In a becoming strategy to conclude a horrible 12 months for the leisure industries, we have realized that Warner Bros. Discovery might probably merge with Paramount International.
Axios shared the inside track proper earlier than the Christmas break, outlining what Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav (arguably one of many most-hated wealthy guys on the planet proper now) and Paramount International CEO Bob Bakish may need mentioned. The ensuing Frankenstein’d media behemoth might enhance Paramount’s franchises due to WBD’s “worldwide distribution footprint” and pack one more streaming service that mixed Warner Bros. and Paramount’s choices.
In fact, that is all simply the beginning of talks that can in all probability proceed properly into 2024, whatever the ultimate consequence. It is also necessary to notice that “WBD’s market worth was round $29 billion as of Wednesday, whereas Paramount’s was simply over $10 billion.” This implies the merger wouldn’t be as simple as one may assume. The mix would take us additional into the uncharted territory of abhorrent trade consolidation.
Your complete Warner Bros. Discovery saga has been nothing however a shitshow up to now, ensuing within the axing of flicks and reveals for tax write-offs, powerhouse franchises shifting to rival streaming providers for fast money, and the once-recognizable HBO Max model being became simply Max and having an id disaster. The corporate is fortunate, nonetheless, to nonetheless have gifted filmmakers resembling Greta Gerwig placing out great things underneath their banner although.
The gaming facet of issues is not wanting a lot brighter both, with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League marking the beginning of a promised give attention to extra (and larger) live-service titles primarily based on WBD’s greatest IPs, which is a daring assertion to make when you’ll be able to’t even get a religious successor to the Batman: Arkham video games proper and the live-service bubble is already bursting in all places.
However hey, comedian e book followers who make manufacturers their complete character may lastly get a Batman x Ninja Turtles live-action film or one thing.