Paramount Makes Rival Bid For Warner Bros. After Netflix’s $82 Billion Offer, Including Game Studios
Paramount has officially entered the race to acquire Warner Bros., making a bold counter-move just days after Netflix stunned the entertainment world with its massive $82 billion offer. The new bid signals that the battle for Warner Bros. — one of Hollywood’s most influential studios — is far from over.
According to industry reports, Paramount has submitted its own proposal to take over the studio’s film catalog, TV assets, and, notably, its gaming division. This includes the teams behind Mortal Kombat, Hogwarts Legacy, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, LEGO Games, and other globally recognized franchises. The move has dramatically intensified what is shaping up to be one of the biggest entertainment industry bidding wars in years.
While Netflix’s bid included the Warner Bros. studio operations, HBO/HBO Max, and the celebrated Warner Bros. Games division, Paramount is reportedly pushing a bid designed not only to secure Warner Bros. but also to reshape its own position in Hollywood. With both streaming platforms battling for global dominance, acquiring such a massive content and IP library would significantly strengthen Paramount’s market share.
Industry analysts note that Warner Bros.’ game studios are a major factor driving the high bidding. With gaming now generating more revenue than film and music combined, companies are aggressively pursuing established development houses and powerful IPs. Owning franchises like Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, DC, Lord of the Rings, and LEGO would give Paramount an enormous competitive advantage across streaming, theatrical releases, and interactive entertainment.
Regulatory concerns remain a huge hurdle, however. Netflix’s offer has already raised antitrust scrutiny, and Paramount’s competing bid will also face heavy examination. Whichever company succeeds will need regulatory approval across multiple countries — a process that could take months.
For now, one thing is certain: the future of Warner Bros. is being reshaped in real-time, and the battle between Paramount and Netflix may alter the entertainment landscape for the next decade.