# McDonald's AI Ad Disaster and Inside the $83B Netflix-Warner Bros Deal

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-actor-s-guide-to-the-end-of-the-world-7072802/mcdonald-s-ai-ad-disaster-and-inside-the-83b-netflix-warner-bros-deal
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-actor-s-guide-to-the-end-of-the-world-7072802/mcdonald-s-ai-ad-disaster-and-inside-the-83b-netflix-warner-bros-deal.md
Podcast: [The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-actor-s-guide-to-the-end-of-the-world-7072802)
Published: 2025-12-22T23:08:54+00:00
Episode link: https://actorsguidepodcast.podbean.com/e/mcdonalds-ai-ad-disaster-and-inside-the-83b-netflix-warner-bros-deal/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/iuisvcyw6qv4suzz/actors_pod_ep_60_audio9a4n7.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-actor-s-guide-to-the-end-of-the-world-7072802/episodes/mcdonald-s-ai-ad-disaster-and-inside-the-83b-netflix-warner-bros-deal
Duration seconds: 2045

## Resource

Welcome to Episode 60 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! McDonald's pulls their AI-generated holiday ad after massive backlash—and the studio’s response might have been even worse… If AI is supposed to revolutionize everything, why did it take so much work for something that didn’t work? Then we dive into the biggest Hollywood deal in years: Netflix's $83 billion bid for Warner Bros and “Succession-like” love triangle with Paramount, hostile takeover bid and all. Paramount tried to pony up with $108 billion and we haven’t heard the end of it yet. E-Kan and Rían dig into what they think this means for the future of Hollywood, and whether it’s a good thing… including Netflix taking over 540,000 sq feet of studio lot in the UK and why Christopher Nolan said he’ll never work with Netflix. The guys also talk about the ongoing SAG-Aftra Wages and Working Conditions meetings and upcoming contract negotiations with the studios this 2026. In case you forgot, the last contract went to a historic double strike with the actors and writers. No doom and gloom (completely)—just the facts, some laughs, and what it all means for working actors. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/warner-bros-to-oracles-larry-ellison-on-paramount-offer-your-trust-isnt-enough-we-want-/articleshow/126056779.cms https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2025/12/09/mcdonalds-ai-generated-ad-controversy-explained/ https://www.businessinsider.com/warner-bros-david-zaslav-ignored-ellison-text-paramount-skydance-netflix-2025-12 https://www.businessinsider.com/warner-bros-david-zaslav-ignored-ellison-text-paramount-skydance-netflix-2025-12 https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/warner-bros-discovery-board-rejects-rival-bid-paramount-2025-12-17/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.…

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