Latest Entertainment News
Warner Bros. Discovery Board Rejects Paramount's Revised Bid, Backs Netflix Merger
Warner Bros. Discovery's board unanimously rejected Paramount Skydance's $108.4B leveraged buyout offer, citing excessive debt risks and inferior value compared to Netflix's $82.7B deal for studios and streaming. Netflix welcomed the decision, emphasizing complementary strengths for storytelling and expected closure in 12-18 months after regulatory reviews.
The deal excludes WBD's linear networks, planned for Q3 2026 separation.
Netflix Reaffirms Commitment to Warner Bros. Acquisition
Netflix supports WBD's board in recommending rejection of Paramount's bid, highlighting the $27.75 per share cash-and-stock deal's superiority for stockholders and creators. Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters stated it will expand series, films, and opportunities in a thriving industry.
HSR filing submitted, with engagement ongoing with DOJ and EU regulators.
SAG Awards Changes Name and Announces Nominees as Awards Season Kicks Off
Hollywood's SAG Awards has changed its name and announced nominees, marking the opener of the 2026 awards season. The event signals early momentum in recognizing acting achievements amid industry shifts.
Details on new name and full nominee list highlight top performances.
Tracee Ellis Ross Signs Multi-Year Deal with Fox Entertainment Studios
Tracee Ellis Ross and Joy Mill Entertainment entered a multi-year first-look deal for scripted content and overall unscripted deal at Fox. Projects span comedy, drama, animation, and reality formats, building on her 'Black-ish' success.
Adriana Ambriz continues as head of development.
CES 2026 Spotlights AI in Entertainment and Creator Tools
Entertainment leaders at CES 2026 discussed AI's role, from enhancing creativity to influencer efficiency, despite past Hollywood resistance. Speakers like Adobe's Hannah Elsakr compared it to Photoshop's debut, viewing AI as a toolkit booster.
Panels feature Netflix, Disney, WBD execs and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Art Directors Guild Announces 2026 Nominees Including 'Frankenstein' and 'Avatar'
ADG Awards nominees feature 'One Battle After Another', 'Sinners', 'Frankenstein', 'Avatar', 'Hamnet', 'Bugonia', and 'Zootopia 2'. Nominations recognize production design excellence across films.
Announced January 7, 2026, by Deadline, Indiewire, and Hollywood Reporter.
Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal Signals New Hollywood Consolidation Era
The potential Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. represents seismic shifts, outmaneuvering legacy studios like Paramount. Post-deal, Netflix becomes vertically integrated with studios, HBO Max, impacting creators and streaming.
Regulators expected to review in 2026.
Cinema United Warns of Antitrust Risks in Warner Deals
Trade group Cinema United expressed concerns over Netflix's Warner studio acquisition harming theaters and jobs due to streaming focus. Similar worries for Paramount's full-company bid, citing consolidation risks and less filmmaking diversity.
DOJ review anticipated.
Amazon Launches Alexa.com with AI Movie Recommendations
Amazon rolled out Alexa.com at CES, offering personalized movie/TV picks and scene-jumping via descriptions to enhance viewing. Part of broader AI entertainment innovations like smart TVs and audio products.
Aims to boost at-home experiences.
WBD Urges Shareholders to Reject Paramount, Support Netflix
In a shareholder letter, WBD called Paramount's $94.65B debt-heavy bid risky versus Netflix's structured merger. Emphasizes Netflix deal's certainty and value for its $72B equity portion.
Ongoing bidding war involves Harry Potter, DC, Game of Thrones IP.
SPACs Surge in 2025 Sets Stage for 2026 Entertainment Mergers
144 SPACs raised $30.4B in 2025, tripling 2024, fueling potential 2026 mergers in entertainment and tech. Amid Hollywood consolidations like Netflix-WBD, signals active M&A landscape.
Investors watch for impacts on creators.