Paramount announced on Monday that it was challenging Netflix with a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. 
The <a href="https://ir.paramount.com/news-releases/news-release-details/paramount-launches-all-cash-tender-offer-acquire-warner-bros">announcement</a> comes just days after Netflix said it had reached a deal to acquire the entertainment company in a massive $82.7 billion deal.
“We believe our offer will create a stronger Hollywood. It is in the best interests of the creative community, consumers and the movie theater industry,” Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison said in a statement. “We believe they will benefit from the enhanced competition, higher content spend and theatrical release output, and a greater number of movies in theaters as a result of our proposed transaction.”
Ellison announced an all-cash tender offer, which the company said “provides superior value, and a more certain and quicker path to completion&#8221; to shareholders. Paramount&#8217;s proposed deal was also expected to close in 12 months, compared with Netflix&#8217;s 18 months.
The Paramount offer includes purchasing Warner Bros. cable television assets, which Paramount said are worth about $18 billion more than the Netflix bid. The company had previously made six offers to Warner Bros., only to be rejected each time. The press release noted that Warner Bros. &#8220;never engag[ed] meaningfully&#8221; with those offers.
This news comes not long after President Trump remarked on the Netflix deal, saying it “could be a problem” from an antitrust standpoint. The president also mentioned being “involved” in reviewing the deal.
Paramount CEO David Ellison is the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who is a friend of President Trump and a major donor.
The proposed merger has had bipartisan pushback from skeptics who warn it could turn into a “nightmare” for consumers and creatives, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-faces-bipartisan-political-pushback?author=Reuters&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Netflix-Warner+Bros+Deal+Faces+Bipartisan+Political+Pushback">reported</a>. 
“Netflix built a great service, but increasing Netflix’s dominance this way would mean the end of the Golden Age of streaming for content creators and consumers,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) wrote in a post on X.
“We’re highly confident in the regulatory process. This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it’s pro-creator, it’s pro-growth,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said after the deal was announced.

Paramount

Paramount Launches Hostile Takeover Bid For Warner Bros. Days After Netflix Deal Announced

