James Gunn Says Warner Bros. Merger with Netflix or Paramount is “Exciting”; James Cameron and Richard Linklater React
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, has welcomed the prospect of a merger between Warner Bros. Discovery—DC’s parent company—and Netflix, describing the potential deal as “exciting.” The filmmaker, who successfully rebooted the DC Universe last summer with the critical and commercial hit Superman, stated in an interview with Variety that he is not concerned about the future of the studio.
“Frankly, I think all of this is really exciting. So, I hope and pray for the best,” Gunn shared. “I’ve been through these sorts of changes so many times that I’m always careful what you wish for, because you don’t really know until you know. I hope it goes well, and I think it’s exciting—every direction has really exciting things for DC, so I’m excited about where it’s going to go.”
The comments follow reports last month that Paramount leadership had met with Weapons director Zach Cregger to discuss a potential DC project titled Henchman without Gunn’s prior coordination. This has led to speculation that Gunn might favor a Netflix partnership over Paramount. Conversely, such corporate shifts could potentially lead to the sideline of certain projects currently in development.
In recent weeks, several other prominent filmmakers, including Richard Linklater, Darren Aronofsky, and James Cameron, have weighed in on the possible acquisition of Warner Bros. by either Netflix or Paramount.
Linklater, who recently collaborated with Netflix on Hit Man and the 2025 film Nouvelle Vague, told Vulture that he considers Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos “a good guy.” He remarked, “It’s very interesting how quickly this business reshapes and transforms and consolidates itself. Ted’s a good guy. I trust him on this Warner Bros. acquisition in a way.” When addressed with claims that Sarandos might be “the Antichrist of theatrical distribution,” Linklater laughed, insisting, “They love movies.”
James Cameron, however, offered a more cautious perspective. Speaking to Deadline, the Avatar: Fire and Ash director noted, “It’s no secret that Netflix has, in an interesting way, compromised with a few filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and others to find their place in theatrical distribution. But I think everyone knows they want to replace the theatrical experience. Maybe they will; maybe I’m a dinosaur. I believe there is something sacred about the experience of watching a film in a theater, and the ease and breadth of streaming is not a complete answer. The world might find harmony between these two principles, but you can’t just steamroll over the cinema experience, and I will continue to oppose that stance.”
