Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Discovery and an Animated Trip Over the Rainbow (Ep. 336)

Jim and Drew unpack one of the biggest industry shakeups in years as Netflix snaps up Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that reshapes everything from Adult Swim to the broader animation marketplace. Then the guys follow the yellow brick road into this week’s feature, exploring the strange, stop-and-start history of Hollywood’s many attempts to revisit Oz, from Disney’s abandoned visions to Filmation’s long-delayed Journey Back to Oz.

NEWS

• Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion and what this lightning-fast deal could mean for Paramount, cable networks, and Adult Swim.

• How the sale compares to Disney’s 2017–2019 acquisition of Fox once you adjust for inflation.

• Industry chatter around the merger’s approval process amid concerns from competing studios.

FEATURE

• A colorful tour through Hollywood’s many post-MGM attempts to return to Oz.

• Disney’s near-miss projects, including the almost-produced “Rainbow Road to Oz.”

• Rankin/Bass, Chuck Jones, and the surprising number of animated Oz interpretations in the 1960s.

• Filmation’s turbulent decade-long journey to complete Journey Back to Oz, featuring Liza Minnelli, missing dialogue tapes, and recycled Sammy Cahn music.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia (instagram.com/JimHillMedia) | X: @JimHillMedia (twitter.com/JimHillMedia) | Website: JimHillMedia.com

• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored (twitter.com/DrewTailored) | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW

• Facebook: facebook.com/JimHillMediaNews

• Instagram: instagram.com/JimHillMedia

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia (patreon.com/jimhillmedia).

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency (strongmindedagency.com)

SPONSOR

This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic — where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Planning a 2026 trip? Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and let Unlocked Magic handle the rest. And don’t forget to tell them Jim and Drew sent you.
UnlockedMagic.com (unlockedmagic.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_…)

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. (jimhillmedia.com/sponsor)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices