How Paramount's "Pressure Tactic" Backfired; YouTube-Oscars Deal Analyzed; Peter Alexander Q&A

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View on web New reader? Subscribe SUBSCRIBE. IT'S FREE. HOW PARAMOUNT'S HARDBALL LEGAL LETTER TO WBD BACKFIRED WARNERS SAW IT AS A "PRESSURE TACTIC" ON THE EVE OF FINAL BIDS, ACCORDING TO NEW COMPANY FILINGS AMID MERGER BATTLE The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery was spilled across pages full of revelations big and small Wednesday, as the media giant defended the process of selecting Netflix as the winner in its auction. Company disclosures and a letter to shareholders from the board of directors Wednesday explained the reasoning behind discarding Paramount as well as Comcast and offers from two unidentified parties. Among the reasons listed for rebuffing David Ellison: an incendiary and, it seems, unfortunately timed letter from Paramount’s lawyers at a critical moment. “PSKY threatened WBD with unfounded allegations as a pressure tactic,” Warners wrote in a lengthy SEC filing detailing the auction from the WBD perspective. It’s referring to a letter that attorneys at Quinn Emanuel “served” WBD and its advisors on Paramount’s behalf, accusing directors of bias and management of conflict of interest regarding post-transaction roles. >>>Argument To Shareholders Deadline Exclusives & Originals Peter Alexander Q&A - When NBC News‘ Peter Alexander asked Donald Trump last spring about Qatar’s gift of a $400 million jet to be used as Air Force One, the president lashed out not only at him, but at NBC News and even Brian Roberts, the CEO of its parent company, Comcast. Deadline spoke to Alexander this week about covering the White House, the changed composition of the press pool and the continued challenges of fact checking. >>>" It's Not Open Mic Night" A Match Made In Streaming Heaven - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is  handing over the keys to the Oscar broadcast kingdom to none other than YouTube, an inspired move. In fact, it might just might be the smartest chess move AMPAS ever has done. >>>Pete Hammond's Take Passing The Gavel - Judge Judy Sheindlin, the iconic daytime TV star who hosted Judge Judy for 25 years, is passing the gavel. Sheindlin’s son Adam Levy, a two-term district attorney who has been a judge on Amazon’s Tribunal Justice and Justice on Trial, is hosting new syndicated court series Adam’s Law. >>>Being Pitched To Station Groups In Brief - Ana De Armas signs with WME... Roy Wood Jr.’s CNN Holiday Special gets new airdate... Larry Stuckey & Joanna Leeds sell rom-com spec to Netflix THE DEADLINE INTERVIEW ‘Wicked: For Good’s Jon M. Chu & Costume Designer Paul Tazewell On “Giving Elphaba Dignity” Through Her Outfits After winning the Oscar last year for his work as the costume designer for Wicked, Paul Tazewell’s work on Wicked: For Good is clearly going to draw comparisons to his previous work. Working closely with director Jon M. Chu, the pair was able to successfully continue Elphaba’s “costume journey” throughout the sequel. “It’s just a joy to be able to finally share the round out of the story and what we created visually, because it was such a beautiful world that we created and also the process was so creatively full,” says Tazewell. >>>Watch Related: ‘Wicked: For Good’: Read The Screenplay      QUOTABLE   "They were our best friends" - Romy Reiner and Jake Reiner in a statement about their parents, Rob and Michele Reiner RENEWALS, PICKUPS & CANCELLATIONS ​​​​​​​Netflix Strikes Latest Video Podcast Deal With Dave Portnoy’s Barstool Sports Wyatt Russell-Led ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Prequel Ordered At Apple TV Netflix Orders Series Adaptation Of Liz Moore’s Mystery Novel ‘The God Of The Woods’ David Moscow’s ‘From Scratch’ Heads To Peacock CASTING ABOUT exclusive Rupert Grint, Sam Claflin, Charlie Murphy, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti and Ellie Bamber have joined Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, Paramount and Ti West's new take on the classic Charles Dickens novella with Johnny Depp in the titular role.   exclusive Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, and Darryl M. Bell are coming back together, reprising their roles from A Different World  for a Netflix spinoff series.     exclusive Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole is diving into Amazon MGM Studios' untitled Navy SEAL movie starring Alan Ritchson. As we first told you, the project is a reteam between The Reacher star and filmmaker Patrick Hughes. Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick will return to the New York stage this spring with a starring role in the American premiere of David Ireland’s Ulster American.       BY THE NUMBERS   $340M-$380M - Projected worldwide opening for James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' MORE NEWS 🕯️ Former CNN journalist Peter Arnett, a Pulitzer Prize-winner who spent decades as a war correspondent, died Wednesday of prostate cancer in Newport Beach, CA. He was 91. 🚨 With warning signs flashing over the health of the economy and Democrats winning off-year races on the issue of affordability, Donald Trump sought to reclaim that bully pulpit with a primetime address where he insisted that the economy is going strong. ⚖️ Less than 24 hours after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents Rob and Michelle Reiner, Nick Reiner made a very brief and silent court appearance. the younger Reiner did not enter a plea. His next scheduled hearing is set for January 7. 🍿 Gower Street Analytics is forecasting global box office for 2026 at $35 billion. This would mark a second consecutive year of worldwide growth, +5% against current estimates for 2025, and would be the highest grossing global year since 2019’s $42.3 billion. HIRINGS, PROMOTIONS & EXITS   EXCLUSIVE Paramount Pictures Names Lia Buman Head Of Global Acquisitions & Republic Pictures   EXCLUSIVE MPTF Elects Emma Thomas & Kevin McCormick As New Board Co-Chairs UTA Promotes 105 Across Company CAA Promotes 13 To Agent Or Executive ON THE RADAR Thu - Emily in Paris S5 drops Fri - Avatar: Fire and Ash opens Sat - Ariana Grande hosts SNL with musical guest Cher Wed - Christmas Eve PHOTO OF THE DAY Greg & Ted's Excellent Adventure - Wasting no time checking out their potential new home away from home, Netflix bosses Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos made a most awesome visit to the Warner Bros. Discovery studio lot with David Zaslav playing tour guide. This email was sent to punjabsvera@gmail.com by Deadline. Please add email@email.deadline.com to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. Visit the Preferences Center to update your profile and customize what email alerts and newsletters you receive. 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