Warner Bros. Discovery's film studios saw a significant boost in Q2, with box office hits like 'F1' and upcoming releases like 'Superman' helping to increase revenue and EBITDA, as the company aims to rebuild its film division and leverage its franchise library.
Legendary Entertainment is in early talks to acquire Lionsgate Studios, which recently spun off from Starz, with potential collaborations on co-productions serving as a test for a possible merger. Lionsgate's shares surged following the news, and the deal could be part of Legendary's broader strategy to expand through industry acquisitions, supported by private equity investments. Both companies are major players in film and TV content, and the industry is seeing increased M&A activity.
Private equity firm Apollo Global Management has made an $11 billion bid for Paramount Global’s film and TV studios, excluding the CBS broadcast network, cable channels, and streaming services. The bid, which is more than the $9 billion market value for all of Paramount Global, could potentially impact the future of the Star Trek franchise and Paramount Plus. The deal, if approved, may take well over a year to be finalized and could lead to changes in the licensing and distribution of Star Trek content.
Actor Adam Driver criticizes big film studios, including Netflix and Amazon, for not meeting the demands of striking writers and actors. Driver, who received an exemption from Sag-Aftra for his film "Ferrari," expressed support for the interim agreement and questioned why smaller distribution companies can meet the demands but not the big studios. He attended the Venice Film Festival to stand in solidarity with his union and emphasized the importance of immersing oneself in different cultures when playing characters from different backgrounds.