Katarzyna Petru
Hollywood is shaking again – this time not due to the release of a big blockbuster, but because of a possible sale of Warner Bros Discovery. The WBD management has officially confirmed that the company has started a "strategic review of options," which in practice means one thing: the studio is for sale.
According to industry information, the biggest names in the entertainment and technology world have expressed interest – Paramount, NBCUniversal, Amazon, Apple, and even Netflix. And while some of them have already denied the rumours, talks in Hollywood are picking up pace.
Paramount wants to team up with Warner
Paramount, which recently finalised a merger with Skydance, reportedly submitted three bids, with the last amounting to around 50 billion dollars – and it was rejected. However, this wouldn’t be the first flirtation between these studios – a possible merger was already being discussed at the end of 2023. WBD CEO, David Zaslav, commented on the matter in a typically diplomatic style:
“It’s no surprise that the significant value of our portfolio is attracting market interest. After receiving multiple inquiries, we initiated a comprehensive review of strategic options to choose the best path for our assets.”
In Hollywood terms: if someone pays enough, everything is on the table.
Netflix, Apple and Amazon are also in the game – at least partially
Netflix, which had already been mentioned as a potential buyer of Warner and HBO, has officially denied it.
– “We have no interest in owning traditional media networks” – said co-CEO Ted Sarandos during the recent investor meeting. Meanwhile, Comcast (NBCUniversal) and Amazon and Apple have reportedly expressed interest in buying individual parts of WBD, rather than the entire group.
WBD will break apart – the merger is off
Regardless of the outcome of talks, the fate is already sealed – the merger of Warner Bros and Discovery will be reversed. After years of attempting to integrate brands and changing the name of HBO Max to “Max” (and then back to HBO Max), the corporation will split again. The plan is that by mid-2026, two independent entities will be formed:
Warner Bros (with HBO Max and DC Comics)
Discovery Global (TV channels, documentaries, and lifestyle)
However, if there is a sale of some assets beforehand, the split will happen sooner.
Another chapter in Hollywood's history
If Paramount and Warner actually merged, it would create a film giant with over 200 years of combined output. Brands like Star Trek, South Park, or Mission: Impossible would end up under the same roof as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Dune, Game of Thrones, and DC Comics.
After Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, there are only five left from the “Big Six” film studios. The new merger would reduce that number to “Big Four” – and traditional Hollywood would finally clash with the streaming giants.
Warner Bros Discovery has officially been put up for sale. Paramount has already made attempts, Netflix denies it, and Apple and Amazon are watching the situation from the sidelines. One thing is certain – the next big puzzle of Hollywood is just beginning.
