Long before the tumultuous merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery, Disney CEO Bob Iger reached out to the studio, inquiring about a potential merger between Time Warner and Disney. Iger called the then-CEO of Warner, Jeff Bewkes, to discuss a possible acquisition, but Bewkes informed him that something similar was already in the works. AT&T would shortly after purchase Time Warner for 85 billion dollars. The deal lasted until 2022 when the company gave ownership of Warner Bros. to Discovery.
The New York Times reported that Iger and Bewkes spoke in 2016. However, since the AT&T purchase was imminent, the discussion ended before it could even begin. Iger reportedly wished Warner well and moved on to his next plan, calling Rupert Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox. Disney's acquisition of the studio was a massive move for the company, bringing in "X-Men," "Avatar," and "The Simpsons" under their umbrella. However, one can't help but imagine a world where Iger succeeded in his original plan to merge with Warner Bros.
Somewhere in the greater multiverse, there's a world where "Harry Potter," the DCU, and the MCU are all under the banner of The Walt Disney Company. In that world, maybe fans experienced another uber-successful "Harry Potter" franchise and a more coherent DC Cinematic Universe. Perhaps they've already gotten that DC and Marvel crossover film The Rock talked about.
