Sun, 14 Dec 2025

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 'A nightmare' - The battle over Warner Bros is turning Hollywood upside down

Interviews with dozens of actors, producers and camera crews reveal an industry attempting to weigh the lesser of two horrible choices.

* Hollywood's creative workers describe Warner Bros' decline and impending sale as a "disaster", "catastrophe" and "nightmare".
* Netflix and Paramount are battling to buy Warner Bros, with Netflix looking to acquire its crown jewels including HBO and its vast archive of films and TV shows.
* Paramount Skydance's $108bn hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros includes backing from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and a fund started by Jared Kushner.
* President Trump has added fuel to the fire by saying "it's imperative that CNN be sold".
* The sale is part of a long line of major shake-ups in Hollywood since the pandemic, including the collapse of film and TV productions during simultaneous actor and writer strikes.
* Warner Bros' decline under CEO David Zaslav has led to massive job losses and a significant drop in stock value.
* Many in Hollywood view Zaslav as a villain who prioritized profits over legacy and tradition.
* Netflix's bid is seen by some as a lesser evil, with the company promising to maintain Warner Bros' current operations and theatrical releases.
* However, others are concerned about Netflix's streaming-first strategy and its impact on movie theaters.
* The sale of Warner Bros will likely lead to more job losses and consolidation in the industry.
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