Netflix Announces $82.7 Billion Deal to Acquire Warner Bros., And Commits to Continued Theatrical Releases For Studio's Films

Netflix has confirmed it has entered into a definitive statement to bargain Warner Bros., including its movie and tv studios, HBO, and HBO Max, successful a woody worthy $82.7 billion.

In a statement, Netflix said the buyout would beryllium completed successful Q3 2026. Post-acquisition, the streamer said that it inactive expected Warner Bros. movies to proceed being released successful theaters.

Celebrating its momentous acquisition of Warner Bros.' immense contented vault, Netflix said the woody would bring its planetary scope and streaming capabililties to a period of movies and TV franchises, arsenic good arsenic the studio's biggest ongoing franchises. These notably see the DC Universe which is present being overseen by James Gunn, the Game of Thrones franchise which present has an expanded slate of spin-offs, and Harry Potter, which volition soon beryllium rebooted via an ambitious caller TV series.

Netflix said it plans to adhd Warner Bros.' "deep movie and TV libraries", arsenic good arsenic its HBO and HBO Max shows, to its ain streaming service, which volition mean the accomplishment of bid specified arsenic Friends, The Big Bang Theory and House of the Dragon alongside countless movies, from Citizen Kane to this year's Superman.

At the aforesaid time, Netflix said it would besides enactment theatrical releases for aboriginal Warner Bros. movies — but for which titles, and for however long? Today's announcement does not spell into detail, and determination volition undoubtedly beryllium questions connected the grade to which Netflix volition enactment Warner Bros.' theatrical output, aft antecedently saying it wouldn't alteration its long-standing presumption connected theaters versus streaming.

Word that Netflix was present a frontrunner successful the contention to bargain Warner Bros. archetypal emerged earlier this morning, pursuing weeks of speculation astir an imminent woody and important involvement from different parties, not slightest chap Hollywood workplace Paramount.

As yet, nary circumstantial notation has been made of Warner Bros.’ video games. The institution owns Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm, Batman: Arkham shaper Rocksteady, and Hogwarts Legacy workplace Avalanche. Next year, Warner Bros. is acceptable to merchandise Traveller's Tales’ Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, portion Rocksteady is believed to beryllium backmost making a caller Arkham title. As for Avalanche, pursuing the breakout occurrence of Hogwarts Legacy, a sequel present seems each but assured.

"Our ngo has ever been to entertain the world," said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix. "By combining Warner Bros.’ unthinkable room of shows and movies — from timeless classics similar Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites similar Harry Potter and Friends — with our culture-defining titles similar Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we'll beryllium capable to bash that adjacent better. Together, we tin springiness audiences much of what they emotion and assistance specify the adjacent period of storytelling.”

"Today’s announcement combines 2 of the top storytelling companies successful the satellite to bring to adjacent much radical the amusement they emotion to ticker the most,” added David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. "For much than a century, Warner Bros. has thrilled audiences, captured the world’s attention, and shaped our culture. By coming unneurotic with Netflix, we volition guarantee radical everyplace volition proceed to bask the world’s astir resonant stories for generations to come."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social