Ted Sarandos Fires Back After James Cameron Attacks WBD Netflix Deal — Claims Director is Spreading “Paramount Disinformation”

Netflix’s Ted Sarandos is responding to criticism from James Cameron, the director of Avatar. Cameron had expressed concerns about Netflix buying Warner Bros. Discovery, and Sarandos claims Cameron is spreading false information about Netflix’s plans for releasing movies in theaters.

The clash highlights just how high the stakes have become in Hollywood’s latest mega-merger drama.

Sarandos Accuses Cameron of Spreading “Paramount Disinformation”

During an interview on Fox Business Network’s The Claman Countdown, Ted Sarandos directly responded to recent criticism from Cameron.

He expressed surprise and disappointment that James participated in what he described as a months-long effort by Paramount to spread false information about the deal.

So, I was reading about this whole thing, and apparently a Netflix exec was basically replying to a letter James Cameron sent to politicians. Cameron was throwing his support behind Paramount in their disagreement with Warner Bros. – it’s all a bit of a Hollywood power struggle, honestly!

Cameron previously expressed concern that Netflix owning theaters could negatively impact the movie theater business and possibly cause layoffs, but Sarandos strongly disagrees with this idea.

The 17-Day Window Dispute

One of the central flashpoints in the James Cameron Netflix dispute involves theatrical windows.

Cameron proposed that Netflix might eventually lead Warner Bros. to shorten the amount of time its films are shown exclusively in theaters. Sarandos firmly disagreed with that idea.

I never said anything about a ’17-day window,’ so I’m not sure where that idea originated or why anyone would think I was involved.

Sarandos suggested the statement was either a misunderstanding or a calculated attempt by Paramount to influence opinions, likely through their lobbying.

Netflix hasn’t traditionally released its original movies in theaters for very long. Instead, most of their films premiere directly on their streaming service or have short theatrical runs – usually just a week or two – mainly to be eligible for awards or create initial excitement.

Because of past experiences, many filmmakers and theater owners are still unsure how the company will handle future Warner Bros. movie releases in theaters if the deal goes through.

Netflix Reaffirms 45-Day Theatrical Commitment

Netflix maintains that movies will still be released in theaters even if the agreement with Warner Bros. goes through.

Sarandos stated that the company will continue its current practice of releasing movies in theaters for 45 days, maintaining a steady stream of new films each year.

He added that maintaining that window is essential to the economics of the potential acquisition.

“This deal is contingent on that for us to — for it to work,” he added.

The statement seems intended to calm both the people overseeing the deal and the cinemas who are following it closely.

Despite repeated promises from Sarandos, many people in the film industry remain unconvinced. Theater owners, filmmakers, and analysts are skeptical, remembering that Netflix often releases its own films with very short or no runs in movie theaters. This doubt is also based on Sarandos’ previous statements where he called the traditional movie theater system outdated.

Look, I get the concerns some people have about Netflix. It’s not about what they’re saying today, it’s whether they’ll actually stick to their promises once they’re fully in charge of Warner Bros.’ movies. That’s what I’m really watching for – will they follow through when they have even more power?

Netflix Says Cameron “Knowingly Misrepresents” Its Position

The war of words didn’t stop at television appearances.

I was really surprised to read Ted Sarandos’ reply to Cameron’s letter. It seemed like things got pretty heated! He directly accused the director of deliberately twisting what Netflix does and how committed they are to films first having a theatrical release, especially when it comes to Warner Bros. movies.

The harsh words used in this disagreement between a studio executive and a top Hollywood director are surprising.

Why This Fight Matters

The disagreement between James Cameron and Netflix isn’t just a personal issue; it highlights growing concerns within the entertainment industry as a whole.

Movie theaters, entertainment unions, and competing film studios are all carefully observing Warner Bros. to see how their approach to making and releasing films might change if Netflix takes over.

Cameron seems worried about safeguarding the established movie theater system, which played a key role in the success of his own big films worldwide.

Netflix is making it clear that it believes it can grow its presence in Hollywood while still supporting movie theaters.

The Bigger Picture for Hollywood

What makes this moment particularly notable is the tone.

It’s become increasingly common to see public disagreements between famous movie directors and leaders at streaming services, especially with the rise of the streaming wars. However, the recent Warner Bros. dispute is different – it’s escalated to the point where accusations of spreading false information are being made, showing just how heated things have become.

Honestly, things are really heating up around this potential deal! Regulators are already taking a close look, and other companies in the industry are clearly trying to influence things. I don’t see the debate dying down anytime soon – it’s going to be a while before we get some clarity.

If anything, the James Cameron Netflix battle may just be getting started.

2026-02-22 20:00