All articles tagged with #warner bros
Actor Mark Ruffalo said on a recent podcast that he believes he’s already on a Paramount-Skydance banned list for speaking out against the Warner Bros. merger, noting that he spoke out with an open letter and a New York Times op-ed and arguing that courage to challenge industry deals can spur others despite fear of retaliation.
Warner Bros. won a yearslong arbitration with Village Roadshow over The Matrix Resurrections’ dual theatrical/HBO Max release, with Village Roadshow paying WB $57 million in damages after an appeal limited a forced 50% stake purchase; the dispute coincided with Village Roadshow’s Chapter 11 filing in 2025 and its library sale to Alcon. WB also has a Matrix 5 in development with Drew Goddard, though none of the original Wachowskis or cast are currently attached.
Deadline reports Village Roadshow relinquished its Matrix Resurrections stake, leading to a $57 million payout to Warner Bros. Discovery; WB now owns 100% of Matrix Resurrections, VR has no stake, and the arrangement reflects an updated damages-based settlement in the long-running co-financing dispute.
Mortal Kombat II earned $5.2 million in Thursday previews and is expected to anchor a weekend box-office fight against The Devil Wears Prada 2, with forecasts ranging from about $35–45 million for MK II and roughly $38–42 million for Prada 2 in its second weekend, though some projections push both toward around $50 million thanks to Mother's Day turnout.
Shareholders approved the Paramount-Skydance/Warner Bros. merger, but the deal faces ongoing antitrust pushback, lawsuits, and regulatory scrutiny that could push a closing beyond the planned timeframe. Legal challenges from consumers, state attorneys general, and unions, plus FCC concerns over foreign funding and broadcasting ownership, threaten to disrupt or derail the deal. Industry groups warn that consolidation could reduce competition, raise costs, curb production, and limit opportunities for underrepresented talent, making the ultimate outcome uncertain despite initial shareholder approval.
Jonah Hill-directed comedy Cut Off has been pulled from Warner Bros.’ July release calendar with no new date announced; reports suggest a recent test screening was unimpressive, and a new release date is expected to be announced soon.
A small group of Paramount+ subscribers filed a federal antitrust lawsuit aiming to block Paramount Global's $110 billion merger with Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging higher prices and fewer viewing options post-merger. The suit seeks an injunction, divestiture of Skydance’s Paramount stake, and triple damages under the Clayton Act, though private antitrust cases rarely prevail; Paramount argues the deal will create a stronger, more competitive platform. Regulators or state coalitions could still challenge the transaction.
Netflix’s board has authorized an additional $25 billion for stock buybacks, adding to its ongoing program and signaling a shift back to shareholder returns after pausing during the Warner Bros. Discovery deal. The move comes as Netflix aimed to return cash to shareholders and support the stock, with about $6.8 billion still available under the prior authorization as of March 31. In Q1 2026 the company repurchased roughly 13.5 million shares for about $1.3 billion. Netflix also notes a debt load of $14.4 billion versus $12.3 billion in cash, and reiterates its capital-allocation approach of reinvestment first, then returning excess cash to shareholders through buybacks.
After Warner Bros cancelled Coyote vs ACME to claim a tax write-off, Ketchup Entertainment picked up the rights and released a trailer in which Wile E. Coyote sues the ACME Corporation, with cameos from Road Runner and other Looney Tunes, delivering meta-humor that fans loved. The film is set for release on August 28, marking a long-delayed revival of the project.
The new trailer for Coyote vs. Acme previews a live-action/animation Looney Tunes feature directed by Dave Green, where Wile E. Coyote sues the Acme Corporation with Will Forte as his attorney and John Cena opposing counsel. After Warner Bros. dropped the project in 2023, the finished film—budget reportedly around $70 million—was picked up by Ketchup Entertainment in 2025 for a global theatrical rollout, opening August 28.
Oscar-winner Sean Baker has secured a $22 million global rights deal with Clockwork at Warner Bros. for Ti Amo!, a follow-up to Anora inspired by 60s–70s Italian sex comedies. The film’s budget is north of $10 million and financed by FilmNation; Baker will write, direct, edit and produce, with the surplus split among FilmNation and other production partners. Cameras are expected to roll in September.
Warner Bros. unveiled the Practical Magic 2 teaser at CinemaCon, reuniting Sandra Bullock’s Sally and Nicole Kidman’s Gillian Owens as witches who must confront a centuries‑old loveless curse and dark family secrets to save those they love. The sequel also features Joey King and Maisie Williams as Sally’s daughters, with Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Xolo Maridueña and others in the cast; Susanne Bier directs from Akiva Goldsman and Georgia Pritchett’s script, with a worldwide release set for September 11.
At CinemaCon 2026, Warner Bros. unveiled a crowded slate for 2027 and beyond, signaling confidence in a larger film lineup, while Disney introduced Infinity Vision as a premium-format branding to compete with IMAX; the coverage also highlights theater concessions innovation and the ongoing tension for smaller, independent cinemas over scheduling windows and holdovers in a changing studio landscape.
Hollywood’s Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has become a public skirmish marked by a stalled negotiation with Netflix, a growing list of A‑list insiders signing an open letter opposing the deal, and Paramount’s new CEO David Ellison drawing attention for missing and then reappearing at industry events—sparking concern that consolidation could curb production and diverse storytelling in the industry.
AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron publicly supports Paramount’s bid to acquire Warner Bros., praising David Ellison’s leadership and suggesting the deal could boost the number and quality of movies in theaters; Aron also notes growing collaborations with Netflix, optimism for a stronger 2026, and ongoing industry shifts around release windows that have shaped box office recovery since the pandemic.