Interviews with dozens of actors, producers and camera crews reveal an industry attempting to weigh the lesser of two horrible choices.

Streaming giant Netflix appeared to win the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery last week, when the two firms announced their merger. Within days, however, Paramount announced its hostile bid, meaning Paramount plans to appeal to Warner Bros. Discover shareholders in an effort to overcome the wishes of management.

If Warner Bros accepts Paramount's offer, it will have to pay Netflix a $2.8 billion breakup fee. Netflix, on its part, is on the hook for $5.8 billion if its deal falls through. The streaming pioneer is likely to face strong antitrust scrutiny, and Trump has already raised questions about its offer.

A high-stakes bidding war heated up this week when Paramount made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, challenging a multibillion-dollar Netflix deal to buy the entertainment juggernaut.

For now, the outcome remains highly uncertain. Any acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would likely be reviewed by the Trump administration, which could move to block a proposed merger over anti-monopoly concerns, according to antitrust experts from Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee and the Cardozo Law School.

Eywa as his witness, James Cameron has pledged to make movies for theaters so that side of the business stays alive.

"Wow. I gotta say, if my company's got that kind of green, I'm sure they can afford to uncancel one of their best shows," the host said.

The M&A saga captivating Hollywood made some dramatic twists. And what’s ailing Campbell’s soup? Plus, why are investors jumpy again about AI? I discuss the biggest stock moves of last week and the news that drove them.