Actors Reportedly Boycott Netflix Deal as Strike Concerns Grow
Hollywood actors could once again be heading toward labor unrest. According to multiple reports, performers represented by SAG-AFTRA are privately discussing the possibility of opposing — and potentially boycotting — a proposed Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) merger, amid growing fears that the deal could slash jobs, weaken residual payments, and consolidate too much power under a single streaming giant.
Sources close to union leadership told The Post that SAG-AFTRA is quietly preparing a coordinated response, with one insider describing the effort as “building a war room” to push back against the merger. While no strike has been formally authorized, the possibility is reportedly being discussed behind closed doors.
“A strike is not off the table if things heat up,” one source said, signaling renewed tensions less than two years after the longest actors’ strike in Hollywood history.
Why Actors Are Concerned About the Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
At the heart of the controversy is control.
If approved, the deal would give Netflix control over Warner Bros. Discovery’s vast content library, including HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, and DC Comics properties. Industry analysts say the merged company could command roughly 35% of all U.S. streaming hours, a level of dominance that has raised red flags among labor groups and regulators alike.
For actors, that concentration of power could have serious consequences.
One SAG-AFTRA member, speaking anonymously, warned that the merger would “create a monopoly,” weakening performers’ leverage in contract negotiations and accelerating the erosion of residual pay — a critical income stream for many working actors.
Residuals, which compensate performers when content is rerun or streamed, have already been a major point of contention in the streaming era. Many actors argue that streaming platforms pay significantly less in residuals compared to traditional television models.
SAG-AFTRA’s Position: No Strike Yet, but Opposition Is Growing
Publicly, SAG-AFTRA leadership is proceeding cautiously.
Pamela Greenwalt, a spokesperson for the union, emphasized that no formal position has been taken yet. “We have not taken any position on the merger other than that it requires careful review and analysis,” she said, adding that any action would be based on “the best interests of SAG-AFTRA members.”
Still, the union issued a statement on Dec. 5 warning that the transaction “raises many serious questions about its impact on the future of the entertainment industry — and especially the human creative talent whose livelihoods depend on it.”
Behind the scenes, sources say union leadership is laying the groundwork for broader opposition in early 2026, with outreach expected to expand to rank-and-file members.
“There is no motion to ballot so far,” one insider said. “But they are going to ramp up their opposition in the first quarter.”
Netflix Responds as Hollywood Watches Closely
Netflix has pushed back on claims that the deal would harm workers.
A spokesperson for the company said Netflix has “been in touch with all of the guilds” representing Hollywood labor, signaling an effort to keep communication lines open. Senior Netflix sources also dispute concerns that residual payments would be slashed, though skepticism remains widespread within the acting community.
The proposed deal, announced Dec. 5, values WBD’s streaming and studio assets at $72 billion through a mix of cash and stock. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has long argued that scale is essential for competing in the global streaming market.
A Strike Would Bring Hollywood to a Standstill — Again
Any work stoppage by SAG-AFTRA would have massive implications.
The union represents approximately 160,000 actors, broadcasters, and media professionals, and a strike would likely halt most U.S.-based film and television production see. Hollywood is still recovering from the four-month actors’ strike in 2023, which delayed major releases including Gladiator II, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
That walkout was the longest actors’ strike in history — and many performers say they are not eager to repeat the experience, but are prepared to do so if necessary.
Regulatory Scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe
The merger is also attracting attention from regulators.
Legal experts note that a combined Netflix–WBD entity would likely face intense scrutiny from U.S. antitrust authorities, particularly given the company’s projected market share. President Trump has already suggested that the size of the deal “could be a problem.”
In Europe, the European Commission is expected to closely examine the transaction. EU regulators have previously blocked or fined U.S. tech companies over antitrust concerns, and industry groups are preparing to voice objections.
“What some might not realize is that European regulators have significant power when it comes to mergers,” said Laura Houlgatte Abbott, CEO of the International Union of Cinemas, which represents tens of thousands of theaters worldwide.
What This Means for Actors and the Industry
For actors — especially working and mid-career performers — the outcome of this deal could shape the future of employment, pay structures, and creative opportunities in Hollywood.
Supporters of the merger argue it could stabilize the streaming business during a volatile period. Critics counter that fewer buyers for talent ultimately means less competition, lower wages, and fewer jobs.
As one actor put it, “When power concentrates, actors lose leverage. And leverage is how we survive between jobs.”
What Happens Next
For now, no boycott or strike has been officially called. But with union opposition quietly organizing, regulatory scrutiny intensifying, and memories of the 2023 strike still fresh, the proposed Netflix–WBD merger is shaping up to be one of the most consequential entertainment industry battles in years.
Whether it leads to a full-scale actors’ boycott — or another historic strike — may depend on what concessions, if any, emerge in the months ahead.
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