, made a headline in 2020 after a video that appeared to be suffocating fans violently surfaced. However, the inappropriate case escalated in 2022, when he was arrested and charged with chaotic behavior and harassment at a karaoke bar in Hawaii.
A few hours before appearing in court on these charges, Miller was arrested again after a quarrel accused of throwing a chair and injuring a woman.
According to his parents, Chase Iron Eyes, two protection orders have now been issued: a 12-year-old child in Massachusetts and an 18-year-old standing rock activist Gibson Iron Eyes, allegedly cared for by Miller. And Sara Jumping Eagle. Authorities were unable to find a mirror to serve these orders. Gibson is believed to be traveling with Miller.
Miller deleted his Instagram account earlier this week after posting a mysterious photo or message that appeared to be taunting the police.
The allegations against Miller come almost a year before Warner Bros. plans to release the $ 100 million movie The Flash, which is part of the studio’s DC franchise.
Tony Freinberg, President of Edendale Strategies, a crisis management and strategic communications company, said: “It’s worried about what it says about someone’s well-being, and it’s worried about what it says about someone’s aptitude, which is the face of the big Warner Bros. franchise.”
“Even one can be a misunderstanding,” he added. “But when you start doing things 4, 5, and 6, you’re starting to get into a messy territory.”
Miller’s talent agents and statutory agents did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
“Silence is not an option,” said Evan Neilman. Author of “Crisis Avoidance” CEO of crisis PR company Red Banyan. “At one moment, you choose to say nothing and convey your message.”
Warner Bros. remained quiet during Miller’s assault arrest earlier this year, but internal sources said An emergency meeting was held in April to discuss their recent controversy and how the studio will move forward. At that time, it was decided that the film would remain on the slate, but Warner Bros. will suspend future projects involving the actor.
The studio teased “flash” during a presentation at CinemaCon in late April. This suggests that we will continue to release the movie next year.
Miller has partnered with DCEU since the release of Batman v Superman Justice in 2016 and is an important part of Warner Bros.’s Fantastic Beasts movie series. ..
“If they just want it to go away or people will forget this, I think they’re wrong,” Neilman said.
Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
The studio is in a difficult situation. On social media, DCEU fans are clamoring for the mirror to be recast. But doing so, and re-shooting the movie, is incredibly expensive, and the studio may not be able to get enough profit from the box office revenue to outweigh its investment.
It’s also not as easy as putting a movie on the shelf and amortizing a multi-million dollar budget. Fleinberg said Warner Bros. is probably in the process of evaluating all film-related contracts to determine what can be legally done in the future.
If the actor or producer burns the movie’s revenue into a contract, Warner Bros. may have a legal obligation to publish the movie, regardless of whether Miller violates the moral provisions in his contract. ..
“I think Warner Bros. is in a terrifying position,” Fleinberg said. “It’s not common for people to feel sorry for a movie studio, but I’m in a nightmare situation trying to think about what they should do because all the options they have are bad. Really feels sorry for Warner Bros. “
Warner Bros. recently merged with Discovery in a $ 43 billion worth of transactions. This means that not only is the company’s top brass inheriting content, but it is also at stake. Experts told CNBC that the newly created Warner Bros. Discovery’s president and CEO, David Zaslav, could be very involved in how the company ultimately responds to the situation. He said it was expensive.
Freinberg suggested that Warner Bros. may also refrain from talking publicly about the Miller issue. Because these are claims.
“The claim is just a claim, not proven,” Fleinberg said. “They have due process and all other rights, but on the other hand, what is being said about them is very serious.”
Whatever Warner Bros. decides on future studio strategies, both Fleinberg and Neilmann agree that it needs to be done quickly.
“The key to Warner Bros. is’quickly, but not in a hurry’,” Fleinberg quoted basketball coach John Wooden. “I don’t have time to waste, but they don’t want to announce half-hearted things.”
Neilman reiterated his feelings, pointing out that any statement needs to be conveyed with transparency and credibility, and that saying nothing is not a bad choice.
“If they are my clients, I encourage them to make a statement and publish it with strategic results in mind,” Neilman said of Warner Bros. The movie at this point. The general public and rational people will understand. “
“Your reputation can disappear in a blink of an eye, so they need to take it seriously,” he added.
