All articles tagged with #warner bros
Warner Bros. contacted BAFTA to have the involuntary N-word outburst by John Davidson edited from BBC’s time-delayed broadcast of the BAFTA Film Awards. BAFTA apologized and took responsibility for placing guests in a difficult situation; the broadcast aired with the slur, triggering backlash and scrutiny over how the incident was handled by BBC, BAFTA, and Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. pressed BAFTA within minutes of an involuntary racial slur directed at stars at the BAFTA Film Awards, asking that the moment be cut from the BBC broadcast; BAFTA apologized and the BBC removed the footage from iPlayer amid competing accounts from Penny Lane TV and gallery staff, while Warner Bros. sought further talks with the BBC, though no meeting materialized.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos rebutted James Cameron's critique of Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition, arguing Cameron misrepresents Netflix's theatrical commitments; he notes Cameron was supportive in their recent meeting and that Netflix discussed a 45-day window, while Cameron shifted focus to other topics. Sarandos is set to respond to follow-up Senate questions next week.
Emma Mackey has exited Nancy Meyers’ untitled Warner Bros. comedy due to a scheduling conflict, leaving a star-studded cast previously including Penélope Cruz, Kieran Culkin, Jude Law and Owen Wilson; the film—Meyers’ first feature since The Intern—was once in development at Netflix before budget concerns shelved that version, and it remains slated for a December 25, 2027 release.
Warner Bros. has sent a letter to ByteDance accusing Seedance 2.0 of enabling user-generated AI clips that infringe its IP, including Superman, Batman and Game of Thrones, and demanding that ByteDance cease training on these characters and implement guardrails. ByteDance has pledged safeguards, but Warner Bros. argues that the infringement stems from Seedance’s design rather than user behavior. The move follows broad industry criticism from the MPA and SAG-AFTRA and cease-and-desist actions from Disney and Paramount amid the rapid rise of AI-generated video content.
Warner Bros.’ remake of Wuthering Heights led the Presidents’ Day box office with a global debut of $83 million (North America $38M, international $45M), though domestic receipts came in below the studio’s roughly $40 million forecast; the strong overseas start suggests staying power as the production costs were about $80 million. Sony’s GOAT opened to $35M domestic and $15.6M overseas (global $50.6M), while Crime 101 earned $16.3M domestic and $12M internationally (global $28.3M). This marks Warner Bros.’ ninth consecutive No. 1 debut, with Scream 7 arriving Feb. 27.
Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie, is on pace for an $82 million global debut after Warner Bros. spent about $80 million; US/Canada around $40 million and overseas about $42 million. Netflix reportedly offered roughly $150 million for the project, but a wide theatrical release was secured. The article also notes ongoing underrepresentation of women directors in Hollywood and places the weekend box office in broader industry context.
The United States has opened an antitrust review of Netflix's $83 billion deal with Warner Bros., signaling heightened scrutiny of major media–tech mergers.
Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman press Netflix and Paramount to commit to preserving and expanding good‑paying film and TV jobs in Los Angeles amid Warner Bros.’ acquisition plans, seeking concrete steps to bargain with unions, prevent AI‑driven displacement, end offshoring, and boost U.S. production; the DOJ is reviewing the Netflix‑WB deal, while cost‑cut projections at Netflix and Paramount raise concerns about potential job losses.
Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman press Netflix and Paramount Skydance to publicly commit to protecting and growing U.S. film/TV jobs (especially in Los Angeles) if they acquire Warner Bros., citing a downturn in domestic production and the need to counter cost-cutting in potential mergers. The letter also asks for continued union labor use and AI practices that don’t displace workers, and signals support for a bipartisan federal film incentive to bolster U.S. production.
Lisa Kudrow, reflecting on filming Friends and The Comeback on the Warner Bros. lot, urged the studio’s new owners to keep the historic lot preserved as-is and not change a thing amid the Warner Bros. sale.
Cinema United told the Senate that Netflix’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. would be economically and culturally catastrophic, forecasting fewer theatres, shorter release windows, lower revenue and jobs, and fewer films for moviegoers. They criticized Netflix’s stance on a 45-day exclusive theatrical window (shorter than the typical 90–100 days) and warned consolidation could place a single studio in control of a large share of domestic box office (potentially up to 40% if Paramount joined WB). Cinema United represents about 61,000 screens worldwide (roughly 31,000 in the U.S. and 30,000 abroad).
Deadline reports Nancy Meyers’ next project is moving forward at Warner Bros after Netflix walked away in 2023. Meyers’ first directing project in 11 years has Penélope Cruz and Owen Wilson attached from the original lineup, with Kieran Culkin now in final talks alongside Jude Law and Emma Mackey to join; a Christmas Day 2027 release is planned, though no title or logline has been released. Producers are Meyers and Ilona Herzberg, with Diana Pokorny executive producing. Netflix had eyed a budget of roughly $130–$150 million, but Warner Bros is pursuing a lower-cost production.
During a Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee hearing on Netflix’s proposed Warner Bros. acquisition, Hollywood guilds (DGA, PGA, WGA) submitted statements warning that consolidation could harm workers and competition, and pressed for protections such as expanded domestic production, longer theatrical windows, and a meaningful share of independent productions. The DGA, PGA and WGA also offered a nine-question framework for regulators to probe audience impact, employment, licensing, and other safeguards as the deal moves forward.
Warner Bros has placed a last‑minute bid for Olivia Wilde’s Sundance comedy The Invite, turning the sale into a three‑way auction with A24 and Focus Features as bidders.