Netflix is planning to acquire DC Comics is a deal valued at $83 billion that was announced this morning, and will be elaborated on further during at 8 AM ET phone call with investors. Also the deal is technically for Warner Bros. Discovery, but this is a comic book site and we’ve got to work the local angle.
All glibness aside for the moment, this is a seismic deal that, if it goes through, will completely change the entertainment landscape. The purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery includes not just the storied theatrical studio, but also HBO Max, meaning both the frequently renamed streaming service and Netflix will be under the same roof. That also includes HBO and other Warner Bros. owned channels, as well as, per the earlier point, both DC Studios and DC Comics.
Most of the focus of the press at the moment is on how this will impact theatrical distribution for movies, as Netflix has been steadfastly against normal theatrical runs. They have been experimenting with shorter runs, theatrical events (think KPop Demon Hunters singalong and the upcoming Stranger Things finale running in theaters for a weekend or two), though will be releasing Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Chronicles of Narnia movie for a full, theatrical run.
To get back to the purview of this site, whatever Netflix decides (again, if this actually happens) will clearly impact the output of the fledging DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran, including upcoming movies like Supergirl, Clayface and Man of Tomorrow. It’s hard to imagine that even with the deep DC movie and TV library potentially more freely streaming on Netflix (or HBO Max+Netflix or whatever ends up happening) that those films won’t be released in theaters; or just for a two week run. But hey, who knows, it’s a strange, wild world.
It’s less likely that this will impact DC Comics in any way. Netflix has experimented with having their own comic book arm with writer Mark Millar’s Millarworld, and have entered licensing agreements with other publishers (like Dark Horse for their Stranger Things books). But — and this is pure speculation — whatever happens with the movie and TV sides of the company, it’s likely that DC Comics will continue to be an IP generator for the larger company, just as it has with Warner Bros. Discovery. Comics are such small fish compared to movies, TV, and video games that it’s better to let them run wild and free, and harvest ideas when necessary.
Will some changes come? Could some people be let go, or positions change? For sure, that’s what always happens when companies come under new ownership, and it mostly sucks. But for the moment there are several hurdles to go before Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery (and DC Comics). So at least when it comes to fans of DC’s comics, TV shows, and movies… Stay tuned.
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