The global cinema community is abuzz following the news that Netflix has withdrawn its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), leaving Paramount Skydance poised to take over the entertainment giant. The announcement, which broke during the world premiere afterparty for Warner Bros.’ “The Bride!” in London, brought a sense of relief to some, marking the potential end of Hollywood’s most intense acquisition battle in years.

However, this impending acquisition has sparked a mix of optimism and concern across the international cinema landscape. While fears in the U.S. revolve around the rapid consolidation of media power under the Ellison family and their political connections, international stakeholders are primarily concerned with bargaining power, the volume and type of films produced, and potential regulatory implications.

Clare Binns, a respected British cinema veteran from Picturehouse, expressed a positive view on Paramount’s historical support for theatrical windows but voiced concern about the future of film production. She lauded Warner Bros.' recent slate of