The streaming wars could be about to recruit another house to its banners, which is ironic because Game of Thrones is poised to be part of this landmark deal. Every time we turn our backs, another streaming service is popping up and begging for our monthly subscription as we're forced to decide what stays and what goes.
It's mainly hard to keep track of what's going on because streaming services keep changing their name, but as the likes of Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+, and Netflix duke it out, we question whether anyone is subscribed to them all.
Just when you thought Disney was the biggest cockerel in the pen, Netflix has strutted in as cock of the walk with a potential purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. While Disney's massive acquisition of 20th Century Fox saw it finally add the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019 (also nabbing everything from The Simpsons to Alien), that could soon be eclipsed by Netflix owning all things DC comics, Harry Potter, Dune, and most of The Lord of the Rings.
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That obviously comes at a cost, and with a deal that's expected to total $82.7 billion, there are obvious antitrust concerns that have even been echoed by President Donald Trump.
Variety reports that a 'consortium of top industry players' has sent a letter to Congress appealing for it to intervene, fearing that Netflix owning such a massive part of the entertainment industry would be bad for business. This was sent anonymously due to worries about backlash against Hollywood A-listers and directors alike, but we imagine some major names are unimpressed by the idea of a streaming service owning one of America's 'Big Five' movie studios.
Others haven't been afraid to put their head above the parapet, with Madame Web star Dakota Johnson seemingly throwing her support behind the deal. While not classed as part of the MCU, Madame Web sits in Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) and is a maligned movie alongside the likes of Morbius and Kraven the Hunter. Madame Web was panned for a variety of reasons, with Johnson's performance being an unexpectedly comedic talking point that was blamed for part of it getting a 10% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
She's faced further controversy amid accusations that she's a 'nepo baby' and her views on the 'cancellation' of co-stars Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, and Shia LaBeouf – despite allegations made against them.
Johnson has sparked more controversy by supporting the Netflix deal at a time when others are sharing their concerns. Speaking to Deadline at the Red Sea Film Festival, the 50 Shades actor referred to the potential acquisition as a 'rebirth'. Saying she doesn't fear the demise of the industry, Johnson explained: "People will always fight to be creative and tell stories – I just know that to be true.
"The way in which that operates will shift and change throughout time. It always has. Hollywood has been in dire situations since it started, so right now, it’s just another version of a rebirth."
Responding to her take, one critic said: "Yea an actress who has made enough money from her movies wouldn’t care if the industry becomes worse for everyday consumers."
Another grumbled: "She’s a nepo baby.. Dakota isn’t worried bc she has generational wealth and privilege even after multiple flop films."
A third complained: "Rebirth, growth or whatever they want to call it SHOULD NOT mean extinction of a form of media, of a universally loved experience. If she cannot see this, maybe she shouldn’t be working in that industry."