When and if the Warner Bros. deal goes through, Netflix will hit the mother lode of franchises. The number of properties under the WB banner is incredibly vast for the long-running studio. They’ve got everything, from iconic cartoon characters to notable superheroes to fantasy epics.
Although the deal has yet to be confirmed, it’s still intriguing to consider what is at stake here. Netflix could be looking at its largest acquisition to date, extending beyond classic and award-winning movies. Expect these franchises to grace Netflix if the Warner Bros. deal is approved.
‘Dune’
Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel series Dune received a loving big-screen adaptation from Warner Bros. The story of a planet’s civil war over resources and debates over messiahs made for a compelling dose of big-screen science fiction. The award-winning success of the Dune franchise was achieved through two Denis Villeneuve films and the spin-off series, Dune: Prophecy.
Although Dune is a more recent acquisition, there’s plenty of potential in this franchise. The original author, Frank Herbert, left behind numerous sequels, and his son, Brian Herbert, continued with many more. Denis Villeneuve is already working on the third Dune film, set to adapt the second novel, Dune: Messiah, so there are more adventures on Arrakis to look forward to, should Netflix become the latest facilitator of the franchise filled with spice and worms.
‘Mortal Kombat’
In the past few years, Warner Bros. has been making the most out of Mortal Kombat. The legendary fighting video game of the 1990s, known for its brutal fatalities, was acquired by WB following Midway Games’ bankruptcy. Since this purchase, Warner Bros. has made a series of connected Mortal Kombat animated movies and is just starting to take off with its live-action film series.
With video games becoming bigger movie franchises, Mortal Kombat would be an excellent fit for Netflix. The franchise has a long history of devoted fans, the games remain popular, and WB has already assembled two movie universes. While Netflix adapted a few video games, Mortal Kombat would be a much bigger deal. Netflix could have its own massive gamer following on its streaming service, just as Paramount has Sonic and Universal has Mario.
‘Looney Tunes’
Cartoons don’t get more iconic than the zany antics of Looney Tunes. The comical gags of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and many more have been a staple of Saturday morning cartoons. The legacy of this animated ensemble has taken the form of several TV series (Duck Dodgers, New Looney Tunes) and movies, in which the cartoon crew has dabbled in live-action (Space Jam, Looney Tunes: Back in Action).
The Looney Tunes would be an ideal animated franchise for Netflix. Despite the multi-generational appeal, Warner Bros. has been shelving too many Looney Tunes projects. The studio’s latest Looney Tunes movies (The Day Earth Blew Up, Coyote vs. Acme) were shelved before being sold off to different distributors. If Netflix is willing to give more projects like these a shot on their streaming service, the cavalcade of rabbits, ducks, and other rascally characters could find a reliable streaming home.
‘The Matrix’
Action movies were changed forever with the dizzying effects of The Matrix. The exciting adventures of Neo traversing a digital realm controlled by machines were loaded with wirework martial arts and slow-motion bullet dodging. The bullet-time effect of gunfights was so revolutionary that it became a source of parody by the early 2000s.
Developed by the Wachowskis, The Matrix has left a lasting impact on pop culture, beyond its special effects. The groundbreaking film has spawned several sequels and an animated spin-off, proving there’s plenty to explore. There were also many philosophy books written about the clever idea that our reality is simulated without our knowledge. It’s an essential film in the action and science fiction genres as a notable addition to those Netflix categories.
‘MonsterVerse’
Warner Bros has plenty of giant monster action with their MonsterVerse franchise. Combining Godzilla and King Kong, the two titans of smashing cities and each other, have continued to grace the big screen. Those who have spent years craving a rematch between giant ape and reptile have been eating well with films like Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
The MonsterVerse would fit right in with Netflix, which already streams some Godzilla and Kong movies and shows. Their catalog boasts the anime film Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters and the King Kong spin-off animated series Skull Island. The presence of the MonsterVerse would make Netflix the one-stop shop for this franchise, except for Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
‘Lord of the Rings’
J. R. R. Tolkien’s revered fantasy novels were given a grand adaptation with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The story of Frodo’s attempt to destroy a powerful ring was a wondrous journey that dazzled audiences across three glorious movies. With a massive ensemble and impressive visual effects, the series would win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Though initially distributed by New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. treated the franchise right by granting Jackson another trilogy with The Hobbit.
The adventures in Middle-earth remain enticing as one of the best fantasy franchises under Warner Bros.’s ownership. From the gorgeous New Zealand setting to the beautiful music by Howard Shore, the Lord of the Rings trilogy has aged gracefully. There’s little doubt that such a franchise would become one of the popular batch of pictures under Netflix’s fantasy genre.
‘Harry Potter’
As quickly as Harry Potter became a must-read youth novel series, the film series became just as popular. The story of a young wizard learning about his magical abilities made for an exciting fantasy adventure spanning eight movies. Before superheroes dominated the box office, it was a wee wizard trying to defeat the evil Voldemort that captivated audiences throughout the 2000s.
While the plans for a long prequel series of films were never fully completed, the Harry Potter film series remains a robust collection of movies. Rewatching the films allows the viewer to experience how notable actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson grew up right on screen. For the legacy of these films, the Harry Potter movies would likely warrant marathons on Netflix from long-time fans.
‘Game of Thrones’
Based on the best-selling fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones became one of the most addictive HBO TV shows. The vicious medieval fantasy boasts plenty of political intrigue, bloody betrayals, and a heavy body count from fire and swords. The battle in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros became a must-watch show, especially since George R.R. Martin may never finish the book series.
Even with the controversial ending, Game of Thrones is still entertaining enough to warrant a few more binge-watches. The all-star ensemble delivers memorable performances, the detailed kingdoms are mesmerizing, and the storytelling is surprisingly brutal. It’s a fantasy saga with teeth that could fit in right alongside Netflix’s The Witcher.
‘DC Comics’
Having been under Warner Bros. since the 1970s, DC Comics has granted the studio access to the most popular superheroes. Superman and Batman have had many successful movies and cartoons through WB, and continue to do so to this day. With Matt Reeves bringing the grit to The Batman and James Gunn bringing some empathetic enthusiasm to Superman, it’s an exciting time to be a DC Comics fan.
No other WB franchise has as long a history of projects as DC Comics. From Richard Donner’s revolutionary Superman film of the 1970s to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Dark Knight trilogy, there are enough superhero films to fill an entire section, and that’s to say nothing of their TV shows, spanning from the dark brilliance of Batman: The Animated Series to the anime-inspired My Adventures with Superman. Considering that HBO Max already has a dense DC Comics hub, Netflix might have something similar in its future.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