Business

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Netflix

Television

Warner Bros

The Supreme Court takes up a case that could decide the future of so-called birthright citizenship, elected leaders in Minnesota are scrutinized for links to the state&#8217;s massive welfare scandal, and the announced Netflix-Warner Bros merger sends shockwaves through Hollywood.
It’s Monday, December 8, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251208">video version can be seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump vs Birthright Citizenship</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1011047" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/SCOTUS-Weighs-Citizenship-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/SCOTUS-Weighs-Citizenship-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/SCOTUS-Weighs-Citizenship-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/SCOTUS-Weighs-Citizenship-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/SCOTUS-Weighs-Citizenship-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/SCOTUS-Weighs-Citizenship.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The Supreme Court will soon decide the fate of birthright citizenship in what could be a historic court case brought on by the Trump administration.
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that children born in the United States to illegal immigrants and other short-term visitors would no longer be considered American citizens.
That order was immediately challenged in multiple lower federal courts and subsequently put on hold. But on Friday, the White House got some major news: the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case and will decide on the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. A ruling is expected by this summer.
Preview: The case will hinge on the court’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which reads: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
Supporters of birthright citizenship say that sentence includes virtually everyone born on U.S. soil, but opponents say those born to illegal immigrants are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States, and thus are not Americans.
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Essentially, the White House says birthright citizenship was originally a good-intentioned provision meant to extend citizenship to the children of former slaves after the Civil War.
But they argue it’s now been abused by millions of illegal immigrants and even tourists, who race across the border while pregnant to ensure their children will get citizenship. 
Lawyers for the White House argue that Trump’s executive order would simply “restore the clause’s original meaning.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Massive Minnesota Fraud</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1011049" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Welfare-Scandal-Widens-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Welfare-Scandal-Widens-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Welfare-Scandal-Widens-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Welfare-Scandal-Widens-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Welfare-Scandal-Widens-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Welfare-Scandal-Widens.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The Somali-linked welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota is now being tied to Democrat leaders in the state, drawing more attention from the Trump administration and Congress.
Catch up: Billions of tax dollars have been stolen in the state of Minnesota during the tenure of Democrat Gov. Tim Walz. City Journal reporting has uncovered that at least a billion dollars in welfare and social service schemes have largely been connected to the Somali community in Minnesota. Alarmingly, some of this money was allegedly <a href="https://www.city-journal.org/article/minnesota-welfare-fraud-somalia-al-shabaab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">funneled</a> to Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
How could it be worse? Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller says the welfare fraud scheme is far worse than the American people think, involving “complicit” state government officials and totaling more stolen money than initial early estimates stated.
“We believe we have only scratched the very top of the surface of how deep this goes,” <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1997135207707615556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1997135207707615556%7Ctwgr%5E79d8d486c99e2a14a41c75308117655867895db2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fthe-somali-welfare-fraud-scandal-is-even-worse-than-you-think">said</a> Miller in an appearance on Fox News. “We believe the state government is fully complicit in this scheme, and we believe that what we are going to uncover is going to shock the American people.”
Miller also underscored the Somali ties to this fraud, connecting it to a larger conversation the nation is having about immigration from third-world countries.
“Seventy-five percent of the Somali population in Minnesota is on welfare, and that’s likely a significant undercount of just how much of a financial burden the Somali refugee population is imposing on this country,” <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1997135207707615556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1997135207707615556%7Ctwgr%5E79d8d486c99e2a14a41c75308117655867895db2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fthe-somali-welfare-fraud-scandal-is-even-worse-than-you-think">said</a> Miller.
Who knew what: Reporting from the New York Post has tied Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar to the scandal. Omar held parties at one of the key restaurants named, and she knew one of its owners, who is now convicted of stealing millions in funds. Additionally, one of her own staffers has been convicted of stealing millions. Omar even introduced the bill that led to $250 million in fraud.
“I just think that a lot of the COVID programs were set up so quickly that a lot of the guardrails did not get created,” Omar <a href="https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996395142001864889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1996395142001864889%7Ctwgr%5Edaf0b98b351595e957decab8d8baed2dec55e0db%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Filhan-omar-says-trump-supporters-might-attack-somalis-brushes-off-fraud-scandal">told</a> CNN last week when asked about the fraud.
There have also been questions about Walz’s oversight. The Treasury Department is investigating this scandal, and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has announced a congressional investigation.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Netflix-Warner Bros Seismic Merger</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1011051" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Streaming-Studio-Shake-up-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Streaming-Studio-Shake-up-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Streaming-Studio-Shake-up-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Streaming-Studio-Shake-up-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Streaming-Studio-Shake-up-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Streaming-Studio-Shake-up.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: In a seismic shift for Hollywood, Netflix has struck an $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Brothers. The merger would potentially reshape the entertainment business for generations.
Announced just days ago, Netflix&#8217;s binding offer will give it not just Warner Bros the movie studio, but also streaming assets like HBO Max. And it&#8217;s gobbling up classics like Batman, Superman, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Looney Tunes, Friends, etc.
It’s being called one of the biggest, if not the biggest, mergers in Hollywood history. It comes after a bidding war that saw heavyweights like Paramount Skydance and Comcast get outmaneuvered or outspent by Netflix.
The Netflix angle: Netflix has been in a content arms race with Disney and Amazon. The Warner Bros. vault offers instant firepower.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says it&#8217;ll “accelerate HBO Max growth” while blending Warner&#8217;s “theatrical expertise.” But many critics are concerned that this means Netflix will shorten theatrical windows and further decimate the moviegoing business.
That’s part of the reason many creatives hate this deal. During the bidding war, director James Cameron <a href="https://x.com/Todd_Spence/status/1996991743116591550?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Netflix&#8217;s acquisition of Warner Bros would be “a disaster” for the industry.
Batman director Christopher Nolan is representing the Directors Guild in meetings with Netflix to express concerns. Both the East and West Writers’ Guilds issued a joint statement unequivocally opposing the sale and asking regulators to block it.
Could it be blocked? There are already rumbles in Washington that the Trump administration doesn’t like this merger.
And opposition is bipartisan. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), chair of the antitrust subcommittee, said Netflix should “Buckle up for an intense antitrust hearing.” Meanwhile,  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has called the merger an “anti-monopoly nightmare,” warning that it could lead to higher subscription prices and fewer choices for consumers.
There’s no question that because Netflix is already the largest global streamer, adding Warner Bros. content and HBO Max subscribers would give it extraordinary dominance–over a third of the streaming market.
Netflix, though, already seems to be trying to soothe customer jitters. It sent a message to subscribers on Saturday night, repeatedly assuring them that their plans, fees, content access, and the separate operations of both Netflix and HBO Max will not change.

