The starting bell has been rung for the battle between entertainment industry corporate titans on which the future of Hollywood rests. And the world’s greatest showman, Donald Trump, is playing referee.

The former producer and host of reality television blockbuster The Apprentice has already staked his claim.

Donald Trump and Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount head David Ellison.Credit: AP

Netflix and Paramount Skydance are both in the hunt to take over Warner Bros Discovery – the owner of valuable franchises including Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. The outcome of this tussle will redraw the Hollywood corporate map.

Trump is almost certainly going to have the final say on who wins and who gets fired in this $160 billion contest. Should Trump get to decide the fate of the deal? Probably not. But that’s unlikely to stop him.

The Warner Bros board would typically assess both offers and make a recommendation to its shareholders based on price, and then those shareholders would ultimately decide.

Netflix and Paramount Skydance are vying to take........

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