Legendary director James Cameron has officially opposed plans for the streaming giant Netflix to acquire the Warner Bros. Discovery conglomerate. In a letter to the U.S. Senate, the creator of 'Avatar' argues that such a merger would destroy the traditional theatrical model and drastically reduce the number of films produced. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and actor Mark Ruffalo reacted sharply to these accusations, alleging the director favors the competing offer from Paramount.

James Cameron's Opposition

The director warns that the traditional cinema model will be destroyed if the streaming giant acquires Warner Bros.

Netflix's Sharp Retort

Ted Sarandos accuses the director of participating in disinformation and favoring the offer from the Paramount conglomerate.

Two Powerful Bids

Warner Bros. Discovery is being contested by Netflix ($83 billion) and Paramount Skydance ($108 billion).

The conflict over the future of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) entered a new phase after James Cameron sent a letter to Senator Mike Lee, chairman of the antitrust subcommittee. The director described the potential deal with Netflix as 'disastrous' for the film industry. Cameron fears that the streaming giant will lead to the downfall of cinemas by abandoning traditional big-screen premieres in favor of its own platform. In his view, this will lead to market monopolization and a decline in the quality of film production. The response from Netflix was immediate. Ted Sarandos, the company's co-CEO, accused Cameron of participating in a 'disinformation campaign' inspired by Paramount Global, which is also bidding to acquire Warner. Sarandos assured that Netflix respects the theatrical tradition and plans to maintain theatrical releases, calling the director's accusations baseless. Actor Mark Ruffalo also joined the discussion, publicly asking Cameron whether his opposition concerns the very idea of monopolization, or specifically the Netflix company. Ruffalo suggests that a merger with Paramount would also carry competitive threats, which the director remains silent about. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood has been grappling with tension between digital platforms and cinema owners. The dispute over so-called 'theatrical windows,' the time between a cinema premiere and a film's online release, is a key flashpoint in industry negotiations. Currently, Warner Bros. Discovery is at the center of a takeover battle between Netflix, offering around $83 billion for the studios and streaming, and Paramount Skydance, whose bid for the entire corporation including debt amounts to a record $108 billion. The situation is dynamic, and the involvement of influential figures like Cameron could influence regulatory decisions in Washington. Warner Bros. Discovery remains one of the last 'crown jewels' of old Hollywood, making the outcome of this clash decisive for the future of the entire entertainment industry.

„It would be disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business.” — James Cameron

Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition Bids: Paramount Skydance: 108, Netflix: 83

108 bln USD — is the record-breaking Paramount bid for Warner Bros. studio

Mentioned People

  • James Cameron — Film director, creator of Titanic and Avatar, among others, opponent of the merger with Netflix.
  • Ted Sarandos — Co-CEO of the Netflix platform.
  • Mark Ruffalo — American actor who criticized Cameron's stance on the merger.
  • Mike Lee — Senator from Utah, chairman of the Senate antitrust subcommittee.