MRN_251208_V1

Morning Brief: Birthright Citizenship Showdown & Minnesota Fraud Firestorm

birthright citizenship

Ilhan Omar

Minnesota

Morning Wire

Stephen Miller

Supreme Court

Tim Walz

Some members of Congress on Friday deemed Netflix&#8217;s $82 billion proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery&#8217;s studios and streaming unit an antitrust &#8220;nightmare&#8221; for consumers and creatives, while the company touted the deal as driving value for viewers, workers and shareholders.
Netflix said the deal would create jobs and give its 300 million subscribers &#8220;more bang for their buck&#8221; by adding content at a time when President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration is focused on lowering prices.
Nevertheless, Republicans in Congress have warned of potential antitrust problems with Netflix absorbing HBO Max and Warner Bros&#8217; content rights. Democrats including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren also criticized the transaction.
Warren said the deal &#8220;would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market — threatening to force Americans into higher subscription prices and fewer choices over what and how they watch, while putting American workers at risk.&#8221;
Both Warren and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, who co-chairs the House Monopoly Busters Caucus, called the deal a &#8220;nightmare.&#8221;
&#8220;It would mean more price hikes, ads, &amp; cookie cutter content, less creative control for artists, and lower pay for workers,&#8221; she said in a post on social media site X.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said the &#8220;proposed deal, and any other, should be closely scrutinized.&#8221;
While Netflix won the bidding war for Warner Bros studio and streaming assets, it has been the political underdog compared with David Ellison-led Paramount Skydance, which has close ties with the Trump administration.
Paramount is considering making an alternative takeover offer directly to Warner Bros shareholders, who have yet to vote on the Netflix deal, CNBC reported on Friday. Reuters could not verify the report.
As the process played out, Republicans in Congress warned that a Netflix acquisition would reduce choice for consumers and give Netflix an unacceptably high share of the streaming market.
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican who leads the antitrust committee, said a Netflix buy of Warner Bros Discovery&#8217;s streaming assets &#8220;should send alarm to antitrust enforcers around the world.&#8221;
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&#8220;Netflix built a great service, but increasing Netflix’s dominance this way would mean the end of the Golden Age of streaming for content creators and consumers,&#8221; Lee wrote in a post on X.
Last month, Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas and Representative Darrell Issa of California also called on U.S. antitrust enforcers to scrutinize any possible Netflix-Warner Bros deal, saying it could lead to fewer movies in theaters.
The deal, given its size alone, is likely to face significant antitrust review by the U.S. Department of Justice, and also because it would eliminate competition between HBO Max, which has 128 million subscribers, and Netflix.
Netflix could counter by pointing to shifting media habits and the fact that Alphabet&#8217;s YouTube has recently been the most popular way for Americans to watch TV.
&#8220;We&#8217;re highly confident in the regulatory process. This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it&#8217;s pro-creator, it&#8217;s pro-growth,&#8221; Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said after the deal was announced.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on Friday.
George Hay, a law professor at Cornell University, said the review will depend on how much of the content market Netflix would control after the deal, and whether or not it could be addressed by a partial sale of some assets.
&#8220;Warner Bros has a lot of content already in the can. So you can imagine spinning off some of that content to another supplier, maybe a Paramount or something like that as a way of ameliorating or diminishing the market share,&#8221; he said.
The deal will likely trigger intense antitrust scrutiny in the European Union due to the combined companies&#8217; market share. UNIC, the EU trade body representing cinema trade associations and operators covering 39 territories, said it will share its concerns and opposition to the deal with competition authorities.
The DOJ antitrust unit is led by Gail Slater, a former executive at Fox Corp and Roku. She was later an economic advisor to Vice President JD Vance.
Last month, Slater signaled that the &#8220;main thing&#8221; for her office is focusing on the average American&#8217;s biggest expenditures. Housing, transportation, food, healthcare and utilities lead the list, with entertainment in fifth place at 5% of household spending, according to a pie chart Slater posted on X.
But those entertainment costs have been rising. Netflix raised the price of its own standard ad-free plan by $2.50 to $17.99 a month in January. HBO Max followed suit, raising its ad-free service price last month by $1.50 to $18.49.
Trump has a history of getting involved in big media mergers and weighing in on one side. He actively lobbied the DOJ in his first term to stop AT&amp;T&#8217;s $85 billion purchase of Time-Warner, voicing concerns about media concentration and his own displeasure with Time-Warner&#8217;s CNN cable network. AT&amp;T ultimately won in court in 2018 and 2019.
Warren warned on Friday against political favoritism tainting the deal review process.
&#8220;The Justice Department must enforce our nation’s anti-monopoly laws fairly and transparently — not use the Warner Bros. deal review to invite influence-peddling and bribery,&#8221; she said.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York, Foo Yun Chee in Brussels and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; editing by Chris Sanders, Franklin Paul, Nick Zieminski and Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio)

Netflix-Warner Bros Deal Faces Bipartisan Political Pushback

Movies

U.S.

Streaming giant Netflix <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros">announced</a> on Friday that it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO, in a massive deal valued at $82.7 billion.
Netflix said Warner Bros.&#8217; current method of operating, “including theatrical releases for films,” will continue in an apparent effort to quell fears from critics of the acquisition.
“I know some of you’re surprised that we’re making this acquisition, and I certainly understand why. Over the years, we have been known to be builders, not buyers,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during an investor call Friday morning.
“We already have incredible shows and movies and a great business model, and it’s working for talent, it’s working for consumers and it’s working for shareholders. This is a rare opportunity,” he said. “It’s going to help us achieve our mission to entertain the world and to bring people together through great stories.”
Sarandos said in the official statement that the mission of Netflix “has always been to entertain the world.” 
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we&#8217;ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” the entertainment exec added. 
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Co-CEO of Netflix Greg Peters expressed similar thoughts, saying, “This acquisition will improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come…with our global reach and proven business model, we can introduce a broader audience to the worlds they create—giving our members more options, attracting more fans to our best-in-class streaming service, strengthening the entire entertainment industry and creating more value for shareholders.”
The acquisition is expected to close once Warner Bros. completes its planned spinoff from Discovery Global, meaning the deal would potentially finalize in the third quarter of 2026. Netflix <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/">will pay</a> a $5.8 billion reverse break-up fee if the deal doesn’t go through, while Warner Bros. agreed to pay $2.8 billion if it opts to back out.
“Today’s announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love to watch the most,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. “For more than a century, Warner Bros. has thrilled audiences, captured the world’s attention, and shaped our culture. By coming together with Netflix, we will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world’s most resonant stories for generations to come.”

