Neil Druckmann Pokes Fun at Streaming Shake-Up During Game Awards
Neil Druckmann lightens the mood at the Game Awards, joking about the streaming industry’s latest upheaval after Netflix’s move to acquire Warner Bros. What does this mean for The Last of Us and the future of film releases?
After news broke that Netflix is set to snap up Warner Bros., Neil Druckmann, the creative mind behind The Last of Us, couldn’t resist having a laugh about the whole saga at the 2025 Game Awards. Picking up the trophy for best game adaptation for the HBO series, Druckmann took the stage and, with a wry grin, thanked the usual suspects before quipping,
“Do we need to thank Netflix or Paramount, or whoever our streaming overlord is now?”
The crowd lapped it up, clearly enjoying the tongue-in-cheek nod to the industry’s latest shake-up.
Streaming Giants Jostle for Control
Druckmann’s joke comes off the back of a whirlwind few weeks in the entertainment world. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. announced it was up for grabs, sparking a bidding war among the big players. Paramount Pictures threw its hat in the ring, but Netflix swooped in with a hefty $82.7 billion offer on December 5, leaving Paramount’s higher bid on the cutting room floor.
For Druckmann and his much-loved series, the deal’s a bit of a head-scratcher. The Last of Us is an HBO production, and HBO sits under the Warner Bros. umbrella. So, whoever ends up owning Warner Bros. will also call the shots at HBO. That’s not all—Warner Bros. also holds the keys to DC Studios, Harry Potter, and Looney Tunes, making this acquisition a massive play in the streaming game.
Industry Uncertainty and Theatrical Release Fears
While Druckmann managed to find the funny side, plenty of film buffs and industry insiders are less amused. There’s a fair bit of anxiety about what this means for films hitting the big screen. The fear is that streaming giants might sideline traditional cinema releases in favour of boosting their own platforms.
Netflix’s top bloke, Ted Sarandos, tried to calm the waters at a recent conference, saying,
“didn’t buy this company to destroy that value,”
and adding,
“the reason Netflix has not talked about ‘the theatrical business’ in the past is because we’ve never been in that business. When this deal closes, we are in that business, and we’re going to do it.”
Whether that’s enough to reassure punters remains to be seen.
What’s Next for HBO and Warner Bros. Content?
Even with Sarandos’ promises, questions linger about what’s in store for networks like HBO and CNN, both part of the Warner Bros. stable. How their shows and films will be handled under new ownership is anyone’s guess. For now, fans can only wait and see if the Netflix deal gets the final tick of approval.
In the meantime, there’s no shortage of upcoming films to keep on your radar for the rest of 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re keen on blockbusters or indie gems, there’s plenty to look forward to—no matter who ends up running the show.