Hollywood's Buzzing Over Reports That Warner Bros. And Paramount Are In Early Talks To Merge

Hollywood's Buzzing Over Reports That Warner Bros. And Paramount Are In Early Talks To Merge

Somewhere at this moment, a Hollywood writer is dusting off his Star Trek and Green Lantern crossover spec script as Warner Bros. and Paramount are reportedly looking to merge.

By MarkJulian - Dec 20, 2023 05:12 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios
Source: Axios

How is this for late-breaking, end-of-the-year news?

It seems all the A-list talent, industry analysts and agencies in Hollywood are buzzing over the news that Warner Bros. and Paramount are looking to merge. 

Axios was first to report that Warner Bros. Discover CEO David Zaslav met with President of Paramount Global Bob Bakish on Tuesday to discuss a potential merger.

Axios' report has been corroborated by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline Hollywood.

Zaslav has also reportedly approached Shari Redstone, the non-executive chairwoman of Paramount Global. The Redstone family are majority shareholders of  CBS, Comedy Central, BET, Showtime Networks, Nickelodeon, MTV and Paramount.

On paper, the merger appears to work for both parties as Warner Bros. Discovery is carrying a ton of debt after Discovery acquired Warner Media from AT&T in Spring 2022.  In contrast, Paramount has a much better debt-to-capital ratio but doesn't have the market capitalization that Warner Bros. Discovery possesses. 

Circling back to Redstone, it seems the family is looking to sell its controlling shares of National Amusement stocks, which gives the family control of the mass media holding company with ties to CBS, Comedy Central, BET, Showtime Networks, Nickelodeon, MTV and Paramount

At this stage, it's unclear if Zaslav is looking to make a deal with Restone if talks with Bakish fall through.

Industry analysts are concerned that the merger would create a new entertainment powerhouse and lower the overall number of films released each year.

Paramount is the home of several high-profile franchises including Star Trek, Mission Impossible, Top Gun and Transformers.

They also possess several high-profile animation film and television series through Nickelodeon.

Warner Bros. is of course, home to DC Studios, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Mad Max and more.

Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery is legally prevented from entering into any more acquisitions or mergers for two years, following the Warner Bros. Media and Discovery merger. However, that two-year period expires this April.

Of particular interest to the comic book movie fandom is how a potential merger between the two studios could impact the announced DC Studios film and television slate. Warner Bros. is said to be strapped for cash and at this early stage, it's unclear how a merger could affect their purse strings.

There's also the issue of the two studios' streaming apps, Max and Paramount Plus. A merger and combination of the two would give the new company an exceptionally robust library.

News of the potential merger broke after Wall Street closed for the day but industry analysts are eagerly awaiting for the stock market to open tomorrow to gauge how Wall Street reacts.

Do you think Warner Bros. merging with Paramount would be good for the industry? Let us know in the comment section below.

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AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 12/20/2023, 5:20 PM
Don't do it paramount!!!!!
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/20/2023, 7:36 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - Why not? Wouldn't you want to see strong franchises like Harry Potter and DC thrive under a company that would actually know what to do with it?
TheLight
TheLight - 12/20/2023, 8:54 PM
@SonOfAGif - Not with the WB. Too many issues and inconsistencies with their policies and the handling of their own franchises.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 12/20/2023, 9:23 PM
@SonOfAGif -


Under discovery and zaslav? A guy that cancelled finished films and is only known for reality tv?


Nope!!!!
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/20/2023, 11:16 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - Would the merger be with him in charge though? Most mergers oust the CEO/President in favor of new blood.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 12/20/2023, 11:51 PM
@SonOfAGif -



Disney kept iger so IDK,😳
KWilly
KWilly - 12/20/2023, 5:25 PM
Finally. We can have the Dexter's Lab and Jimmy Neutron crossover I've been waiting for.
CoHost
CoHost - 12/20/2023, 5:32 PM
@KWilly - Ed, Edd, n Eddy was gonna be a Nicktoon at one point. I guess it can finally happen.
Satish
Satish - 12/20/2023, 8:22 PM
@KWilly - green lantern+startrek+transformers
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 12/21/2023, 6:23 AM
@Satish -



They also have TMNT! Remember that time the DC Multiverse merged with the Turtleverse in the pages of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III?
That shit bout to happen for real.
Crisis in a Half Shell! Turtle Power!

dracula
dracula - 12/20/2023, 5:25 PM
What would they be called

Paramount Warners

Warners Paramount
Himura
Himura - 12/20/2023, 5:30 PM
@dracula - Para Brothers
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 12/20/2023, 5:44 PM
@dracula - Mount Warner
mountainman
mountainman - 12/20/2023, 6:29 PM
@dracula - Warnermount? Para Brothers? Paraner?
kg8817
kg8817 - 12/20/2023, 6:41 PM
@dracula - They’ll lose Discovery, so it’ll just be Warner Bros Paramount or Warner Bros Viacom.
dragon316
dragon316 - 12/20/2023, 7:20 PM
@dracula - parners, warpers
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 12/20/2023, 5:28 PM
WB has Barbie and Harry Potter. It is irrelevant that they can make DC and Mad Max movies, since those movies can"t make profits.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 12/20/2023, 5:50 PM
@PartyKiller -


They have the most IP out of every studio but have no idea what to do with it💁.



Disney is in a similar position to buy wb makes them look like geniuses 👮🤡
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/20/2023, 7:37 PM
@PartyKiller - It's because they don't get their audience. I guarantee you if Guillermo Del Toro or even Quentin Tarantino had Mad Max as a trilogy they would kill it. The problem is WB only wants Billion dollar franchises. Small budget movies or mid budget movies do not work for them.
Surveyor
Surveyor - 12/20/2023, 5:30 PM
Half of Paramount's film slate about to be cancelled and half their upcoming films will end up as tax write-offs knowing WB.
CoHost
CoHost - 12/20/2023, 5:31 PM
This wouldn't make sense. They both own cable channels and they can't merge with all of that. It'd make more sense if Comcast just buys WBD and sell off CNN.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 12/21/2023, 2:10 AM
@CoHost - kind of hoping that Comcast buys WB. I thought Walter Hamada was bad but David Zaslav took it to another level.
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