Netflix To Acquire Warner Bros. In Massive Billion Dollar Deal

Netflix Will Acquire Warner Bros. In Deal Mega $82.7 Billion Deal

Hollywood

Anyone who relished 1978’s “Superman: The Movie” winced over the saga’s fourth installment, 1987’s “The Quest for Peace.”
That didn’t erase the mark Christopher Reeve left on the Man of Steel and pop culture writ large. Iconic. Then and now.
<div id="attachment_930427" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930427" class="size-large wp-image-930427" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-461x576.jpg" alt="Superman, played by American actor Christopher Reeve (1952 - 2004), holds a green crystal at the Fortress of Solitude, in a promotional still from 'Superman', directed by Richard Donner, 1978. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-166979319.jpg 819w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" />Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images</div>
So, after Marvel’s “Iron Man” blew the doors off the box office in 2008 and ignited Hollywood’s new superhero craze, it made sense to bring the DC Comics hero back to theaters.
He’s arguably the most recognizable hero in the men in tights genre, dating back to the late 1930s. So why can’t the industry get Superman right?
Here’s hoping director James Gunn does just that with the latest “Superman.” The summer’s most anticipated release casts relative newcomer David Corenswet (“Twisters”) as the Krypton native. Early <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhUht6vAsMY">trailers</a> suggest a lighter tone and emphasis on humor as much as rock ‘em, sock ‘em action.
<div id="attachment_930429" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930429" class="size-large wp-image-930429" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-1024x576.jpg" alt="David Corenswet. &quot;Superman&quot; 2025. Photo by Courtesy of Warner Bros. Copyright: Warner Bros." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/MixCollage-06-Jun-2025-11-20-AM-503-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Photo by Courtesy of Warner Bros. Copyright: Warner Bros.</div>
Why is it so hard to make the Man of Steel as popular as the Hulk or Thor on movie screens? 
We’ve had endless small-screen Supermen, from George Reeves’ ‘50s era here to Dean Cain in the rom-com-ish ‘90s series “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”
The first major attempt at Superman came two years before Robert Downey, Jr. kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 2006 film “Superman Returns” deployed a Reeve doppelganger (Brandon Routh) but underwhelmed at the box office.
Something was missing, and not just the “American Way.” The film ditched the hero’s signature phrase, “Truth, Justice and the American Way” to placate foreign audiences or the industry’s Left-leaning sensibilities.
By the time Warner Bros. hired Henry Cavill to play Clark Kent the superhero craze was in full swing, but this wasn’t your father’s Superman. Cavill’s “Man of Steel” (2013) was conflicted, a far cry from Reeve’s Boy Scout persona. Even the legendary suit’s colors were muted, a darker shade to reflect his inner turmoil.
<div id="attachment_930431" style="width: 812px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930431" class="size-large wp-image-930431" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-802x576.jpg" alt="SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) British actor Henry Cavill poses during a photo shoot on June 25, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Cavill is in Australia to promote his new superman film 'Man of Steel'. (Photo by Chris Pavlich/Newspix/Getty Images)" width="802" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-802x576.jpg 802w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-300x215.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650-768x551.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-171517650.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px" />Chris Pavlich/Newspix/Getty Images</div>
The film made millions, but it didn’t rock the culture like Reeve did in the late 1970s nor did it generate a direct sequel. Cavill starred in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) and “Justice League” (2017).
Cavill made a Superman cameo in the 2022 disappointment “Black Adam” before learning he was out of the DCEU (DC Extended Universe).
It’s not surprising that Hollywood has struggled to make Superman “Superman.” Antiheroes are all the rage in Tinsel Town, from Tony Soprano to the misfit warriors of “Thunderbolts*” and two “Suicide Squad” films.
It’s hard to make a Boy Scout-like hero pop off the screen in our cynical age. The writing must be rich and detailed, showcasing layers that make the “aw, shucks” heroism matter. Antiheroes offer far more shades of gray and opportunities to grab our attention. That’s what Walter White did for five mesmerizing seasons of “Breaking Bad.”
“Say my name!”
Goody two-shoes characters aren’t hip in the eyes of many screenwriters. White hat heroes need not apply. How many recent films have glorified hit men, paid assassins who serve as judge, jury and executioner? The “John Wick” saga is the tip of that morally dubious iceberg.
So where does that leave this summer’s Superman reboot?
It’s Gunn’s baby, through and through. The veteran writer/director is in charge of the DCEU’s reboot, and this is his coming-out party after working with the MCU on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy.
<div id="attachment_930433" style="width: 879px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930433" class="size-large wp-image-930433" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-869x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: James Gunn speaks at the DC Studios Creature Commandos panel during New York Comic Con 2024 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 19, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop)" width="869" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-869x576.jpg 869w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001-768x509.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2179646001.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 869px) 100vw, 869px" />Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop</div>
Gunn brings a quirky sense of humor to his work, but he’s hardly a traditionalist. He also has a dark side. He previously got canceled in 2018 for resurfaced <a href="https://deadline.com/2018/07/james-gunn-fired-guardians-of-the-galaxy-disney-offensive-tweets-1202430392/">pedophilia and rape jokes</a> on Twitter. Disney later had a change of heart and hired him to helm the third film in the “Guardians” saga.
<a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/james-gunn-donald-trump-dick-joke-twitter-james-mangold-1201908489/">Gunn also blasted then-President Trump</a>, a common pose in his field.
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, no fan of Gunn’s work, has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbefouUAF2w">low expectations</a> for the new reboot after reviewing the trailer. “Two thumbs down.”
A recent revelation suggests Hollywood didn’t learn from its past mistakes. Official “Superman” movie merchandise drops the “American Way” phrase once more in favor of “<a href="https://cosmicbook.news/james-gunn-superman-ditches-the-american-way">the human way.”</a>
Yet the director <a href="https://thescreenbrief.com/james-gunn-interview-superman-teaser-press-launch/">spoke to the character’s innate goodness</a> in a late 2024 interview that suggests a Reeve-like take on the material. 
“We can expect a Superman who is about the compassion of the human spirit, a Superman who is about kindness, love and compassion, while also being a very strong character. He is the best of humanity, even though he is an alien from outer space.”
Maybe Gunn will rise to the cultural occasion. We could use a unifying hero like Superman at this point in American culture. We’re at each other’s throats over political differences, egged on by social media platforms that feast on conflict.
<div id="attachment_930443" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-930443" class="size-large wp-image-930443" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Peter Safran, Co-Chairman &amp; CEO, DC Studios, David Corenswet and James Gunn, Co-Chairman &amp; CEO, DC Studios attend &quot;Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story&quot; New York Premiere at Museum of Modern Art on September 18, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2172998627.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images</div>
Superman isn’t Right or Left, although his Midwest upbringing suggests he’d call the former camp home. Still, Reeve’s Superman never became a culture war talking point. His chaste pursuit of Margot Kidder’s Lois Land was PG-rated perfection. He’s true to his word and lives to save cats stuck in trees.
That’s all for the good.
Gunn teased Superman’s core strength as a character in the aforementioned interview, another tease that he might be channeling the Reeve model.
“[He’s ]this symbol of really old-fashioned values and hope, and it’s an idea that’s been a bit battered over the years.”
Gunn is no conservative, but he may realize “Superman” needs heartland values to connect with the character’s past … and the franchise’s future. That’s assuming he still has one.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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Recording artist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chris-brown">Chris Brown</a> is suing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/warner-bros">Warner Bros.</a> for $500 million, accusing them of unfairly painting him as an “abuser” with the airing of the docuseries “Chris Brown: A History of Violence.”
The project in question aired on Investigation Discovery in October. Brown, 35, filed the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lawsuit">lawsuit</a> for the alleged offenses of defamation-libel and infliction of emotional distress through the content of the program, per <a href="https://people.com/chris-brown-sues-warner-bros-for-500-million-over-docuseries-says-he-was-falsely-labeled-as-an-abuser-8778289">People</a>.
“A History of Violence” included interviews with multiple women who claimed to have been abused by Brown. One woman identified as Jane Doe claims to have been raped by the recording artist in 2000.
&#8220;This case is about the media putting their own profits over the truth,&#8221; the lawsuit says. The document also asserts that Warner Bros. allowed the project to go forward, &#8220;knowing that it was full of lies and deception and violating journalistic principles.&#8221;
The filing mentions Doe specifically, saying her claims were already &#8220;discredited.” The document says she is &#8220;perpetrator of intimate partner violence and aggressor herself.&#8221; Brown claims Doe originally accused him of assaulting her on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ yacht in 2022, but those charges were dismissed after a Miami Beach Police officer discovered text messages sent by Doe &#8220;that exposed her dishonesty,&#8221; the filing states.
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The lawsuit mentions that despite Brown never being convicted of sex crimes, he’s painted as a &#8220;serial rapist&#8221; and &#8220;sexual abuser.&#8221; The docuseries also reported that Brown smashed a window at Good Morning America in 2011, allegedly threw a brick through his mother’s windscreen in 2013, and punched a female fan in 2016. He was also accused of verbal and physical abuse and making death threats by his ex-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, per <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/22/chris-brown-sues-warner-sexual-assault-allegations-documentary-history-of-violence">The Guardian</a>.
Brown was sued by his ex-manager for assault in 2016 and settled out of court. In July 2024, four concert attendees claimed Brown and his entourage “attacked and brutally beat” them after the show. That case is still pending.
The lawsuit also mentions the harm caused by the docuseries after Brown spent years trying to rehabilitate his image. In 2009, the rapper was charged with assault and making criminal threats by his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, following an altercation they had before the Grammy Awards. Brown pleaded guilty in June of that year and accepted a plea deal of community labor, five years probation, and domestic violence counseling, the outlet noted.
&#8220;Mr. Brown has grown from those experiences, and his evolution speaks for itself,&#8221; the lawsuit states. &#8220;This new production ignores that growth, choosing instead to repackage stale accusations while amplifying them with demonstrable falsehoods.&#8221;

