Tom Cruise's New Movie at Risk Amid Netflix-WB Merger
The recent merger between Warner Bros. and Netflix is sending shockwaves through Hollywood. With the streaming giant's CEO questioning traditional movie releases, what does this mean for one of cinema's biggest stars and his highly anticipated new film? The future of the big screen experience hangs in the balance.
A major shake-up in the entertainment world, the fusion of Warner Bros. and Netflix, is raising serious questions about the fate of traditional moviegoing. This uncertainty directly impacts the studio's upcoming projects, most notably a major new film starring Tom Cruise and directed by the acclaimed Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
The debate intensified in April when Netflix's CEO, Ted Sarandos, made his position on streaming crystal clear. During the Time100 Summit, he challenged the long-standing model of releasing films in theaters first. He stated:
What is the consumer trying to tell us? That they’d like to watch movies at home, thank you. The studios and the theaters are duking it out over trying to preserve this 45-day window that is completely out of step with the consumer experience of just loving a movie
This new project, with the working title Judy, is the first production to come from the strategic partnership Cruise forged with Warner Bros. in 2024. Now, the merger has cast a shadow over the film's chances of getting a full-scale cinema run.
A Clash of Philosophies
The core of the issue lies in two conflicting visions. Cruise is a passionate champion of the cinematic experience, while Netflix has built its empire on a direct-to-consumer streaming model. This fundamental difference creates a tense situation for the actor's deal with Warner Bros., which was specifically designed to “develop and produce original and franchise theatrical films.”
With Netflix now in the picture, there's no guarantee that prioritizing a big-screen release will remain the studio's focus. While the movie from The Revenant director is expected to get a theatrical run like other WB films already in the pipeline, many speculate that Cruise might choose to end his partnership with the studio after this one project is complete. It's difficult to see how his commitment to cinema can coexist with Netflix's established philosophy under the new leadership.
The Future of Theatrical Windows
As things stand, the film is still expected to hit theaters. Sarandos himself has indicated he isn't completely opposed to the big screen. However, he has consistently expressed his dislike for the long, exclusive theatrical runs that have been standard for major Warner Bros. releases.
Sarandos has hinted that these release windows will likely shrink in the future. For the time being, however, he has assured that Warner Bros.' existing slate will move forward as intended, which suggests Cruise's film will indeed get a proper theatrical debut. He explained:
I’d say that right now you should count on everything that has planned on going to the theaters through Warner Bros. will continue to go to the theaters through Warner Bros. And Netflix movies will take the same [path] as they have — which is some of them do have a short run in the theater beforehand.
Still, the long-term outlook remains cloudy. It seems improbable that Cruise, perhaps Hollywood's most vocal supporter of movie theaters, would continue his collaboration under the new management unless Netflix commits to preserving Warner Bros.' traditional release strategy.
The film, currently known by its working title Judy, is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026.