Disney insiders say they are enjoying Netflix‑Paramount battle for Warner Bros.

Pagesix reports that a senior Disney executive said, "I'm loving watching all this unfold," as Netflix and Paramount jockey to acquire Warner Bros.

The chatter inside Disney, the source added, carries an "eerie resemblance to schadenfreude." Insiders noted Disney is still dealing with a six-year hangover partly tied to its $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets, and that Disney’s stock is down 36 percent from its 2021 high. The executive questioned why Netflix would pursue Warner Bros., saying, "I can understand why Paramount would want it because they’re world builders. But Netflix? I just don’t get it... Why would [Netflix] want to saddle themselves with all these legacy assets and deal with all that integration and redundancies? Good luck with that."

Disney is also focused on who will succeed CEO Bob Iger. Insiders still say chairman of Disney experiences Josh D’Amaro remains the odds-on favorite, in part because he oversees Disney’s $1.5 billion move into video games after a partnership with Epic Games, publisher of "Fortnite." The report said Iger is not selecting his successor but is believed to have some say and views the Epic Games tie as a legacy play. People have speculated the company could opt for a co-CEO structure, splitting duties between D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden, mirroring the model over at Netflix.

Key Topics

Business, Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Paramount, Warner Bros, Bob Iger