Netflix To Acquire Warner Bros. And Friday The13th Distribution Rights

Netflix announced a definitive agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) film and television studios, HBO, and HBO Max in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $27.75 per WBD share. This equates to an equity value of $72 billion and a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion (including debt). The deal, which positions Netflix as a dominant force in Hollywood by merging its streaming prowess with Warner Bros.' iconic franchises, is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q3 2026 following WBD's planned spin-off of its Global Networks division (including CNN and cable assets) into a separate publicly traded entity called Discovery Global.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the move as a "rare opportunity" to unite "two pioneering entertainment businesses," blending Netflix's global subscriber base (over 300 million) and originals like Stranger Things and Squid Game with Warner Bros.' legendary library, including Harry Potter, DC Comics (Batman, Superman), Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Friends, and classics like Casablanca.

Everyone will have their opinions on how this impacts streaming, theater going, and physical media, but for us, this may potentially muddle the waters of releasing a new Friday The 13th film in the near future. Horror Inc. and Jason Universe have been creative this year in releasing merchandise that did not require involving New Line Cinema (Warner Bros.), so perhaps their strategy of labeling new content as Jason Universe will allow them to release new films without New Line and Warner Bros, albeit without the Friday The 13th title.