Walter Hamada

Walter Hamada is an American film executive and producer. He joined New Line Cinema in 2007, where he served as an executive producer on horror films such as The Conjuring (2013), Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Lights Out (2016), and It (2017). In January 2018, he was appointed the President at Warner Bros. Pictures for DC-based film production (DC Films)[2] before departing from the company in October 2022.[3] He was hired by Paramount Pictures to oversee their horror film franchises beginning in 2023.

Walter Hamada
Occupation(s)Film executive and producer
EmployerParamount Pictures
SpouseMichelle Hamada[1]

Career

Hamada began his career as an assistant at TriStar Pictures and became Vice President of production at Columbia Pictures, overseeing films such as The Big Hit, Godzilla and S.W.A.T. He also oversaw development for MBST Entertainment.[2][4] Hamada worked for four years as a partner at the management and production company H2F Entertainment before leaving in 2007 to join New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros., where he served as a production executive for a decade.[2][4] He oversaw their horror slate of films with Dave Neustadter, including The Conjuring series and It (2017).[5] He also co-wrote the story for 47 Ronin (2013), a Universal Pictures film starring Keanu Reeves.[6]

In January 2018, after Justice League underperformed critically and commercially,[7] Warner Bros. appointed Hamada as the President for DC-based film production (DC Films) at Warner Bros. Pictures. In this capacity he oversaw production of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and other DC-based films.[2][8] According to The Hollywood Reporter, his overseeing of the DC film Shazam! (2019) at New Line impressed Toby Emmerich, the then-President and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Pictures.[5] In January 2021, he signed an extension to his contract with DC Films until 2023.[9]

Former DCEU cast member Ray Fisher has accused Hamada of "undermining an investigation into misconduct that is alleged to have occurred during Joss Whedon's reshoots of Justice League",[10] a claim that Warner Bros. and Katherine B. Forrest, the person in charge of the investigation, disputed.[11]

When the release of the film Batgirl was cancelled by Warner Bros. Discovery, Hamada was reportedly not consulted regarding the decision and only learned about it when Warner Bros. Pictures Group co-chairpersons and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy informed him at a test screening for Black Adam. Hamada was upset and considered resigning, but agreed to stay until the release of film.[12] He stepped down on October 19, 2022, two days before its release.[3]

On November 15, 2022, Paramount Pictures announced that they had signed a multi-year production deal with Hamada to oversee their mainstream horror movies. The contract became effective on January 1, 2023.[13] Hamada later launched his own production label named 18hz Productions based at the Paramount Pictures studio lot.[14]

Filmography
Year Film Role(s)
2002 Sorority Boys Producer
2007 Whisper Producer
2009 Friday the 13th Executive producer
The Final Destination Executive producer
2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street Executive producer
2011 Final Destination 5 Executive producer
2013 The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Executive producer
The Conjuring Executive producer
47 Ronin Story, executive producer
2014 Into the Storm Executive producer
Annabelle Executive producer
2015 The Gallows Executive producer
2016 The Conjuring 2 Executive producer
Lights Out Executive producer
Within Executive producer
Wolves at the Door Executive producer
2017 Annabelle: Creation Executive producer
It Executive producer
2018 Tag Executive producer
The Nun Executive producer
Aquaman Executive producer
2019 Shazam! Executive producer
The Curse of La Llorona Executive producer
Joker Executive producer
2020 Birds of Prey Executive producer
Wonder Woman 1984 Executive producer
2021 The Suicide Squad Executive producer
2022 The Batman Executive producer
Black Adam Executive producer
2023 Shazam! Fury of the Gods Executive producer
The Flash Executive producer
Blue Beetle Executive producer
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Executive producer
Unreleased Batgirl Executive producer; release cancelled

See also

References
  1. J. B. Lacroix (September 26, 2019). "Habitat for Humanity Builders Ball". Getty Images. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  2. Lang, Brent (January 4, 2018). "Warner Bros. Taps Walter Hamada to Oversee DC Films Production (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  3. D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 19, 2022). "DC Films Boss Walter Hamada Has Departed Studio As Warner Bros Discovery Finalizes Exit: The Dish". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  4. Kit, Borys (September 14, 2007). "Hamada joins New Line as sr. vp prod'n". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  5. Kit, Borys (January 4, 2018). "DC Movies Finds New President With 'It,' 'Conjuring' Executive". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  6. Debruge, Peter (December 23, 2013). "Film Review: '47 Ronin'". Variety. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  7. Lang, Brent (December 7, 2017). "DC Shake-Up in the Works After 'Justice League' Stumbles (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  8. "Walter Hamada". Warner Bros. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  9. Donnelly, Matt (January 5, 2021). "Walter Hamada Re-Ups Deal as DC Films President (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  10. Kit, Borys (January 14, 2021). "WarnerMedia Stands by Walter Hamada After New Ray Fisher Accusations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  11. Couch, Aaron (February 27, 2021). "'Justice League' Investigator Backs DC Films' Walter Hamada After Ray Fisher Claims". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  12. Masters, Kim (August 5, 2022). "DC Films' Walter Hamada Was on the Brink of Exit After 'Batgirl' Cancellation". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  13. Rubin, Rebecca (November 15, 2022). "Former DC Films President Walter Hamada Signs Multi-Year Production Deal With Paramount Pictures". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  14. Kit, Borys (January 17, 2023). "Walter Hamada Launches 18hz Productions, Executive Who Oversaw 'Smile' Among Key Hires (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
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