AI Emerges as a New Challenge in Film Production
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 57 minutes ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- AI Technology Adoption: Movie studios have quietly utilized AI tools for years in areas such as visual effects, de-aging actors, and recreating deceased performers' voices, raising concerns about the potential replacement of human labor, which became a central issue during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
- Scorsese's Partnership: Renowned director Martin Scorsese has partnered with German generative AI startup Black Forest Labs to use AI technology for storyboarding, a move that has drawn criticism from parts of the art community, yet he views it as an evolution in the filmmaking process.
- AI Film Premiere: The AI-generated film
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Analyst Views on WBD
Wall Street analysts forecast WBD stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 27.000
Low
14.75
Averages
24.98
High
30.00
Current: 27.000
Low
14.75
Averages
24.98
High
30.00
About WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. is a global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes a portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. The Company's segments include Streaming, Studios and Global Linear Networks. The streaming segment primarily consists of its premium pay-television and streaming services. The studios segment primarily consists of the production and release of feature films for initial exhibition in theaters, production and initial licensing of television programs to third parties and its networks/streaming services, distribution of its films and television programs to various third party and internal television and streaming services, distribution through the home entertainment market (physical and digital), related consumer products and themed experience licensing, and interactive gaming. The Global Linear Networks segment primarily consists of its domestic and international television networks.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
AI Emerges as a New Challenge in Film Production
- AI Technology Adoption: Movie studios have quietly utilized AI tools for years in areas such as visual effects, de-aging actors, and recreating deceased performers' voices, raising concerns about the potential replacement of human labor, which became a central issue during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
- Scorsese's Partnership: Renowned director Martin Scorsese has partnered with German generative AI startup Black Forest Labs to use AI technology for storyboarding, a move that has drawn criticism from parts of the art community, yet he views it as an evolution in the filmmaking process.
- AI Film Premiere: The AI-generated film
See More
Protests Erupt Over Paramount-Warner Merger
- Merger Protests: Approximately 100 attendees gathered in Los Angeles to protest Paramount Skydance's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasizing the merger's existential threat to the cultural industry and reflecting deep concerns over media consolidation.
- Job Loss Impact: Comedian Adam Conover highlighted the direct job losses resulting from media mergers, citing his own experience when AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner led to the cancellation of his show, which left over 100 employees and countless contractors without work, underscoring the industry's fragility.
- California Employment Decline: The Milken Institute reported that California lost 17,234 jobs from 2019 to 2023, driven by declining television ad revenues and stagnant streaming growth, compelling studios to seek cheaper production locations, thereby exacerbating the employment crisis in the industry.
- Legal Challenges to Merger: States like California and New York are preparing lawsuits to block the merger, with former FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya expressing optimism that California's Attorney General could argue the merger lessens competition among studios, potentially protecting workers' interests in the labor market.
See More
Hollywood Workers Rally Against Paramount's $110 Billion Acquisition
- Protest Rally: Workers and union representatives rallied in Los Angeles against Paramount Skydance's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing that the deal could lead to further job losses and reduced competition in the industry.
- Merger Impact: The merger would create one of the largest entertainment companies globally, yet participants expressed concerns that continued consolidation could weaken job opportunities and limit outlets for creative content, with comedian Adam Conover highlighting significant job losses due to past media mergers.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: A coalition of U.S. states, including California and New York, is preparing a lawsuit to block the transaction, making regulatory review a critical focus, with legal experts suggesting that the merger could face challenges on labor market grounds.
- Employment Pressure: Data from the Milken Institute indicates that California lost over 17,000 entertainment-related jobs between 2019 and 2023, reflecting deteriorating conditions in Hollywood production facilities, as soundstage occupancy rates fell to 62% in the first half of 2025.
See More
Paramount Ready to Divest Kids' TV Assets to Secure Warner Bros. Acquisition
- Acquisition Dynamics: Paramount (PSKY) is pursuing a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which, if finalized, would merge Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, enhancing competitive positioning in the European market.
- Regulatory Strategy: To address potential antitrust concerns from EU regulators, Paramount is open to divesting its children's channels, although the company prefers to retain these assets to maintain market share.
- Deadline Pressure: Under EU merger rules, if competition issues arise during the initial probe, Paramount must submit formal remedies by July 7, ensuring the deal can be approved within the stipulated timeframe.
- Future Outlook: Paramount CEO David Ellison anticipates the Warner acquisition will close by Q3 2026, providing the company with strategic leeway to navigate potential regulatory challenges.
See More
Paramount Plans to Divest Kids' TV Assets to Secure EU Approval
- Divestiture Plan: Paramount is considering divesting some children's television network assets to secure EU approval for its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, although the company hopes to avoid asset sales, it remains open to sacrificing specific kids' channels to meet regulatory demands.
- Regulatory Review Deadline: The European Commission faces a July 7 deadline to decide whether to approve the deal or initiate an in-depth review, with regulators closely examining the overlap between Paramount's Nickelodeon and Warner's Cartoon Network.
- UK Regulatory Challenges: Beyond the EU, the transaction faces regulatory hurdles in the UK, where the Competition and Markets Authority is conducting its own initial investigation following intense pressure from local film industry groups and labor unions, which may impact the deal's progress.
- US Antitrust Investigation: While federal antitrust regulators in the United States appear poised to clear the acquisition, a coalition of about 10 states, led by California, is drafting a legal complaint focusing on how the merger would alter bargaining power over Hollywood content creators and production staff.
See More
Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings Officially Steps Down
- Founder Departure: Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, signaled his full departure in mid-April 2026, marking the end of his nearly 30-year leadership tenure and indicating a significant shift in the company's governance structure.
