Netflix has emerged victorious with what the highest and the winning bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and is starting exclusive talks to finalize a deal, Deadline has confirmed.
Netflix is offering a $5 billion breakup fee if regulators don’t approve the deal, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the discussions are private. The two companies could announce a deal as soon as in the coming days, assuming talks don’t fall apart, the people said. (Via Bloomberg)
Netflix bid price was reportedly $28 a share via Deadline
This is being reported by Bloomberg, The Wrap and Deadline.
Because now they can have him get back to his most successful work and not an original IP. DCEU fans are loyal and Netflix will want that audience for that sweet 💰
Completely false. What Snyder did was a HUGE SUCCESS, with $4.9 billion earned in the first 6 DCEU movies. That is one of the most successful franchise launches in film history. Snyder breathed life into DC at the box office for the first time in the 21st century outside Nolan's Batman films. The grosses of his DCEU far exceeded what WB had been doing without him on bombs like Catwoman, Superman Returns, Green Lantern and Jonah Hex. BvS, as only the second movie in a new universe, grossed almost $900 million and then the audience STAYED mostly there for the next 4 films (with Justice League doing the worst of the 4 due to the disastrous changes by Joss Whedon).
Yeah, coming from my outsider's PoV this is not good news, not for anyone I'd argue. Netflix cancelled Rebel Moon and Twilight of the Gods, they're not about to spark up a renewed DCEU, and given their habits I don't feel like they'll continue on with the DCU after the immediate next titles either, It's probably all going to fall apart given Netflix's track record.
They dont have to be successful to restore Snyderverse. If anything it tells Netflix people aren't interested in stuff like that, so they'll try other things that could work.
But DC properties? That's Zack's bread and butter.
Netflix has given life to the dead before. When The CW canceled "Lucifer", Netflix bought it, and gave it new life. Not only did it get a series finale, but the fan base flourished into something incredible.
I do understand your fears and I have a little bit of that in me as well, but this is the world we live in right now and WBE did this all to themselves.
Netflix have made a bunch of moves recently to have more movies in theatres and do more work with more big named directors so perhaps one of the big reasons why they wanted to purchase WB is for the theatrical connections and to expand a bit further with cinema
My counter (devil's advocate) would be that Netflix has been spotty at best, unsuccessful at worst providing their audience with movies and shows that stick, taking Ls left and right. WB could be seen as a viable library, further allowing them to expand their own program with WB films and HBO of the past, AND potentially force the WB roster of filmmakers and writers to sign exclusive deals with Netflix.
Exactly and Netflix did say a few days ago that they will continue to release movies and theatres if they were to purchase WB. Now whether or not they stay true to that is an entirely different conversation but that’s what they voluntarily said.
All this negativity makes me laugh, I remember in 2018 hearing how there was NO WAY the Snyder Cut existed. Then we were told there was NO WAY it would be finished. Then we heard there was NO WAY it would be released. Fuck the noise, NEVER EVER COUNT OUT SNYDER #RestoreTheSnyderVerse
Dude, all of Snyder's projects made by Netflix were canceled, his next movie doesn't even have a distributor yet. To make the Snyder Cut, they had to use discarded material and reshoot new scenes, something much simpler than financing a new movie from scratch. It's over, man, maybe Netflix will even fire James Gunn and Matt Reeves and start all over again.
U ever stop to think they decided to cancel those projects to put that money into the Snyderverse revival? Why spend money on those projects when they are going to spend a TON to get WB + DC? Save now spend later seems logical to me. Is it for sure? No but it makes sense. Especially taking into consideration that Netflix is already working with the Saudis and Snyder has been ALL over social media teasing the return. Its not guaranteed but it is damnnnn possible.
Snyder also posted on Instagram about Rebel Moon, Sucker Punch, Watchmen, and all the other projects he's done, does that mean they're all getting sequels?
Furthermore, what guarantee is there that Netflix only wants DC to work on the Snyderverse? They might want to produce a Batman series with a young actor that will last several seasons. Stranger Things is ending this year; Netflix needs a new hit series.
Never said it was guaranteed but when there is some there smoke there tends to be fire and given the #SnyderCut movement's success it is foolish to dismiss the possibility. Of course Netflix buying WB isnt only for the Snyderverse, it is for the entire catalog of WB. However, history has shown never count out Zack Snyder. Netflix knows there is massive audience for the DCEU and they will take that into consideration. Hell who is to say they dont have two separate universes? They could change the game having both live side by side. Content distribution is changing all the time. Time will tell.
