Katarzyna Petru
Hollywood is shaking again – this time not due to the release of a major blockbuster, but because of a possible sale of Warner Bros Discovery. The management of WBD has officially confirmed that the company has begun 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 world of entertainment and technology have expressed interest – Paramount, NBCUniversal, Amazon, Apple, and even Netflix. And although some of them have already denied the rumours, conversations in Hollywood are picking up pace.
Paramount wants to join forces with Warner
Paramount, which recently completed its merger with Skydance, reportedly made three offers, the last of which was around 50 billion dollars – and was rejected. However, this would not be the first flirtation between these studios – a potential merger has been talked about since the end of 2023. WBD CEO, David Zaslav, commented on the matter in his typically diplomatic style:
“It’s no surprise that the significant value of our portfolio attracts market interest. After receiving numerous inquiries, we embarked on a comprehensive review of strategic options to choose the best path for our assets.”
Which translated to Hollywood speak means: if someone pays enough, everything is on the table.
Netflix, Apple and Amazon also in the game – at least partially
Netflix, which has already been mentioned as a potential buyer of Warner and HBO, officially denied it.
– “We have no interest in owning traditional media networks” – said co-CEO Ted Sarandos during a recent investor meeting. Meanwhile, Comcast (NBCUniversal) as well as Amazon and Apple reportedly expressed interest in buying individual parts of WBD, rather than the entire group.
WBD will collapse – the merger is off
Regardless of the outcome of the talks, fate is already sealed – the merger of Warner Bros and Discovery will be reversed. After years of attempts to integrate brands and renaming HBO Max to “Max” (and then back to HBO Max), the corporation will split again. The plan is for two independent entities to be created by mid-2026:
Warner Bros (with HBO Max and DC Comics)
Discovery Global (TV channels, documentaries and lifestyle)
However, if there is a sale of some assets before that, the separation will occur more quickly.
Another chapter in the history of Hollywood
If Paramount and Warner actually merged, it would signify the creation of a film giant with over 200 years of combined achievements. Brands such as Star Trek, South Park, and Mission: Impossible would fall 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, only five remain of the 'Big Six' film studios. A new merger would reduce this count to the "Big Four" – and traditional Hollywood would ultimately collide with streaming giants.
Warner Bros Discovery has officially been put up for sale. Paramount has already tried, Netflix denies it, and Apple and Amazon are watching the situation from the sidelines. One thing is for sure – the next big puzzle in Hollywood is just beginning.
