Hollywood’s High-Stakes Bidding War: Warner Bros. Discovery
In a major shake-up, Warner Bros. Discovery announced a $72 billion bid by Netflix to acquire its studio and streaming operations. This prompted competing offers, including a hostile takeover from Paramount Skydance, which seeks to claim the entire company, including its cable networks like CNN. The consolidation raises concerns over job losses and diminished competition, leaving industry watchers uneasy. The choices boil down to a tech giant known for devaluing theatrical releases or a politically charged entity keen on reforming CNN.
This week’s highlights include Disney’s billion-dollar licensing deal with OpenAI for character use in video content and the Sundance Film Festival’s last lineup in Park City before its move to Boulder, Colorado. Golden Globe nominations recognized Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” and “The White Lotus.” Also featured are new rentals on Letterboxd Video Store and a special screening of “Fairyland” with local LGBTQ+ activists.
