Ted Sarandos scored a critical sit-down with President Donald Trump in the weeks leading up to Netflix‘s successful $82.7 billion agreement to buy Warner Bros. and HBO Max, according to sources familiar with the confab. The meeting, which took place in the Oval Office and lasted for more than an hour, occurred on Nov. 24.
The conversation was intended to cover a range of topics, including the possibility of a federal film tax incentive. However, sources say, much of the talk was about Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros. and HBO Max. A spokesperson for Netflix declined to comment.
Sarandos’ meeting with Trump was initially reported by Bloomberg, which said that the Netflix co-CEO left the gathering with “the impression” the streamer “wouldn’t face immediate opposition [to its Warner Bros. bid] from the White House.” Netflix still needs to obtain regulatory approval for the purchase, with critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, already raising antitrust concerns.
They are joined by many parts of the creative community. Although some figures, including Oscar-winners Sean Baker and Jane Fonda, have raised concerns about the deal, several A-list filmmakers and producers are discussing releasing an open letter opposing the sale, sources say. They are worried that by swallowing up Warner Bros., the streamer will take one of the biggest theatrical distributors off the board, imperiling the financial health of cinemas. However, many of these artists also have projects at Netflix or deals with the company and worry about blowback. The hope is that they can attract enough signatories that there will be safety in numbers.
Netflix outmaneuvered Paramount-Skydance, which had been heavily favored to buy Warner Bros. because of David Ellison’s family ties to the president and enormous wealth, as well as Comcast, which also made a bid. Paramount-Skydance has signaled that it may take legal action, accusing Warner Bros. of running an unfair bidding process.
Sarandos and his wife, former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant, have hosted several Democratic fundraisers over the years, including for former President Joe Biden. But Sarandos has made overtures to Trump’s world. Late last year, the Netflix chief made the trek to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with Trump ahead of his inauguration.
In an interview with Variety last spring, Sarandos declined to give details about their meeting, calling it a “private” meal. Asked if he would ever do a creative project with the Trumps, as the company has done with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, whose Higher Ground has a deal with Netflix, Sarandos demurred.
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“I don’t know what he does creatively,” he said. “He’s got his hands full.”
From Variety US