In a major entertainment industry move, Netflix has unveiled a monumental $72 billion agreement to acquire segments of Warner Bros Discovery, prominently featuring the HBO Max streaming service.

This acquisition, pending regulatory approval, would allow Netflix to take ownership of some of the most iconic franchises in entertainment history, such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, DC Comics’ Batman and Superman, and The Lord of the Rings.

The prospect of having all these legendary titles available through a single subscription may seem like a fantasy come true for viewers. However, industry analysts caution that the reality might be quite different.

Experts warn that this acquisition could pave the way for increased subscription costs and a significant delay before HBO content becomes available on Netflix.

“Netflix subscribers should brace themselves for price hikes,” Crystal Gorges, a media specialist at The PR Group, stated in an interview with the Daily Mail.

‘A merger this large gives Netflix a much bigger content universe, but it also gives them permission to move more desirable titles behind paywalls.’ 

Today, Netflix plans in the US run from $7.99 to $24.99 a month, depending on device limits and whether viewers choose ads. HBO Max ranges from $10.99 to $22.99, with additional bundle options that include Disney+. 

Gorges said the deal could shift what shows get greenlit for production, giving new life to major franchises while squeezing out smaller and independent productions.

Superman, one of the most iconic titles owned by Warner Bros, could be in Netflix’s hands by the end of 2026

Netflix plans to shell out $72billion to take over the production studio and its impressive lot of characters – but experts are skeptical the deal will go through 

That consumer impact is already raising doubts in Washington about whether the takeover will pass. 

Bill Cohan, founding partner at Puck News and a former investment banker, said viewers shouldn’t expect The White Lotus or Harry Potter to hit Netflix anytime soon.

‘It’s clear that President Donald Trump wants the Justice Department to fight this. He prefers the sale to go to David Ellison at Paramount-Skydance,’ he said. 

‘It will take 12 to 18 months, and that could be longer with a legal fight.’ 

Lawmakers from both parties are already sounding alarms about the deal’s impact on the cost of streaming. 

On Friday, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called the deal a ‘nightmare,’ while Republican Representative Darrell Issa called it ‘problematic’ in a letter to the DOJ.    

Cohan said that’s setting Netflix up for the biggest legal fight during its 28-year history. 

‘Netflix hasn’t bought anything bigger than $700million. This is quite a big difference,’ he added. 

Cyrstal Gorges, a media expert, tells the Daily Mail that consumers should ‘be prepared for price increases’

Several experts said they believe Netflix will gate well-watched movie franchises, like Harry Potter, behind an additional paywall. Netflix didn’t respond to a request for comment

Art Hogan, the chief marketing strategist at B Riley Wealth, also points out that the deal could run aground outside the US: ‘We’ve seen the Eurozone block other deals in the media space, so that is to be determined.’

Both Netflix and Warner Bros said they expect the deal to close in the second half of 2026. 

But Cohan said the merger signals a fundamental shift in Hollywood dealmaking. 

He described it as the start of an overdue era of consolidation that pushes major creative studios into the hands of deep-pocketed owners. 

‘People say this is the end of Hollywood — I think this is the beginning of an inevitable change,’ he said. 

For viewers, the message from experts lands the same way: as more content lands under the same roof, consumers might have to get ready to shell out more money for the most popular content.

That is, if the deal goes through. 

‘I am a mergers and acquisitions guy – most deals don’t work out,’ Cohen said. ‘So let’s see.’ 

Netflix declined to comment on its pricing.