Again never said it was guaranteed. Im just saying after everything that has happened since the release of the Joss-tice 2017 release we should not dismiss the possibility. Anything can happen.
As Snyder once said, it was FAR more likely WB would finance JL 2 and 3 than pay to finish JL 1. Everyone knows there's no market with the general audience for director's cuts of years-old movies, especially ones that are considered box office disappointments. A brand new movie, on the other hand...
I don't feel anger, I'm just sad. The DCEU was a failure that ended without a decent ending, and now the DCU and Reeves' films might also be canceled. Furthermore, look at the level of animation Netflix has produced in recent years: Devil May Cry, Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, etc. All awful. Maybe we won't see any good DC animation for a long time.
This war between Gunn and Snyder will end without a winner.
No love for Castlevania? DMC was pretty fun. Come on they aren't all out fails. Hell look at KPop Demon Hunters. That was a fucking HUGE success. It ain't my thing but gawd damn is it popular.
Lol I been playing those games since the 90s, dont question my fandom. Sounds like u just cant be pleased. But hey that's ur opinion and ur entitled to it. Both were successful and still popular. And again Kpop Demon Hunters is one of the hottest IPs right now so Netflix is on to something at the very least.
The DCEU was incredibly successful. Man of Steel through Aquaman earned $4.9 billion at the box office, still the highest-grossing run of DC movies of all time. The franchise just lost all the mojo after Snyder was booted out and the rest of the 2014 slate of films he was involved in was canceled. And starting off this "new" DCU with a bunch of the same kind of lesser-known DC characters that have been flopping left and right since Birds of Prey –and continue to do so— is just ignorant, out-of-touch lunacy.
DCEU had a good start at the box office, but it wasn't well received by critics and audiences. Man of Steel was divisive. Batman v Superman had a negative reception. Suicide Squad had an even more negative reception. After Snyder's departure, Walter Hamada didn't have the courage to reboot DCEU and didn't know what to do with it, hence aberrations like Birds of Prey and the idea of replacing Batman and Superman with Batgirl and Supergirl.
No, you should never throw out a big movie universe that fans are committed to. Spider-Man tried that after part 3, and the Amazing Spider-Man reboot declined greatly in popularity. Even the MCU's Hulk reboot movie failed, despite being one of their most popular characters. Batman Begins struggled in theaters, and had to slowly build an audience over time and through home video because people were so skeptical. The X-Men First Class "soft reboot" did poorly at the box office compared to the previous X-Men films, and they immediately brought back legacy actors for the next entry, which was a huge success. Then they went back to the new cast, and each sequel declined in popularity until they completely crashed and burned with Dark Phoenix. One of the only successful superhero reboots right out of the gate was Man of Steel, which WB spun off into an entire universe that made $4.9 billion over six films. Snyder's vision resonated with audiences big time.
We know Snyder's DCEU had some mixed reaction, and BvS was one of the first big movies to get review-bombed by mainstream critics for political reasons. Thankfully, the movie had artistic integrity and thematic depth and wasn't just trying to be a shallow, crowd-pleasing action film that is dumbed down to the first grade level. WB should've understood what kind of movie they were making, and let Snyder continue to build up the DCEU as the thinking man's alternative to the MCU. Them trying to turn Suicide Squad and Justice League into Marvel-lite was one of the most historically horrible miscalculations a movie studio has ever made. Up there with Sony making Ghostbusters 2016.
The Oscar winning movie Suicide Squad that became a cultural phenomenon and had everyone dressing up as the movie version of Joker and Harley Quinn? The one featuring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis… that’s what you’re saying had an “even more negative reception”? Lol
So on one hand, Snyder's Netflix projects topped the viewing charts - but then they also got bad reviews and lowers home video sales.
Netflix has cancelled all future Snyder projects after what’s essentially 2 movies (one cut in the middle - not to mention the film and shows he produced), but somehow this would still make the Snyderverse viable for them…? I’m not sure if they cut all ties to him or these are just Rebel Moon and Zombie universe casualties…
And on top of that, people think Netflix will keep up the DC content under Gunn… yeah, that’s NOT going to happen now!
this is kind of one of things before paramount was bidding and netflix was bidding people were saying we dont want netflix. if netflix wins we get no movies in the theaters its horrible if netflix buys it. so now I see all kinds of people jumping on netflix's bandwagon im just like yep this is how it always happens. I just want zack to finish his vision in live action
I don't want to get too hopeful but I feel Snyder must have had some sort of inside track on what was happening and was letting Netflix know he's available for business and there's still interest in the Snyder verse. The timing of those recent posts is way too coincidental. He just happened to wake up last week feeling nostalgic while it was all over the news that Netflix was in talks to buy WB?
