Show notes

On October 6, 2026, Paramount Skydance completed its approximately $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a newly combined entertainment giant legally named Skydance Corporation. David Ellison leads overall strategy, tech, and creative direction, while former Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz serves as co-CEO handling day-to-day operations and integration. The transaction unites Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, streaming platforms (Paramount+, HBO Max, and Discovery+), television powerhouses (CBS, HBO, CNN, Nickelodeon, TNT Sports), and major franchises like DC Studios, Harry Potter, and HBO. This episode covers it all, with special emphasis on DC Comics and DC Studios. Ben Yennie serves as the founder and lead executive at Disrupt Entertainment. With a career spanning over 15 years, his expertise includes roles as a Producer, US Theatrical Distributor, and Producer’s representative. Beyond production, he is a recognized consultant, author, and industry speaker. Yennie believes Hollywood’s current problem is not that it does not produce enough content. The deeper issue is that the traditional studio system has become increasingly dependent on minimizing risk, which often means returning to familiar intellectual property, sequels, franchises, remakes, and adaptations rather than betting on original stories. In this episode, they discuss the impact of the merger on streaming, movie-making, and consolidation. They discuss potential changes at DC Studios, including a potential sell-off to offset $79 billion in acquired debt. For more information on Disrupt Entertainment, visit https://www.disruptentertainment.com.