The competition between Netflix and Paramount Skydance to acquire the studio is haunted by the ghosts of mergers past.

Warner Bros. has a history of disastrous mergers and acquisitions. Can they avoid another bad sequel as Netflix and Paramount battle to buy it?

Today's announcement by Netflix that it will acquire the Harry Potter, DC Comics and Game of Thrones owner came with an acknowledgement that it plans to continue releasing Warner Bros.' films theatrically — at least, for now.

The streaming giant has changed its strategy many times over the years. But the decision to get deeply into theatrical releases may be the most startling yet.

Should Paramount succeed in acquiring Warner Bros, the combined studio will release more than 30 theatrical titles a year. This was Paramount CEO David Ellison’s promise during a phone presser following news of the conglom’s hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery.

The news that Netflix would be acquiring Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion dollars has been met with widespread concern among the entertainment industry as well as in Washington. Politicians on both sides of the aisle,