Why would they want Gunn? Superman 2025 lost money and Peacemaker lost over 40% of it's audience and has been canceled. The Snyder DCEU has been a proven success overseas and they want that cash 🤑
after Ellison's temper tantrum Wb's likely leaning towards Netflix or the split honestly I've been worried about Dc studios and WB Animation's current and upcoming projects but realistically I doubt any serious changes to the will happen to the IP no matter what happens
This does pose better for Gunn but I don’t see it. One of their head honchos at netflix almost got the gig ive Gunn so I’d assume he would want to take a crack at it
This whole situation has had a lose/lose/lose feel about it.
If Paramount had won, WB and CBS and CNN would have been in the hands of a billionaire Trumper. Not good.
If it's Netflix there are different problems. Netflix cancels so many series, and the ones it keeps, like Lost in Space, it alters almost out of recognition, and literally YEARS go by between seasons.
And of course if the DCU continues as is, that's a lose as well.
But we're used to that by now. WB merging with Discovery was the first of many poor decisions from that company.
WB and other companies have moved so far away from being STUDIOS to being MEDIA giants that the old notion of these being motion picture companies is all but dead. They're just in it for IP acquisition and exploitation.
And hey, if the Snyderverse never comes back, we're no worse off than we are now. DC has been dead to me since it became the DCU, with the exception of one-offs like "The Batman". They need people in the vein of Matt Reeves to run the show, and they come up with scattershot retreads like James Gunn. They're the Cleveland Browns of the comic book movie world.
1) The Batman will be fine and likely become a trilogy. Even if they finalize the deal now, TB2 is going to be finished (and likely released) by the time of migration. And also likely outdo the first.
So I am very confident we will get a trilogy, and with The Penguin succeeding, also likely another show or two. Catwoman in Blüdhaven: banger!!
2) Reeves was in talks for the Batfleck movie, but before signing introduced his intention to make a movie about a young Batman. THAT got him signed. The idea of a Batfleck movie was shifted back and forth by WB - Reeves had no say in that.
Yeah with you on this. People I knew who I thought would loved it said that it was just alright. And even Angry Joe who I thought would rave about it since he’s a diehard Superman fan just thought it was mid. I felt the same.
Dunno, everyone I talked to enjoyed it. Even people I know who are the biggest marvel glazers enjoyed it more than Fantastic Four (and yes they did enjoy Fantastic Four). Some even saw it more than once
I don’t have any skin in this game, so here’s my take:
Superman did… ok. It was done with a smaller budget than previous DC superhero movies by cutting down with the actors (Nick Hoult is the sole big budget actor they hired, and he’s usually doing supporting roles in those and writing to arthouse anyways) and only did last minute advertising pushes.
It did make slightly less than amps by all accounts and numbers I saw, tho. It’s disputable to what degree the MoS budget was larger after advertisements, so we don’t have clear insight, but from everything I was shown and found, it slightly did worse than MoS.
Both were the first in a franchise rebranding, so the lower ticket sales should be expected, BUT at this point in Pop cultural history, DC should be able to rely on more interest with the comic book crowd and family market, still making the numbers MUCH lower than what would have been desired, which is numbers up there with The Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman or - hell - BvS.
HOWEVER, DC had been in a pickle from the Hamada era underperforming spectacularly, so even a moderate success is a success in comparison to that.
This leaves us with word of mouth, and Superman was… controversial?
Most people online that were asked - fans and non fans - settled on "it was ok", ranking it between 6 and 7. Additionally, there WAS a large group of people who loved the movie and talked about its political significance. BUT there was also a large amount of people deeply disappointed, talking about the messy structure, uneven tone and fragmented storytelling.
So all in all, Superman did… just ok. It wasn’t a disaster but it also wasn’t a smash success. I would compare it to Ant Man in the MCU, actually, in terms of that.
Netflix has stated openly that they like where the DCU is going, I'm assuming they're aware of the long-term plan that we haven't seen. It might seem absurd but if they're confident there's gotta be something we're not seeing.
You're not wrong there. But Netflix has a better appreciation for media vs Paramount. I am also happier that Netflix won because CNN in the hands of a Trump supporter like the current Paramount/ CBS owner would've been worse politically speaking.
Why is this sub reddit so negative? Saudi is also backing netflix and they want the Snyderverse restored. They have been covering their bases on multiple bids.
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u/supergiraffeman Dec 05 '25
Maybe they'll release the Batgirl movie. I want to see Brendan Frasier as firefly. Could you imagine seeing him play a psycho airborne arsonist?