Hollywood Unions Share Big Concerns With Netflix About Their WBD Takeover

Hollywood is pretty worried about what Netflix taking over Warner Bros is going to look like and what's going to cost. Will theatrical suffer? Who's getting fired? What about people with overall deals there or movies pending release?

Well, now some of their biggest unions are speaking out.

Let's dive in.

The Unions Are Speaking Out

If you've been living under a rock, you may have missed that Netflix is currently in exclusive talks to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for a staggering $82.7 billion.

We've gone over the ramifications of this deal for filmmakers at all levels, and now the trade unions are speaking out about what's happening.

The WGA warned that the deal would eliminate jobs, reduce wages, and raise prices for consumers.

In their statement, they wrote:

“The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent,” the guild said in a statement. “The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers. Industry workers along with the public are already impacted by only a few powerful companies maintaining tight control over what consumers can watch on television, on streaming, and in theaters. This merger must be blocked.”.

And now, the DGA has just issued a pointed statement expressing "significant concerns" about the deal.

“We believe that a vibrant, competitive industry — one that fosters creativity and encourages genuine competition for talent — is essential to safeguarding the careers and creative rights of directors and their teams. We will be meeting with Netflix to outline our concerns and better understand their vision for the future of the company. While we undertake this due diligence we will not be commenting further.”

SAG was a little more cautious while exploring what was going on and focused on learning more about what would happen.

“A deal that is in the interest of SAG-AFTRA members and all other workers in the entertainment industry must result in more creation and more production, not less. It must do so in an environment of respect for the talent involved. Any decision about SAG-AFTRA’s position on this transaction will be made with the best interests of SAG-AFTRA members as the standard and following a complete and thorough analysis of the details of the deal, with particular focus on jobs and production commitments.”

What Everyone Is Upset About

We know that the DHA and their president, Christopher Nolan, have already scheduled a meeting with Netflix to discuss how things move forward, but I would expect both the WGA and SAG to do the same.

Everyone is afraid that more consolidation will lead to a loss of jobs, opportunities, and an already hard-to-navigate landscape.

Couple that with the "Death" of Theatrical and you have a big problem for a Hollywood that is struggling to move forward.

The deal isn't a "done deal" just yet. It faces massive regulatory hurdles and an impending antitrust investigation by the DOJ. Figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren have already called it an "antitrust nightmare."

For now, the unions are doing their due diligence, but the sentiment among workers is clear: this merger could signal a fundamental shift away from "theatrical cinema" toward a "streaming-first" monolith.

Summing It All Up

So, what do you think? Is a Netflix-owned Warner Bros. the only way for the legacy studio to survive in 2026, or is this the beginning of the end for the traditional Hollywood model?

Let us know in the comments.