The Town with Matthew Belloni Would Netflix Really Embrace Theaters to Buy Warner Bros.?
45 snips
Dec 2, 2025 
Lucas Shaw, an entertainment reporter at Bloomberg, joins to discuss Netflix's potential acquisition of Warner Bros. and its promise to continue theatrical releases. They delve into how this shift could alter Netflix's traditional model, which prioritized at-home viewing. The conversation also covers regulatory implications, potential impacts on talent relationships, and how various theatrical strategies might play out. Additionally, Lucas shares insights on the recent success of 'Zootopia 2' and the competitive landscape of the box office draft.
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Netflix Pledged To Keep Theatrical Releases
- Netflix told Warner Bros. it would keep releasing movies in theaters to reassure owners and ease regulatory concerns.
- That promise likely covers contractual obligations and some future theatrical releases but leaves many details unspecified.
Existing Contracts Drive Near-Term Theater Plans
- Netflix would honor existing contractual theatrical obligations to avoid lawsuits from talent and exhibition.
- Those immediate commitments are distinct from any open-ended change to Netflix's overall theatrical strategy.
Model Tension Between Streaming And Theatrical
- Netflix's historical aversion to wide theatrical windows stems from its original-movie mix and home-delivery model.
- Buying Warner Bros. could force Netflix to adapt parts of its model to capture studio IP and talent benefits.