Chris Brown

Chris Brown Sues Warner Bros. For $500M, Saying Doc Made Him Look Like Abuser

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There’s a new “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">Lord of the Rings</a>” movie on the docket for 2026, and this time it’s all about Gollum.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/warner-bros">Warner Bros.</a> announced that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">filmmaker</a> Peter Jackson, who is responsible for the popular “LOTR” trilogy, “will be involved every step of the way,” per <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/lord-of-the-rings-movie-2026-release-warner-bros-1235997102/">Variety</a>. Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the screenplays of the LOTR trilogy with Jackson, will serve as producers on the upcoming film.
The studio confirmed in a press release that the new film’s working title is, “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” Actor Andy Serkis will both star as Gollum and direct.
“For over two decades, moviegoers have embraced the ‘Lord of the Rings’ film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works, and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision,” Warner Bros. studio leaders Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy said in a statement Thursday. 
“We are honored they have agreed be our partners on these two new films. With Andy coming aboard to direct ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,’ we continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all want to venture ahead and further contribute to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ cinematic history.”
Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens said, “It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker — Gollum! As life long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”
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The original “LOTR” trilogy, which debuted in 2001, grossed more than $3 billion worldwide, the outlet noted. The movies are based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. 
Multiple movie spinoffs are currently in the works, including an animated film set 100 years before “The Hobbit” that has a scheduled December 14 release date.

