Warner Bros EVP Kevin McCormick steps down

Warner Bros. executive Kevin McCormick is leaving his post as executive vice president of production and senior adviser after his second stint in the studio’s film leadership ranks, according to a May 19 staff memo first reported by TheWrap. The move does not take McCormick off the lot: TheWrap and Deadline both reported that he is shifting into a producing deal that will cover movies and stage productions. Neither report named an immediate successor. The May 19 change closes another chapter in a Warner Bros. career that has run across both executive and producing roles. McCormick previously left Warner Bros. in 2009 to become a producer on the lot, and he returned in 2017 as executive vice president of production and senior adviser under then-studio leadership. ### What exactly is changing for McCormick now? (thewrap.com) TheWrap reported that Warner Bros. told staff on Tuesday, May 19, that McCormick was departing the executive post. The report said he would “segue” into a producing arrangement based on the lot that spans both film and stage work. Deadline separately described the move as an exit from the executive ranks rather than a full departure from Warner Bros. (thewrap.com) Deadline reported that McCormick’s current title was EVP of production and senior adviser during his second run at the studio. The outlet said his first producing assignment in the new setup will be Warner Bros.’ reboot of “The Bodyguard.” ### Why does his move matter inside Warner Bros.? Warner Bros. used McCormick in a senior production role tied to the film group and to theater-related work. (thewrap.com) A 2017 Warner Bros. announcement said McCormick would report to Courtenay Valenti and also serve as a senior consultant to Mark Kaufman, who heads Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. (deadline.com) That dual remit helps explain why current coverage ties his next deal to both screen and stage projects. Deadline said McCormick remained involved with the Broadway production of “Beetlejuice The Musical” and with stage adaptations of “Crazy Rich Asians,” “A Star Is Born” and “Elvis.” Playbill separately reported in 2024 that Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures was developing a “Crazy Rich Asians” musical. (businesswire.com) ### What has McCormick done at Warner Bros. before this? Variety and Deadline reported in May 2017 that McCormick returned to Warner Bros. as executive vice president of production and senior adviser after an earlier run at the studio. Variety said that return came as Toby Emmerich assembled his leadership team, while Warner Bros.’ 2017 announcement described it as a homecoming after more than a decade at the studio in his earlier tenure. (deadline.com) TheWrap’s 2009 report said McCormick had been leaving his post as production president at the end of that year to become a producer starting Jan. 1. Variety’s 2009 report similarly described a three-year producing deal when he exited that earlier executive role. ### Which films and productions are tied to his name? TheWrap identified McCormick as the producer of “Saturday Night Fever” in its May 19 report. (variety.com) IMDb’s industry credits page lists him as an executive producer on Warner titles including “Elvis,” “In the Heights,” “The Little Things,” “Doctor Sleep” and “The Way Back,” and as attached to upcoming projects including “Wonka 2.” (thewrap.com) Deadline’s May 20 report added that McCormick had worked on Warner Bros.’ stage business as well as film production during his latest executive run. That places his next assignment mix across the same two areas that defined his most recent title. ### What comes next at the studio? Warner Bros. has not publicly identified a replacement for McCormick in the reports published through May 20. (thewrap.com) TheWrap’s story said only that the studio disclosed his exit in an internal memo, and Deadline’s follow-up focused on his producing deal rather than a succession plan. (deadline.com) “The Bodyguard” reboot is the first named project in McCormick’s new arrangement, according to Deadline. The same report said he will continue to work on Warner Bros.-linked stage adaptations including “Crazy Rich Asians,” “A Star Is Born” and “Elvis,” giving the clearest public outline so far of his next slate. (deadline.com) (thewrap.com)