The file
Warner Bros. logo
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company

Warner Bros.

Hollywood studio whose Warner Bros. Television unit produced ER and The Pitt

Entries
9
On the record
4
Stories
1
Latest entry
Nov 4, 2026

The record

Compiled by the MrScandal desk from the documents below · Desk editor Gustavs Ērkšķis-Kreicbergs · Nov 9, 2026

Warner Bros. and its television unit, the studio behind ER and The Pitt, have changed owners twice in four years, according to SEC filings. On April 8, 2022, AT&T and Discovery, Inc. completed a deal under which AT&T's WarnerMedia business was combined with Discovery, and the combined company took the name Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. The deal followed merger and separation agreements signed on May 17, 2021.

In December 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to split off its Global Linear Networks business and sell its Streaming & Studios businesses to Netflix for $23.25 a share in cash plus Netflix stock. That agreement, amended in January 2026, ended on February 27, 2026, when the board found a superior proposal from Paramount Skydance; Paramount Skydance paid Netflix the $2.8 billion termination fee on Warner Bros. Discovery's behalf.

Skydance Corporation, formerly Paramount Skydance, completed the acquisition on October 6, 2026, paying $31.01666668 a share in cash, which included a daily ticking fee, and Warner Bros. Discovery became its wholly owned subsidiary. Each outstanding share was canceled and converted into that cash payment. The Crichton estate's suit over The Pitt, which a California appeals panel sent toward trial in November 2026, is covered in this file's story.

Roles and honours on the record

  • 2022-2026 Part of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., formed when AT&T's WarnerMedia combined with Discovery, Inc. on April 8, 2022 source
  • 2026- Part of Warner Bros. Discovery, a wholly owned subsidiary of Skydance Corporation (formerly Paramount Skydance) source

Every entry, newest first

Last entry Nov 4, 2026
  1. Ruled

    California appeals panel unanimously denies Warner Bros. Television's appeal; claims against Wyle, Wells and Gemmill dismissed, per The Guardian. Crichton estate wins appeal: The Pitt v ER suit heads to jury

  2. Ruled

    Judge Wendy Chang denies the anti-SLAPP motion, finding a prima facie case that The Pitt is derived from ER, per NBC News. Crichton estate wins appeal: The Pitt v ER suit heads to jury

  3. Filed

    Warner Bros. Television files motion arguing The Pitt is not a derivative work of ER, per Deadline. Crichton estate wins appeal: The Pitt v ER suit heads to jury

  4. Filed

    Crichton estate's Roadrunner JMTC sues Warner Bros. Television in LA Superior Court over The Pitt, alleging breach of contract, per Deadline. Crichton estate wins appeal: The Pitt v ER suit heads to jury

Stories in this file

Michael Crichton: TO JURYCelebrity · 7d ago

⚖️ Crichton estate wins appeal: The Pitt v ER suit heads to jury

A panel found ‘clear and numerous similarities’ but dropped Wyle, Wells and Gemmill. No Warner Bros. TV reply to the ruling in reports read. ⏳

The record, entry by entry

  1. 2022-04-08 Official Discovery, Inc. and AT&T completed the transactions under their May 17, 2021 merger and separation agreements: AT&T's WarnerMedia business was transferred and combined with Discovery, which was renamed Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery, Form 8-K
  2. 2025-12-04 Official Warner Bros. Discovery signed a merger agreement with Netflix under which, after separating its Global Linear Networks business, its Streaming & Studios businesses would become part of Netflix, with WBD shareholders to receive $23.25 in cash plus Netflix stock per share; Netflix agreed to a $5.8 billion fee if antitrust or regulatory obstacles blocked the deal. Warner Bros. Discovery, Form 8-K
  3. 2026-01-19 Official Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix entered into an amended and restated merger agreement. Warner Bros. Discovery, Form 8-K
  4. 2026-02-27 Official After its board determined that Paramount Skydance had made a superior proposal and Netflix waived its right to revise its offer, Warner Bros. Discovery terminated the Netflix agreement; Paramount Skydance paid Netflix the $2.8 billion termination fee on WBD's behalf. WBD and Paramount Skydance signed a merger agreement the same day, unanimously approved by both boards. Warner Bros. Discovery, Form 8-K
  5. 2026-10-06 Official Skydance Corporation, formerly Paramount Skydance, completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Each WBD share was converted into $31.01666668 in cash, including a ticking fee of $0.00277778 per day after September 30, 2026, and WBD became a wholly owned subsidiary. Warner Bros. Discovery, Form 8-K

Documents

Sources behind this file

  1. Deadline report on Warner Bros. Television's motion to dismiss · Report, Nov 5, 2024
  2. New York Times report on the complaint and Warner Bros. statement · Report, Aug 28, 2024

Connected files

  • Michael Crichton · Author and filmmaker; creator of ER, author of Jurassic Park and Westworld · 1 shared story
  • AT&T · Not described in the documents read. · named in the record