Gollum

Warner Bros. Announces ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie About Gollum: ‘Unfinished Business With That Stinker’

Warner Bros. Announces 'Lord of the Rings' Movie About Gollum: 'Unfinished Business With That Stinker'

Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-burton">Tim Burton</a> will team up with best-selling “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn to remake the 1958 sci-fi horror <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film</a> “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman.”
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">project</a> will be released with Warner Bros. Studios, according to a report from <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/tim-burton-gillian-flynn-remake-attack-fifty-foot-woman-1235894570/">Variety</a>. The outlet noted how Burton will serve as the film’s director while Flynn is responsible for crafting the script. 
In the original movie, a woman grows to gigantic proportions after an encounter with an alien, and she uses her new size to get revenge on her unfaithful husband.
The original 1958 “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman” featured Allison Hayes, William Hudson, and Yvette Vickers in leading roles. It had a production of $88,000, the outlet noted. The original film currently has a 71% critic score and 21% audience rating on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1001323-attack_of_the_50_foot_woman">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
It’s also not immediately apparent what changes will be incorporated into the remake. The movie was remade in 1993 by HBO with Christopher Guest serving as director. There were also several failed or abandoned remakes prior to that, and a few spinoffs, including a parody called “Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold” (1995) and a 3D film called “Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader” in 2012.
Flynn is no stranger to Hollywood. The 52-year-old author wrote and produced the HBO limited series adaptation of another one of her books, “Sharp Objects,” which earned her an Emmy nomination and the Writers Guild of America Award. Flynn was also co-writer on the screenplay for “Widows” (2018) and wrote the screenplay for David Fincher’s 2014 thriller “Gone Girl,” which was based on her book.
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Burton, 65, is a Hollywood mainstay known for his gothic horror and fantasy films. He rose to fame with projects such as “Beetlejuice” (1988) and “Edward Scissorhands” (1990). He has directed a host of other films, including “Batman” (1989), “Batman Returns” (1992), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Frankenweenie” (2012), “Mars Attacks!” (1996), “Planet of the Apes” (2001), “Sleepy Hollow” (1999), “Big Fish” (2003), “Alice in Wonderland” (2010), “Dark Shadows” (2012), “Dumbo” (2019), plus the musicals “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005) and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007).
The director is currently working on the “Beetlejuice” sequel.

Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman

Tim Burton Will Team Up With ‘Gone Girl’ Author For Remake Of Classic ’50s Sci-Fi Movie

Tim Burton Will Team Up With 'Gone Girl' Author For Remake Of Classic '50s Sci-Fi Movie

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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-cruise">Tom Cruise</a> has signed a deal with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/warner-bros">Warner Bros.</a> Discovery to develop and produce theatrical <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">films</a>, per Variety.
These new projects will be a mix of original <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">productions</a> and franchise films, which will feature the Academy Award winning movie star. The publication <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/tom-cruise-warner-bros-deal-new-movies-1235866282/">noted</a> that the deal is not exclusive and Cruise will still have upcoming projects with Universal, Paramount, and other studios in the future.
It’s been more than 10 years since the last time Cruise did anything with Warner Bros. The actor’s last project with the studio was “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014). Other notable films he’s done with the studio include “Magnolia,” “Rock of Ages,” “Interview With the Vampire,” and “Eyes Wide Shut.” Warner Bros. was also the studio behind Cruise’s breakout hit “Risky Business” (1983).
Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who took over as co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group in 2022, are the execs behind the deal with Cruise. David Zaslav is also being credited as he’s the one who hired De Luca and Abdy, the Variety report noted.
“We are thrilled to be working with Tom, an absolute legend in the film industry,” De Luca and Abdy said in a statement.
“Our vision, from day one, has been to rebuild this iconic studio to the heights of its glory days, and, in fact, when we first sat down with [Warner Bros. Discovery chief] David Zaslav to talk about joining the Warner Bros. Discovery team, he said to us, ‘We are on a mission to bring Warner Bros. back – we have the best resources, storytelling IP, and talent in the business – and we need to bring Tom Cruise back to Warner Bros!’”
They continued, “Today, that becomes a reality and we are one step closer to achieving our ambition. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Tom back to Warner Bros. and look forward to bringing more of his genius to life on screen in the years ahead.”
Cruise also gushed over the partnership in his own statement.
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“I have great respect and admiration for David, Pam, Mike, and the entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery and their commitment to movies, movie fans, and the theatrical experience,” the “Mission: Impossible” actor said. “I look forward to making great movies together!”
Cruise is currently working on the eighth installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise with Paramount following the massive success of “Top Gun: Maverick” in 2022.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Inks Deal With Warner Bros. For Ongoing Movie Partnership

