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 |
| Employer | Paramount Pictures |
| Spouse | Michelle Hamada[1] |
Career
editHamada 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 Black Adam.[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] In April 2024, Paramount announced that Hamada will produce the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, an adaptation of the comic miniseries The Last Ronin, through 18hz Productions.[15]
Filmography
edit| 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 | |
| TBA | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin | Producer |
| Unreleased | Batgirl | Executive producer; release cancelled |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ J. B. Lacroix (September 26, 2019). "Habitat for Humanity Builders Ball". Getty Images. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Lang, Brent (January 4, 2018). "Warner Bros. Taps Walter Hamada to Oversee DC Films Production (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (September 14, 2007). "Hamada joins New Line as sr. vp prod'n". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (January 4, 2018). "DC Movies Finds New President With 'It,' 'Conjuring' Executive". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (December 23, 2013). "Film Review: '47 Ronin'". Variety. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ Lang, Brent (December 7, 2017). "DC Shake-Up in the Works After 'Justice League' Stumbles (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Walter Hamada". Warner Bros. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ Donnelly, Matt (January 5, 2021). "Walter Hamada Re-Ups Deal as DC Films President (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 14, 2021). "WarnerMedia Stands by Walter Hamada After New Ray Fisher Accusations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (February 27, 2021). "'Justice League' Investigator Backs DC Films' Walter Hamada After Ray Fisher Claims". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (November 15, 2022). "Former DC Films President Walter Hamada Signs Multi-Year Production Deal With Paramount Pictures". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kit, Borys (April 15, 2024). "Live-Action, R-Rated 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Movie in the Works From Producer Walter Hamada (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
