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Netflix pauses future projects, acquisitions from Russia

Netflix pauses future projects, acquisitions from Russia

Netflix has reportedly put on hold all future projects and acquisitions from Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.  

According to Variety, the streaming service had four Russian originals in the pipeline, including a crime thriller series directed by Dasha Zhuk, which was shooting and has been postponed.


Svetlana Khodchenkova (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) is starring as "Anna K" Svetlana Khodchenkova is starring as "Anna K"

The 1990's set series was Netflix's second original series filming in Russia, following “Anna K” which wrapped last year.

A source close to Netflix said the company was assessing the impact of current events.

On Monday, The Walt Disney Company announced it will be pausing all theatrical releases in Russia, including Pixar's Turning Red, set to premiere there on March 10.

Walt Disney Company's Office Walt Disney Company's Office

A few hours after the announcement, Warner Bros halted the release of The Batman in the country.

The Batman

Russia has also been barred from major festivals and award shows.

The Cannes Film Festival announced on Tuesday that it will not welcome any Russian delegations or attendees with ties to the government.

Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival, however, announced it would show Russian films at the upcoming edition in August.

Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival

Russia's intensifying attack on Ukraine has forced hundreds of thousands to leave the country in the last six days in what one UN official predicted could become Europe's “biggest refugee crisis this century.”

Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine, claiming it is intended to protect civilians.

Stay tuned to this space for more updates!

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Netflix buyback

The company ended Q1 with $12.3 billion in cash, partly because buybacks were paused during the Warner Bros process

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Netflix approves $25 billion buyback after scrapping Warner Bros bid

Highlights

  • Netflix board approved a $25bn share repurchase on 22 April, with no expiry date.
  • The move follows Netflix abandoning its $83bn bid for Warner Bros' streaming and studio assets.
  • Netflix stock has fallen more than 10 per cent since weak Q2 guidance, closing at $93.24 on 22 April.
Netflix has approved a $25 billion share buyback programme, using capital it had kept aside for its failed bid to buy Warner Bros.
The board gave the green light on 22 April, with the decision disclosed in an SEC filing the next day.
There is no expiry date on the programme. It comes on top of an existing December 2024 buyback that still had $6.8 billion left as of 31 March.

Earlier this year, Netflix pulled out of an $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros' streaming and studio assets after Paramount Skydance made a rival bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount then paid Netflix a $2.8 billion exit fee.

Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters had already said the company would restart share buybacks once the deal was off.

Netflix shares have had a rough ride. They hit an all-time high of $134.12 in June 2025, then fell more than 40 per cent when the Warner Bros deal was announced.

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