The Town with Matthew Belloni Mailbag! 'Star Wars' and Soderbergh, the Best Home for Warner Bros., and Netflix vs. Theaters.
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Nov 5, 2025 
Craig Horlbeck, a producer on the show, joins Matt to dive into intriguing topics. They discuss the controversial rejection of a Steven Soderbergh-penned 'Star Wars' script, exploring Disney's missed opportunity. The duo examines who should acquire Warner Bros., weighing the benefits of Netflix versus Paramount. They also ponder Netflix's potential theatrical deals and the uncertain future of MTV's 'The Challenge' under new ownership. Tune in for an engaging mix of industry insights and playful banter!
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Pitch With Box-Office Realities
- Studios evaluate scripts on business, star power, and perceived audience appetite, not just creative merit.
- If you want studio buy-in, align projects with clear commercial prospects or attach major box-office talent.
Why Talent Favors Paramount Over Netflix
- Talent prefers Paramount over Netflix as Warner Bros. buyer because Netflix would likely absorb studios and hoard the library.
- A Netflix acquisition risks eliminating Warner's theatrical identity and removing licensed content from the market.
The Problems With Splitting WarnerDiscovery
- A Comcast/Netflix split of WarnerDiscovery is complicated but conceptually attractive: Comcast could take HBO and channels, Netflix the studio and IP.
- Rights entanglement, cable channel disinterest, and employee complexity make such a carve-up very difficult in practice.