Days after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/warner-bros">Warner Bros</a>. announced they’d be permanently shelving “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">Coyote vs. Acme</a>” as a tax write-off, the studio did an about-face and is now looking for a buyer after facing backlash in the industry.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">film</a>, which is already complete, is based on a humor piece published in The New Yorker in 1990. It combines live-action and animation to follow the character Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation from the classic “Looney Tunes” cartoons. He blames the corporation for all his failed attempts trying to catch his nemesis, the Road Runner.
“Coyote vs. Acme” is produced and co-written by James Gunn and stars John Cena as Acme’s CEO and Will Forte as Wile E. Coyote’s lawyer.
Warner Bros. was criticized for pulling similar moves with “Batgirl” and “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” when it scrapped almost finished projects in favor of giant tax write-offs in 2022. The difference here was that “Coyote vs. Acme” is fully completed and tested well with audiences, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/coyote-vs-acme-wb-warners-canceled-reversal-shop-film-1235645372/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. The studio changed course when a group of Hollywood directors and showrunners banded together to support the film. 
The film’s director Dave Green initially expressed his frustration with the studio’s decision. 
&#8220;For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right. Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB&#8217;s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.&#8221;
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Others came to the movie’s defense as well.
“COYOTE V ACME is a great movie,” writer-director BenDavid Grabinski <a href="https://twitter.com/bdgrabinski/status/1722722940335358118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X. “The best of its kind since [Who Framed] ROGER RABBIT … The leads are super likable. It’s beautifully shot. The animation is great. The ending makes everyone f***ing cry. I thought the goal of this business was to make hit movies?”
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s absolute bullsh** that a studio can and does shelve the creative work of hundreds of people for a f**ing tax break,&#8221; “Doctor Strange” director Scott Derrickson <a href="https://twitter.com/scottderrickson/status/1723096345500901568">wrote</a> of the controversy.
&#8220;I have seen this movie and it is excellent. It also tested in the high 90s repeatedly. It also had interested buyers. The people working at Warner Bros are anti-art and I hope multiple anvils drop on their heads,&#8221; director Brian Duffield <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianDuffield/status/1722716603299885068">agreed</a>.
Duffield told THR, “I don’t know how you see the movie and then go, ‘That couldn’t happen to me.’” He didn’t work on the project himself, but said he is friends with Green and gave him notes. 
Duffield told the outlet that Green stayed on budget, spending $72 million making the film, and even moved to London for 18 months to save the studio money on post-production costs.
“I think Coyote is really similar to Barbie in a lot of ways,” Duffield told the outlet. “They are playing with iconography in a really fun, popcorn kind of way.”

Wile E Coyote

Warner Bros. Won’t Scrap ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ For Tax Write-Off After Extreme Backlash From Hollywood

Warner Bros. Won't Scrap 'Coyote Vs. Acme' For Tax Write-Off After Extreme Backlash From Hollywood

Animation

Warner Bros. Discovery said it will attempt to get <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-praises-bidens-maui-speech-where-he-compared-historic-fire-to-small-kitchen-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> back into the streaming game a little more than a year after its streaming service CNN+ bombed after a month in operation. 
The media conglomerate is calling its second try at a news streaming platform “CNN Max,” which is slated to launch on September 27. CNN Max will feature some of the network’s existing shows, including “Amanpour,” “Anderson Cooper 360,” “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” and “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer,” The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/warner-bros-discovery-adds-cnn-live-news-service-to-max-streaming-platform-9b87e4f2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. CNN Max will also launch new shows “CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker and Fredricka Whitfield” and “CNN Newsroom with Jim Sciutto.” 
Warner Bros. Discovery said the new streaming service would be different from the subscriber-based CNN+ in that it will be included in the MAX (formerly known as HBO MAX) streaming package at no additional cost to MAX subscribers.
“We have the broadest and highest quality entertainment offering, and now will include world-leading news as a meaningful addition for all Max subscribers, at no extra charge,” said JB Perrette, WarnerBros. Discovery CEO and president of Global Streaming and Games, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/media/4168779-cnns-parent-company-to-launch-new-streaming-news-service/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Hill.
In April 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/warner-bros-discovery-is-shutting-down-cnn-after-new-streaming-service-struggled-to-attract-viewers-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut down</a> CNN+ after less than a month in operation after the streaming service failed to attract subscribers. Fewer than 10,000 people were streaming CNN+ daily, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/12/cnn-plus-low-viewership-numbers-warner-bros-discovery.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to CNBC, even after it signed former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace and gave him a show on the platform.
Then-incoming CEO Chris Licht said the “decision [to shut down CNN+] is in line with WBD’s broader direct-to-consumer strategy. In a complex streaming market, consumers want simplicity and an all-in service, which provides a better experience and more value than stand-alone offerings.”
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Licht <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ceo-chris-licht-out-at-cnn-after-tumultuous-year-controversial-trump-town-hall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stepped down</a> from his position as CEO in June as the media company continued to struggle with attracting a large audience. The former CNN executive faced criticism from his employees after canceling CNN+. The past year for the legacy media outlet has been a rollercoaster. Familiar faces on the network, such as longtime journalist Brian Stelter and host Don Lemon, were axed under Licht’s reign, and the tumultuous leadership of Licht came to a boiling point when the network hosted a town hall with former President Donald Trump in May.

