Paramount’s Bold Bid for Warner Bros. Faces Major Roadblocks
Paramount claims its offer for Warner Bros. is rock-solid, but the studio isn’t buying it. As Netflix and other giants circle, the future of DC’s Snyderverse hangs in the balance.
The competition to snap up Warner Bros. is getting more intense by the day. Not long ago, there was a buzz that Netflix might swoop in to purchase the legendary studio, with Paramount Skydance Corp. also throwing its hat in the ring. Now, fresh developments have thrown a spanner in the works, raising some serious questions about the whole process.
Paramount’s Offer Under Fire
According to a recent report, Warner Bros. Discovery is gearing up to knock back Paramount’s proposal. The studio has described Paramount’s bid as
“illusory”
and suggested that selling to Netflix could be a smarter move. The main sticking point? Paramount’s offer is largely backed by investors from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, which has made Warner Bros. Discovery a bit wary. They’ve flagged this as a
“fundamental concern.”
Paramount, for its part, isn’t having a bar of it. The company insists its financial backing is
“air tight”
and has dismissed Warner Bros. Discovery’s doubts as
“absurd.”
Meanwhile, the board at Warner Bros. Discovery has told shareholders that the Paramount deal
“provides inadequate value and imposes numerous, significant risks and costs on WBD.”
The final call now rests with the shareholders themselves.
Netflix and Snyder: A Potential Revival
Warner Bros. first put itself up for sale back in October 2025, after fielding a string of offers for the whole company or just parts of it. Alongside Netflix and Paramount Skydance Corp., Comcast Corp. has also shown interest in taking over the studio.
Netflix’s audience is well aware of the streamer’s close working relationship with Zack Snyder. They’ve already teamed up on several projects, including the Rebel Moon films and the Army of the Dead series, which even spun off into Army of Thieves in 2021. If Netflix does end up buying Warner Bros., there’s every chance they’d be keen to bring back the Snyderverse. For those not across it, the Snyderverse was the backbone of the DC Extended Universe, featuring Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and a host of other big names.
Fans have long hoped Warner Bros. Discovery would sell its DC superhero properties to Netflix, with the simple aim of reviving the Snyderverse. Netflix is reportedly interested in acquiring Warner Bros.’ film and TV studios, as well as the HBO and HBO Max streaming businesses. If that happens, it could mean big changes for the superhero side of things at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Box Office and Critical Reception
Here’s a quick look at how some of the key Snyderverse films have fared:
Man of Steel scored 7.1/10 on IMDb, with Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 57% from critics and 75% from audiences. The film had a budget of $225 million and pulled in over $670 million worldwide.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice landed a 6.4/10 on IMDb, with 28% from critics and 63% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Its budget was $250 million, and it grossed more than $874 million globally.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League received a 7.9/10 on IMDb and 71% from critics and 92% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, though budget and box office figures weren’t disclosed.
What Happens If Paramount Wins?
Some Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are still keen on the Paramount Skydance Corp. offer. Reports suggest a number of them might ignore the company’s advice and sell their shares to Paramount for $30 each.
If that deal goes through, the current DC Universe, led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, could continue to thrive. Paramount Skydance Corp. CEO David Ellison has said he’d keep the creative teams in place, which could mean business as usual for the DC franchise.
Let us know your thoughts on this ongoing saga, and stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds.