Ted Sarandos isn’t completely happy about James Cameron’s letter warning in opposition to a possible Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.
“I’m significantly stunned and dissatisfied that James selected to be a part of the Paramount disinformation marketing campaign that’s been occurring for months about this deal,” the Netflix CEO mentioned on Fox Enterprise.
The remark comes sooner or later after the “Avatar” and “Titanic” filmmaker penned a fiery letter to Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, aggressive coverage and shopper rights. Within the letter, Cameron mentioned {that a} Netflix-WBD merger would make the theatrical business right into a “sinking ship.”
“I imagine strongly that the proposed sale of Warner Brothers Discovery to Netflix will likely be disastrous for the theatrical movement image enterprise that I’ve devoted my life’s work to,” Cameron wrote. “In fact, my movies all play within the downstream video markets as effectively, however my past love is the cinema.”
It’s a giant transfer, accusing one of many world’s greatest and most profitable filmmakers of being a part of a “disinformation marketing campaign.” In his Fox Enterprise look, Sarandos went on to say that he was “stunned by the letter,” stating that he had beforehand met with Cameron and spoken about Netflix’s dedication to giving Warner Bros. titles unique theatrical home windows.
“I’ve talked about that dedication within the press, numerous instances,” Sarandos mentioned. “I swore beneath oath in entrance of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust that that’s what we have been doing.”
Within the letter, Cameron accused Sarandos of pledging to solely a 17-day theatrical window, slightly than the 45 days he’s promised.
“I’ve by no means even uttered the phrases ’17-day window,’ so I don’t know the place it got here from, or why he could be a part of that machine,” Sarandos responded. “I responded to Senator Lee’s letter this morning, so we’ll see the place he goes.”
The Netflix CEO went on to say that the corporate lately moved seven tasks that have been initially set to movie abroad to New Jersey, the place the streamer is making a manufacturing facility. He additionally famous they at the moment have a slate of 11 movies in manufacturing within the state.
“Individuals overlook, it is a gigantic enterprise. Isn’t simply the manufacturing, but it surely’s additionally the hospitality business, the transportation business, the catering, all of the various things, dry cleaners, all these American companies that assist manufacturing throughout the nation,” Sarandos mentioned. “We’re going to movie quite a bit in New Jersey.”