- Board Changes: Netflix's board appointed longtime independent director Jay Hoag as the new Chairman, effective immediately, replacing Hastings, which reflects ongoing adjustments and optimizations in the company's leadership.
- Market Reaction: While Netflix shares closed up about 1% on Friday, they slipped 0.4% after hours, indicating a cautious market response to the governance changes and investor focus on future developments.
- Analyst Ratings: According to Koyfin, 37 out of 50 analysts covering Netflix rate it as 'Buy' or higher, with a 12-month average price target of $114.56, suggesting a potential upside of about 39% from the last close, reflecting optimistic market expectations for Netflix's future performance.
See More
AI Emerges as a New Challenge in Film Production
- AI Technology Adoption: Movie studios have quietly utilized AI tools for years in areas such as visual effects, de-aging actors, and recreating deceased performers' voices, raising concerns about the potential replacement of human labor, which became a central issue during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
- Scorsese's Partnership: Renowned director Martin Scorsese has partnered with German generative AI startup Black Forest Labs to use AI technology for storyboarding, a move that has drawn criticism from parts of the art community, yet he views it as an evolution in the filmmaking process.
- AI Film Premiere: The AI-generated film
See More
Protests Erupt Over Paramount-Warner Merger
- Merger Protests: Approximately 100 attendees gathered in Los Angeles to protest Paramount Skydance's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasizing the merger's existential threat to the cultural industry and reflecting deep concerns over media consolidation.
- Job Loss Impact: Comedian Adam Conover highlighted the direct job losses resulting from media mergers, citing his own experience when AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner led to the cancellation of his show, which left over 100 employees and countless contractors without work, underscoring the industry's fragility.
- California Employment Decline: The Milken Institute reported that California lost 17,234 jobs from 2019 to 2023, driven by declining television ad revenues and stagnant streaming growth, compelling studios to seek cheaper production locations, thereby exacerbating the employment crisis in the industry.
- Legal Challenges to Merger: States like California and New York are preparing lawsuits to block the merger, with former FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya expressing optimism that California's Attorney General could argue the merger lessens competition among studios, potentially protecting workers' interests in the labor market.
See More
Hollywood Workers Rally Against Paramount's $110 Billion Acquisition
- Protest Rally: Workers and union representatives rallied in Los Angeles against Paramount Skydance's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing that the deal could lead to further job losses and reduced competition in the industry.
- Merger Impact: The merger would create one of the largest entertainment companies globally, yet participants expressed concerns that continued consolidation could weaken job opportunities and limit outlets for creative content, with comedian Adam Conover highlighting significant job losses due to past media mergers.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: A coalition of U.S. states, including California and New York, is preparing a lawsuit to block the transaction, making regulatory review a critical focus, with legal experts suggesting that the merger could face challenges on labor market grounds.
- Employment Pressure: Data from the Milken Institute indicates that California lost over 17,000 entertainment-related jobs between 2019 and 2023, reflecting deteriorating conditions in Hollywood production facilities, as soundstage occupancy rates fell to 62% in the first half of 2025.
See More
Paramount Ready to Divest Kids' TV Assets to Secure Warner Bros. Acquisition
- Acquisition Dynamics: Paramount (PSKY) is pursuing a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which, if finalized, would merge Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, enhancing competitive positioning in the European market.
- Regulatory Strategy: To address potential antitrust concerns from EU regulators, Paramount is open to divesting its children's channels, although the company prefers to retain these assets to maintain market share.
- Deadline Pressure: Under EU merger rules, if competition issues arise during the initial probe, Paramount must submit formal remedies by July 7, ensuring the deal can be approved within the stipulated timeframe.
- Future Outlook: Paramount CEO David Ellison anticipates the Warner acquisition will close by Q3 2026, providing the company with strategic leeway to navigate potential regulatory challenges.
See More
Paramount Plans to Divest Kids' TV Assets to Secure EU Approval
- Divestiture Plan: Paramount is considering divesting some children's television network assets to secure EU approval for its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, although the company hopes to avoid asset sales, it remains open to sacrificing specific kids' channels to meet regulatory demands.
- Regulatory Review Deadline: The European Commission faces a July 7 deadline to decide whether to approve the deal or initiate an in-depth review, with regulators closely examining the overlap between Paramount's Nickelodeon and Warner's Cartoon Network.
- UK Regulatory Challenges: Beyond the EU, the transaction faces regulatory hurdles in the UK, where the Competition and Markets Authority is conducting its own initial investigation following intense pressure from local film industry groups and labor unions, which may impact the deal's progress.
- US Antitrust Investigation: While federal antitrust regulators in the United States appear poised to clear the acquisition, a coalition of about 10 states, led by California, is drafting a legal complaint focusing on how the merger would alter bargaining power over Hollywood content creators and production staff.
See More
Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings Officially Steps Down
- Founder Departure: Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, signaled his full departure in mid-April 2026, marking the end of his nearly 30-year leadership tenure and indicating a significant shift in the company's governance structure.
- Board Changes: Netflix's board appointed longtime independent director Jay Hoag as the new Chairman, effective immediately, replacing Hastings, which reflects ongoing adjustments and optimizations in the company's leadership.
- Market Reaction: While Netflix shares closed up about 1% on Friday, they slipped 0.4% after hours, indicating a cautious market response to the governance changes and investor focus on future developments.
- Analyst Ratings: According to Koyfin, 37 out of 50 analysts covering Netflix rate it as 'Buy' or higher, with a 12-month average price target of $114.56, suggesting a potential upside of about 39% from the last close, reflecting optimistic market expectations for Netflix's future performance.
See More
