Warner Bros. and Paramount may merge, CEOs of both parties have been in contact for negotiation

Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount are reportedly in merger talks.

According to Axios, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has met with Paramount CEO Bob Bakish to discuss a potential deal to integrate the two industry giants. This potential deal is likely to lead to the eventual merger of Max and Paramount+ streaming services, and will add a series of large IPs to Warner Bros. Discovery's portfolio, including Star Trek. IGN itself has also learned from sources that this is true.

According to Axios, the meeting between Zaslav and Bob Bakis at Paramount headquarters lasted for several hours. Among other things, they reportedly discussed how Paramount+ and Max could compete with Disney and Netflix. Axios also reportedly hired an unnamed bank to further explore the deal.

Another industry earthquake

If the deal goes through, it would be another earthquake for an industry that has repeatedly been rocked by major deals. The deal comes on the heels of Warner Bros.' $43 billion merger with Discovery, which closed in April 2022. The merger resulted in the merger of Discovery Plus and HBO Max into one platform and triggered a host of other changes.

It has also had a major impact on the entertainment industry, leading to a slew of show cancellations and other changes, including the cancellation of the controversial live-action Batgirl movie and a wave of painful layoffs.