Warner Bros. & Paramount Deal Gets New Details, Report Reveals David Zaslav’s Future

With several media giants eyeing a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, current dynamics suggest that Paramount remains the frontrunner to land the mass media and entertainment conglomerate. While recent developments in the proposed merger indicate that Paramount does not intend to completely uproot the executive wing of the company, the same cannot be said for the current CEO and President of WBD, David Zaslav.

What’s the latest on Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger?

According to a recent report, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is currently stalling and waiting for the right moment to submit an offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Although Paramount has yet to submit an official bid, it remains unclear how far the “informal” discussions regarding the merger have progressed.

The report by Deadline also claims that Ellison is looking to re-up Warner Bros. Motion Picture chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy after the presumed deal with WBD goes through. A studio insider even likened De Luca and Abdy’s speculated retention to “buying a house and discovering a Warhol painting hanging out back.” Notably, the duo helped secure huge profits for the company this year, delivering a $4 billion global box office haul year-to-date.

Nevertheless, things are not as certain for WBD President David Zaslav. The Deadline insider stated that Paramount does not seem to have “a significant role” in mind for the seasoned executive, with a technical personality like Larry Ellison, the billionaire father of David Ellison, preferring to start off proceedings on a clean slate.

Studio sources suggest that Zaslav, on his part, does not intend to continue with the organization after the said merger takes place. As such, the most that Paramount would be willing to offer the present Warner Bros. Discovery CEO would be a seat on the board or some sort of “strategic advisor” position.

Despite the rumor mill churning out new updates regarding the sale of WBD, the company has yet to receive an official acquisition offer from any party.

Source: Comingsoon.net