Steve Spira is stepping down as head of business at Warner Bros. ” Movie Group.
This was Spira’s second assignment, a 40-year studio veteran, having first visited the Burbank property in 1985. According to Variety, Spira plans to finish his job at the end of the year before moving on.
Spira was the first to retire during a difficult time when AT&T controlled the legendary studio. He was brought back by David Zaslav in 2022, when Discovery’s CEO installed new creative leadership in Mike De Luca and Pam Abdi. Leadership will take a break before considering his replacement, but one studio source said the position will likely go to someone from Spira’s existing team.
Although not triggered by ongoing deal negotiations surrounding Warner Bros. Discovery, Spira’s exit comes as the company is considering multiple buyers for both its studio and linear network operations. David Ellison’s Paramount, Netflix and Comcast are the leading candidates in a process expected to intensify next week after a new bid was finalized on December 1st. The company has announced that it will consider selling the Warner Bros. business (HBO Max and Studios) separately from its TV-focused label Discovery Global, in line with Warner Bros. Discovery’s ongoing plan to split into two companies by April 2026.
Spira is considered a key holder of organizational memory at Warner Bros. and became a trusted early advisor to Zaslav after several tumultuous years under his predecessor Jason Kilar. Spira was adept at attracting and motivating talent and staff alike, a valuable skill set for someone known to have nearly 20 grandchildren. His notable deals included long-term deals with Christopher Nolan and Clint Eastwood.
