Khaberni - Tom Cruise, the American star, has returned to the forefront of the cinematic scene, not only as a hero on screen, but also as a significant player behind the scenes. Reports have revealed his role in thwarting one of the largest acquisition deals in the modern history of Hollywood, after he successfully exerted exceptional pressure to force the digital streaming giant "Netflix" to withdraw from the competitive arena for acquiring "Warner Brothers" studios.
This move not only enhances Tom Cruise's status as the highest-paid actor, but also as a "key element" who has the ability to influence the major policies of the world's leading entertainment empires.
The Behind-The-Scenes
The conflict began with a deal worth 61 billion pounds offered by "Netflix" last year to acquire selected assets from "Warner Brothers", but this week things escalated with Netflix's attempt to take full control, which was vehemently opposed by Cruise (63 years old).
According to the British "Daily Mail", sources close to the "Warner Brothers Discovery" backstage reported that Cruise believed that transferring the ownership of a prestigious studio — which produced classics like "The Wizard of Oz" — to a tech company operating with a "digital streaming" model, would inevitably lead to the destruction of the traditional cinematic distribution model.
This principled stance was not just a passing statement; it translated into practical steps when Tom Cruise suddenly left his residence in London in January (January) this past year, to devote himself to lobbying efforts within the company he joined at the beginning of 2024.
The Threat of a Personal Strike
Reports also indicate that Tom Cruise used his "cinematic weight" as an ultimate pressure tool; he made it clear to the top executives at "Warner Brothers" that he would not accept the company's ownership being transferred to an entity that prioritizes small screens.
Cruise's audacity went so far as to hint at going on strike and suspending all his future projects, which put the company in a difficult position, given Cruise had massive contracts including new installments of "Top Gun" and "Days Of Thunder".
Indeed, these pressures, supported by a "competitive" direct offer to shareholders from "Paramount", led to Netflix's retreat.
Ted Sarandos, the head of Netflix, announced the company's withdrawal, justifying it by saying that the acquisition was merely a "good option if the price was right" and not an "absolute necessity", which analysts considered a tactical retreat in the face of Tom Cruise's influence and the alliance supporting traditional cinema.
The Victory of Cinema Over "Algorithms"
With "Netflix" moved aside, the path is now open for a historic merger between "Warner Brothers" and "Paramount", in a deal valued at 82 billion pounds.
For Tom Cruise, "Paramount" is the ideal partner, as despite owning a digital platform, it still commits to the "cinematic window" and gives films their right to a global theatrical release before digital distribution.
In turn, David Zaslav, the CEO of "Warner Brothers", commented on this shift, saying: "Once the board of directors approves the merger with Paramount, we will create immense value for shareholders and will continue to tell stories that move the world."
The Stances of Tom Cruise in Protecting Cinema
Remarkably, this was not the first time Tom Cruise played the role of "savior"; during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the main driver for the continuity of production in Hollywood.
His famous scream at the crew of "Mission: Impossible 7" is still etched in the industry's memory when he said: "They are now returning to work in Hollywood to make movies thanks to us.. we will not allow this studio to be shut down.. do you understand?"
When distribution companies pressured for "Top Gun: Maverick" to be released digitally, Tom Cruise stood as a solid barrier until the film was released in cinemas in 2022, thereby demonstrating practically that "the big screen" is the beating heart of this business.
Today, Tom Cruise emerges from this battle victorious once again, proving that stardom in Hollywood is not just about performance in front of the camera, but the ability to protect the industry from being reduced to mere data on the servers of streaming platforms.
