Why David Ellison’s Paramount Takeover Bid Has Hollywood Talking

Paramount’s chief, David Ellison, has been relentless in his pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, refusing to throw in the towel after multiple failed attempts. On 7 January 2026, the Warner Bros. board told shareholders to give Paramount Skydance’s latest offer a miss. This marks the eighth time Ellison’s crew has tried to snap up the studio, and the board’s message couldn’t have been clearer: not interested.

Back in December, Ellison went in hard with a hostile bid to buy out WBD, likely hoping to outmanoeuvre Netflix, who were also circling. The rejection didn’t sit well with him, and he was quick to argue that his offer was a cut above what Netflix had put on the table.

Netflix Edges Out Paramount in Warner Bros. Standoff

Despite Ellison’s persistence, Warner Bros. made it plain they weren’t keen on what Paramount was offering. The board, after several rounds of negotiations, officially threw their support behind Netflix, urging shareholders to steer clear of Paramount Skydance’s advances.

In a statement, the board explained their reasoning:

Paramount’s offer continues to provide insufficient value, including terms such as an extraordinary amount of debt financing that create risks to close and lack of protections for our shareholders if a transaction is not completed. Our binding agreement with Netflix will offer superior value at greater levels of certainty, without the significant risks and costs Paramount’s offer would impose on our shareholders.

Essentially, they reckon Paramount’s bid is too risky, with too much debt and not enough security for shareholders. Netflix’s deal, on the other hand, is seen as a safer bet with fewer headaches.

There’s also talk that the Ellison family’s connections to President Donald Trump might have played a part in the board’s decision. With Robert Gibbs, a former Obama staffer, handling communications, the idea of a Trump ally taking over the company probably didn’t go down too well.

What This Means for Film Fans and Industry Workers

While the corporate tug-of-war grabs headlines, it’s the punters who end up copping the fallout. No matter who ends up in charge, the way locals watch films and telly is bound to shift. There’s a fair chance subscription costs could jump, and creative decisions might end up in the hands of more executives rather than the artists themselves.

There’s also the not-so-small matter of jobs. When Disney took over 21st Century Fox, heaps of workers were shown the door and projects got canned. If Warner Bros. does end up merging, history could repeat itself, leaving plenty of folks in the lurch.

Fans aren’t exactly thrilled about the idea of Ellison and Paramount running the show. The worry is that more corporate control means less room for creative freedom, and that’s not a prospect many are keen on.

Who Is David Ellison?

For those not across the details, David Ellison was born on 9 January 1983. He’s the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, and has also worked as a film producer and actor. As of 2026, his net worth is estimated at $500 million.

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