CNN Parent Company Will Attempt Streaming Service Re-Launch After CNN+ Bombed In A Month

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Mainstream Media

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It would be easy to believe that a well-produced superhero movie will automatically draw big crowds and earn millions or even billions of dollars. With super mega-hits like the “Avengers: Endgame” ($2.7 billion), “Spider-Man: No Way Home” ($1.9 billion), and “Black Panther” ($1.3 billion), the genre has become synonymous with bringing in boatloads of profits. But not always.
One thing the highest-earning films have in common is that they almost always come from Marvel Studios. In fact, eight out of the top ten highest-grossing superhero films are Marvel properties. One (“The Incredibles 2”, $1.2 billion) is from Pixar. In the tenth spot is DC’s crown jewel, “Aquaman,” which brought in a respectable sum of $1.1 billion for Marvel’s biggest rival.
“Aquaman” came out in 2018. That doesn’t mean the studio hasn’t had any hits since then. But with changing management and a new strategy, the future of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) — which includes the Warner Bros. brand — is anything but certain.
The new president of DC Comics Jim Lee shared his thoughts on why some major superhero films are underperforming expectations.
“Once you hit a certain number of people, it&#8217;s too large for everyone to kind of love everything. And so they, basically, have splintered into different groups. It&#8217;s almost like pro sports at this point,” he told <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/05/25/1178119988/dc-comics-superhero-marvel-films-movies-jim-lee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NPR</a> in May, echoing what other industry experts said about the reality of “superhero fatigue” at the box office being part of the reason for disappointing box office numbers.
“Like, even when it was Marvel versus DC, I still felt like everyone loved comics. They embraced the storytelling. They embraced the notions of heroism and hope that the stories reflected. And now, it&#8217;s been elevated beyond that. It&#8217;s almost independent of what the storytelling is about. And it&#8217;s more about business factors or political factors, societal sort of discourse. It&#8217;s become highly polarized.”
Lee also mentioned that while smash hits will always rely on drawing in big crowds, studios should remember that they need to cater to their core comic book-loving audience first and foremost. “Yes, you need the broader, more casual audience to really hit those elevated numbers in terms of box office or viewership,” the DC Comics executive said. 
 
“But at the end of the day, if you don&#8217;t have that core fan base that loves and knows the material intimately to help sort of propel and drive that energy, it becomes very challenging.”
The two men in charge of righting the ship for the DCEU are director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. They’re both serving as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios as of October 2022. Insiders were shocked when the news broke, with <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dc-movies-james-gunn-peter-safran-to-lead-film-tv-division-1235248438/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> calling it an “unprecedented move” for the studio to select a director to serve as an executive-level decision-maker.
Gunn and Safran already announced their plans for upcoming projects, which include a reboot of &#8220;Superman.&#8221;
The studio next announced some changes spurred by the new vision for DC. Henry Cavill got booted as “Superman,” which surprised some of the fanbase. “We didn’t fire Henry,” Gunn told <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/01/dc-movies-robert-pattinson-gal-gadot-jason-momoa-future-dc-james-gunn-1235245269/">Deadline</a> when the news broke. “Henry was never cast. He was in a cameo, and that was the end of his story.”
The first project Gunn and Safran announced was “Gods and Monsters.” Beyond that, the duo said in January 2023 that they were remaining open and “flexible” about developing new content.
&#8220;Many of the following projects are already being worked on, but we&#8217;re remaining flexible, and we&#8217;re going to adjust because we&#8217;re never going to put a project into production before the script is right,” Safran <a href="https://collider.com/james-gunn-peter-safran-dcu-future-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Gunn had more to say about staying open to change. “I&#8217;ve been around making studio movies now for over 20 years, and the thing that I&#8217;ve seen, the biggest change between the past and today is that — and the reason why I think movies in general are not as good as they used to be — is because too many movies get set into a date, and then they&#8217;re made no matter what,” he said.
“Then you have movies where they don&#8217;t have a third act, and they&#8217;re already shooting, hoping that somehow they&#8217;re going to work it out, even though they didn&#8217;t get it worked out through three years of script. So, we want to really elevate writers, again, make writers as important as they are, and become architects of this story,&#8221; Gunn said of the DC strategy going forward.
And as for the content that will be coming, the new heads of DC are planning to blur the line between good and evil, unlike the storylines of superhero movies in the past. Gunn described the current universe as being filled with “almost saintly people&#8221; like Superman who were always fighting unquestionably evil villains. The future of DC, he explained, will be a lot more nuanced.
&#8220;There&#8217;s all these shades of gray of these different types of character, which allows us to tell more complex storytelling,&#8221; he said of the superhero stories to come.
The recently released DC property “The Flash” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-flash-fizzles-at-box-office-despite-being-called-one-of-the-greatest-superhero-movies-ever-made" target="_blank" rel="noopener">underperformed expectations</a> at the box office over the weekend, earning just $55 million. It’s worth noting that the film was plagued by controversy due to the lead actor, Ezra Miller, facing legal troubles, which meant the studio didn’t do a full-scale promotional tour like they normally would.
Up next, the studio will release “Blue Beetle” in August and then the highly anticipated “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on December 25. “Joker: Folie à Deux” is slated for a 2024 release, followed by “Superman: Legacy” in 2025.
Will DC be able to compete with Marvel as a true contender in the future? That’s what they’re hoping for.

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