Donna Langley: Paramount-WBD Merger Is Bad for Film Market
At Bloomberg Screentime, Donna Langley said the Paramount-WBD merger is bad for the feature film market and gave a timeline for the Comcast-NBCUniversal spin-off with Sky.
NBCUniversal chief Donna Langley said she believes the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger is bad for the feature film market, speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference. Langley said the Paramount-WBD deal is expected to close next Tuesday.
Langley also addressed the Comcast spin-off of NBCUniversal with Sky, saying it should be completed by mid-2027.
On the box office, Langley said 2027 has a different complexion and may not have as much potential for billion-dollar hits as this year. She added that 2028 will be back again.
Background
Paramount committed to a legal settlement requiring the combined studios to release 30 theatrical films a year for the first two years post-merger, and 32 films for the following three years.
Universal's Christopher Nolan epic The Odyssey crossed a billion dollars and had an extraordinary play-out pattern, outgrossing its second week in week three. Focus Features acquired Obsession for $15 million and it grossed over $500 million worldwide.
Last fall, Universal signed Tyler Sheridan to a new five-year film and television deal starting in early 2029, as reported by Deadline.
Quick answers
What did Donna Langley say about the Paramount-WBD merger?
She said she thinks the merger is bad for the feature film market.
When is the Comcast-NBCUniversal spin-off with Sky expected to be completed?
Langley said it should be completed by mid-2027.
What is the box office outlook for 2027 and 2028?
Langley said 2027 has a different complexion and may not have as much potential for billion-dollar hits as this year, while 2028 will be back again.