Netflix may have landed the winning bid for Warner Bros., but the streamer previously considered buying Disney instead

1. Entertainment
2. Movies

Netflix may have landed the winning bid for Warner Bros., but the streamer previously considered buying Disney instead News By Emily Garbutt published 9 December 2025

Netflix once considered buying Disney, among several other media companies

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Disney)

Before Netflix bought Warner Bros., the streaming giant reportedly had its sights set on another major studio: Disney.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Netflix had previously considered buying Disney, along with a number of other media companies, but had always ultimately decided against it.

Other potential mergers included Fox (before it was purchased by Disney) and video game company EA (which has since negotiated a deal to go private with the help of a group of investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund).

You may like

• Netflix has officially bought Warner Bros and HBO for $82.7bn, and people are scared of what it means for the future of theatrical movies
• Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are reportedly getting ready to bid on DC and Harry Potter studio Warner Bros
• As part of its Warner Bros. acquisition, Netflix is adding the "deep film and TV libraries" of HBO to its library

The streamer bought Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion last week in one of the largest media deals ever. The deal gives them HBO, DC Studios, and franchises like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.

Warner Bros. has been behind some of the biggest big-screen hits of 2025, including blockbusters like Superman and A Minecraft Movie and surprise horror hits Sinners and Weapons. Those four movies have cumulatively made around $2 billion at the global box office so far.

There have been some concerns about whether Warner Bros.' theatrical future under Netflix's ownership, but CEO Ted Sarandos has claimed that nothing will change. "The theatrical business we have not talked a lot about in the past, about wanting to do it, because we’ve never been in that business," he said. "When this deal closes, we are in that business, and we’re going to do it. We didn’t buy this company to destroy that value."

For more on this year's biggest movies, check out our guide to the movie release dates that should be on your calendar in 2025 and beyond.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Disney CATEGORIES Netflix Streaming Services Emily GarbuttSocial Links NavigationEntertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Netflix has officially bought Warner Bros and HBO for $82.7bn, and people are scared of what it means for the future of theatrical movies    Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are reportedly getting ready to bid on DC and Harry Potter studio Warner Bros    As part of its Warner Bros. acquisition, Netflix is adding the "deep film and TV libraries" of HBO to its library    Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO, DC Studios and more, is reportedly up for sale    Paramount launches "clearly superior" $100 billion cash bid to steal Warner Bros. away from Netflix, WB to respond "within 10 business days"    Netflix boss says the streamer will "continue to support" theatrical releases for Warner Bros. titles, but he's not a fan of "the long exclusive windows"    Latest in Movies One Marvel fan has found that the most unlikely trio makes up the Multiverse Saga's main characters based on appearances, highlighting the MCU's biggest issue    Lex Luthor actor Nicholas Hoult has already read the Superman: Man of Tomorrow script, and says "there's some really fun stuff"    Daisy Ridley "heard rumblings" about canceled Star Wars movie The Hunt for Ben Solo, but "felt joyful" about the campaign to get it made: "It's good for us to all be united about something in a really positive way"    Frankenstein director Guillermo del Toro sings the praises of James Gunn's Superman and how the DC head "views the universe": "You feel the healing power of goodness from someone that believes in it"    Hideo Kojima shares lengthy review of Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, and it sounds like he's a huge fan: "It's a meta, philosophical film about friendship and growth"    Netflix CEO promises to commit to releasing Warner Bros. movies theatrically after studio sale: "We didn't buy this company to destroy that value"    Latest in News It: Welcome to Derry finale trailer teases an epic last stand against Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise    Perfect Dark leads hired for new studio from Borderlands and BioShock publisher 2K, after attempts to save canceled sequel from Xbox failed    Netflix may have landed the winning bid for Warner Bros., but the streamer previously considered buying Disney instead    Skyrim now has a Switch 2 Anniversary Edition, just when you thought Bethesda ran out of ways to re-release the RPG    Ella Purnell talks going from "newborn baby" to "bruised and battered" in Fallout season 2: "She still chooses to believe in good"    Please act surprised: Resident Evil Requiem stars Leon Kennedy, and I can't imagine Capcom is too pleased about PlayStation leaking that fact    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
2. 2Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
3. 3Sleep Awake review: "An all-timer horror premise is let down by tired stealth that I feel like I'm sleepwalking through"
4. 4Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review: "The series' atmosphere has never been better, while being dragged down by a boring overworld and clunky psychic powers"
5. 5Routine review: "This imperfect but wonderfully atmospheric moon-based horror leaves a strong impression"

1. 1Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
2. 2Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
3. 3Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
4. 4The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
5. 5Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"

1. 1Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
2. 2Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
3. 3The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
4. 4IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
5. 5Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"