David Ellison Engages European Leaders in Warner Bros. Bid

David Ellison is actively seeking support for his ambitious $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. The head of Paramount is engaging with political leaders and entertainment executives across Europe, aiming to build a coalition against rival bidder Netflix. This lobbying effort comes as regulatory bodies in both Europe and the United States intensify their scrutiny of the competing deals.

In the past few days, Ellison and his delegation have made significant stops in Paris, where they met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Culture Minister Rachida Dati. They also engaged with prominent figures in the French film industry, including Gaetan Bruel, president of the National Film Board (CNC), and Sidonie Dumas, CEO of Gaumont. Meetings were also held with Richard Patry, head of the French Exhibition Association, and Victor Hadida, of Metropolitan Filmexport.

Ellison’s activities extend beyond France. His team has traveled to Germany and the UK, where he met with Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Additionally, they have held discussions at the European Commission, according to a report from Bloomberg, which first detailed Ellison’s visit to the Élysée Palace.

While Ellison rallies support in Europe, legal challenges loom. A Delaware Chancery Court judge recently denied Paramount Skydance’s request to expedite its lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, which aims to compel the company to disclose financial details regarding its $83 billion deal with Netflix. This ruling allows Ellison’s hostile bid, priced at $30 per share, to continue without accelerated discovery. The self-imposed expiration date for this bid is set for January 21, 2024.

Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos was in France last month for the premiere of “Emily in Paris” Season 4. During this visit, he had discussions with industry figures and met with Macron as producer Darren Star received the Legion of Honor at the Élysée Palace. Sarandos also participated in a fireside chat with Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+ Group, where he reiterated his commitment to theatrical releases for Warner Bros. films.

The French film industry reacted with surprise when rumors surfaced about Netflix’s plans for a 17-day theatrical window for Warner Bros. movies. In his discussions with French executives this week, Ellison emphasized his dedication to preserving the theatrical experience. An industry source who attended the Paris meetings noted, “I was impressed by David Ellison’s determination to try to buy Warner. His arguments are strong.”

Ellison outlined his strategy, focusing on maintaining both studios and respecting media chronology and windows in France and other markets. Another source expressed confidence in Ellison’s efforts to garner political and industry backing. “We’re hearing that the deal with Netflix is being heavily scrutinized in the U.S. and we think it’s going to hit a wall with the European anti-trust regulators,” the source stated, adding that Ellison clearly communicated that a sale of Warner to Paramount Skydance instead of Netflix would be a preferable outcome for the film industry.

In France, a 17-day theatrical window is unfeasible due to local regulations, which require cinemas to have a four-month exclusive window for any new releases. Netflix currently faces a 15-month wait to access newly released films and has challenged these regulations, even appealing to France’s Council of State. The future of Warner Bros. remains a pressing concern for exhibitors, particularly as they have already been impacted by declining theatrical admissions in 2025. Warner Bros. is recognized not only for its blockbuster films but also as one of the most “European” of the American studios, making its fate particularly significant in the current landscape.