Ryan Coogler’s Sinners has not only glorified the director but also redeemed some big names in the industry. Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, Warner Bros.’ movie chiefs, were facing a Hollywood firing squad—anonymous leaks, pundit countdowns, and whispers of replacements.

Just weeks ago, their jobs hung by a thread after flops like Joker 2. Yet, with Sinners grossing $48 million and A Minecraft Movie hitting $700 million globally, they have staged a comeback that’s the talk of Tinseltown. Greenlighting Coogler’s Sinners would have cost them their designations, but they are proud they made the right decision.

Warner Bros.’ movie chiefs on giving Sinners‘ rights to Ryan Coogler after 25 years Sinners director Ryan Coogler (image credits: Wikimedia Commons)

Michael De Luca, the ’90s wunderkind behind Boogie Nights and Seven, known for edgy bets, and Pam Abdy, the pragmatic producer who steadied New Line Cinemas. Together, they have spent...