Weeks ago, news broke out that Paramount Skydance was reportedly eying a bid to acquire WB, and Puck has now reported that Netflix intends to do the same. According to The New York Post, David Zaslav is reportedly interested in sparking a bidding war by piquing the interest of other media giants in the business, including Apple TV and Amazon.
While nothing is currently set in stone, if Netflix were to acquire WB and its giant library of iconic IPs, ranging from Dune to the DC universe, it could potentially revive five revered franchises that have been gathering dust for too long.
1. Scooby-Doo
Although WB hasn’t shied away from pumping out direct-to-video animated movies about the iconic IP, the franchise hasn’t earned mainstream traction for years, at least not for good reasons. Most of these releases cater primarily to existing fans, lacking broader appeal.
For an IP as evergreen as Scooby-Doo, it needs a definitive release to cleanse the sins of Velma.
Again, Netflix, for all its issues, has maintained an impeccable track record when it comes to animated releases, and the streamer has the ability to realize Scooby-Doo‘s potential to its fullest extent once again.
2. Looney Tunes
Saying Warner Bros.’ treatment of the iconic franchise that once rivaled the mouse has been poor would be an understatement. Not only is HBO Max already struggling on the animation front, but it has also gone out of its way to remove existing shows, including many beloved Looney Tunes
It also didn’t help that the media giant canned Coyote vs. Acme after successful test screenings for a tax write-off before Ketchup Entertainment bought the distribution rights. And given Netflix’s animation slate, one would assume Looney Tunes might get its fair share under the new management.
3. The Goonies
For all the obsession with churning out legacy sequels to iconic IPs, surprisingly, there have been no follow-ups to the 1986 classic, The Goonies. To be fair, in order to greenlight a sequel, they would need Steven Spielberg‘s seal of approval, as the movie was co-produced by his production house.
And it’s safe to say Spielberg won’t let fly any subpar follow-up, and with WB shifting its focus from family-friendly releases, it makes sense why the sequel never materialized. But if the merger does move forward, there’s a chance it could reignite the discussion surrounding the long-awaited The Goonies 2.
4. RDJ’s Sherlock Holmes
A third entry in Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock Holmes series has long been in the talks, and RDJ himself has expressed interest in continuing the story on the big screen. As for what happened? According to Dexter Fletcher (via Collider), who was attached to the project, the production for the threequel got derailed due to the pandemic.
With RDJ now committed to the upcoming Avengers duology, things don’t seem too bright for the series. Hopefully, it’ll also receive the much-needed spotlight if the merger goes through.
5. The Lego Batman
The Lego Batman is unironically one of the best Batman movies, which explains why it ended with a white screen. However, unlike the other franchises under WB’s catalog, the rights surrounding this movie in particular are a bit tricky.
While WB owns Batman, the potential sequel can’t materialize unless the LEGO Group approves, which currently remains in partnership with Universal.
Even though the sequel seems distant, even in the case of the merger, considering Netflix was able to secure the rights to K-pop: Demon Hunters, there’s still reason to be optimistic.
Although it’d be nice to see all these franchises flourish under the potential new management, given that WB has had an immaculate year in terms of original and interesting hits, the deal might not be as sweet as it seems on paper. Moreover, with Netflix still standing against full theatrical experiences, the potential acquisition could do more harm than good for fans of the cinematic experience.
Which WB franchises would you like to see being revived? Comment below!
