Hollywood is still reeling from Paramount-Skydance’s apparent win over Netflix in the Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war—one that may have had an unexpected ally in Tom Cruise.
According to sources at The Daily Mail, Cruise was “furious” at the idea of the streaming giant taking over a legacy studio, and suspected that it would be the end of theatrical distribution. Cruise, who signed a deal with Warner Bros. in 2024, reportedly made his feelings “very, very clear” to Warner Bros. executives about the proposed deal with Netflix.
The Bidding War
Last December, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav announced the board had accepted an $82.7 billion deal from Netflix. While Paramount-Skydance immediately initiated a hostile takeover, going directly to shareholders with a counter-offer, things continued moving forward between Warner Bros. and Netflix.
WBD CEO David Zaslav Speaks at a New York Times event – YouTube, New York Times Events
READ: Hotel on Disney Property Changes Hands in $1.1 Billion Deal
As discussions continued, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said that Netflix would maintain a 45-day theatrical window for Warner Bros. films. However, it remained an open question of how long that promise would last.
“I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office,” he said.
At the time, many in the entertainment industry and Washington—as well as audiences—were concerned what the deal would mean for movie theaters and production as a whole. A source told the Daily Mail that Cruise “was really cross, furious in fact, at the idea that a streamer would take over such a prestigious film making company.”
Tom Cruise wins an Honorary Oscar – X, @TomCruiseFanCom
The source added that Cruise might have even threatened to go on strike if the deal with Netflix went through, saying, “Tom has the clout and he knows it, he likes to use his power for good and change, and now it looks like he has saved the movie industry once again from falling victim to streaming giants.”
Cruise’s Passion
On February 26th Netflix officially walked away from the bidding war, making Paramount-Skydance the winner pending final board actions and regulatory review. Should it meet with approval, the deal stands to reshape Hollywood, while still maintaining traditional models.
Cruise—long associated with Paramount-Skydance through the Top Gun and Mission: Impossible franchises—reportedly believes the studio remains committed to full film production and big-screen releases. Notably, Cruise continued working on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, even while the rest of the industry was shut down in 2020.
Screen Capture from MI: Dead Reckoning
READ: Paramount+ and HBO Max Set to Combine as Company Promises HBO Will “Stay HBO”
Leaked audio of him threatening to fire anyone who didn’t follow strict safety protocols only underlined his commitment. “They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us,” he was heard saying. “We are not shutting this… movie down. Is it understood? If I see it again, you’re… gone.”
A Likely Win for Theatrical Cinema
While Tom Cruise’s involvement behind the scenes is unknown, the star’s passion for theatrical cinema is well-known. Paramount-Skydance’s apparent victory not only preserves the traditional model of film production and big-screen releases but also serves as a reminder that, in an industry often driven by algorithms and boardroom deals, the voices of those committed to storytelling on the big screen continue to shape Hollywood’s future.
Do you think Tom Cruise pushed Warner Bros. in Paramount’s favor? Let us know in the comments!
UP NEXT: Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal Will Unite ‘Friday The 13th’ Franchise Rights
