Business 4 min read By Morgan Griffin
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Says No Regrets Over Warner Bros. Pursuit
Speaking at Bloomberg's Screentime conference, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said he has no regrets about pursuing Warner Bros. Discovery, dismissed Paramount's newly approved acquisition as a competitive threat, and outlined Netflix's theatrical strategy for major films.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said he has no regrets about the streamer's pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, speaking publicly just hours after a federal judge approved Paramount's acquisition of the storied Hollywood studio, clearing the final regulatory hurdle in a deal that reshapes the entertainment landscape.
Appearing at Bloomberg's Screentime conference, Sarandos was asked whether he regretted going after Warner Bros. given the intensified scrutiny Netflix has faced from Wall Street since the battle for the studio began. He indicated he did not, framing the pursuit as a strategic decision the company would stand behind.
The timing of his remarks placed Sarandos at the center of an industry in flux. Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery overcame its last obstacle when the federal judge signed off on a settlement with state attorneys general, ending a period of legal uncertainty that had hung over the transaction. The approval effectively closes the book on one of the most closely watched media consolidations in recent years.
Sarandos was also asked whether he views the newly combined Paramount-Warner Bros. entity as competition. He was largely dismissive of any rivalry, noting that on paper the streaming landscape remains evenly matched. His comments suggested Netflix is focused on its own execution rather than reacting to a rival's expanded portfolio.
The executive addressed the future of HBO chief Casey Bloys, who has emerged with control of the soon-to-be-merged streaming operations. Sarandos acknowledged the two had met, referring to what he described as a well-publicized lunch, but declined to characterize the encounter as a courtship. The remark came amid widespread industry speculation about which executive would ultimately steer the combined streaming assets.
Sarandos also used the appearance to detail Netflix's evolving approach to theatrical releases. He confirmed that some of the streamer's biggest films, including the planned sequel to the animated hit Kpop Demon Hunters, will receive a broad theatrical run before arriving on the service. The original film has been streamed more than 325 million times since launching in June 2025 and has also been screened in cinemas worldwide.
Several upcoming titles will test the strategy. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi's drama La Bola Negra is set for a full 45-day theatrical window in November. That same month, David Fincher's sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will become the first Netflix film to launch in IMAX. Greta Gerwig's Narnia adaptation and a new animated take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are both confirmed for cinemas next year.
Sarandos explained the thinking behind the shift, saying the goal is to serve movie lovers who want to see a film on the big screen without harming its value to Netflix. He argued that theatrical releases are not automatically bigger on the streaming service, noting that the most passionate audiences turn out for cinemas and can be lost by the time a title arrives on Netflix. He pointed to the 2025 period drama Train Dreams, suggesting a theatrical run would have been a net positive for the arthouse film.
The Kpop Demon Hunters sequel was confirmed in November, though no release date has been announced and it is unlikely to be ready before 2030. Plot details remain under wraps, and a live-action adaptation is not expected, with creator Maggie Kang saying the tone and comedy are best suited to animation.
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