The Warner Bros logo outside the Warner Bros Studio lot in Burbank, California
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The major Hollywood labor unions have chimed in on Netflix’s proposed $82.7 billion takeover of Warner Bros. film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO, and none is anticipating a happy ending for their constituencies should the deal go through as expected.
The blockbuster acquisition would reshape the entertainment landscape, giving Netflix ownership of Batman, Harry Potter and the series Game of Thrones, among other franchises and characters.
The Writers Guild of America, which represents about 12,000 writers across film, television, and other media, came forward with the strongest dissention. The WGA East and West issuing a joint statement on Instagram and other channels soon after the news broke on December 5 stating the potential sale “must be blocked” by lawmakers.
“The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent,” the statement notes. “The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers. Industry workers along with the public are already impacted by only a few powerful companies maintaining tight control over what consumers can watch on television, on streaming, and in theaters. This merger must be blocked.”
SAG AFTRA – with approximately 160,000 members including actors, journalists, singers and dancers – followed with its own statement a few hours later.
“The potential Netflix/Warner Bros. transaction is a consolidation that may serve the financial interests of shareholders of both companies, but which raises many serious questions about its impact on the future of the entertainment industry, and especially the human creative talent whose livelihoods and careers depend on it,” the statement reads.
“A deal that is in the interest of SAG AFTRA members and all other workers in the entertainment industry must result in more creation and production, not less. It must do so with respect for the talent involved.”
The Directors Guild of America sounded an alarm on December 4 when news first began circulating that the streamer had emerged victorious in a heated bidding war with Paramount to buy one of the most storied Hollywood studios.
The organization, which represents more than19,500 members across film, television, and other media including directors, and members of their directorial teams, then issued a statement noting: “The news that Netflix had secured exclusive rights to negotiate for WBD raises significant concerns for the DGA. We believe that a vibrant, competitive industry—one that fosters creativity and encourages genuine competition for talent—is essential to safeguarding the careers and creative rights of directors and their teams.”
“We will be meeting with Netflix to outline our concerns and better understand their vision the future of the company. While we undertake the due diligence we will not be commenting further,” the statement concludes.
Warner Bros. Discovery in October opened the formal process of putting itself up for sale after it received three offers from Paramount Skydance which is now owned by the Ellison family and run by David Ellison, who took over as chairman and CEO following the 2025 merger between Paramount Global and his company, Skydance Media.
WGA East and West said in a joint statement back in October they planned to block any potential merger of WBD and Paramount. The union noted at the time that further media consolidation “would be a disaster for writers, for consumers, and for competition.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyolson/2025/12/05/major-hollywood-unions-sound-the-alarm-over-netflix-warner-bros-deal/
