Hollywood Week: Netflix, WBD, Paramount, Nancy Guthrie Update, Robert Duvall, Eric Dane

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Category: Haute This Issue

Published on Saturday, 21 February 2026 11:59

Written by Janet Walker

The once done deal between streaming giant Netflix, and Warner Bros., Discovery, seems to have entered into the pre-wedding jitters phase, as Warner Bros. Chief David Zaslav appears to again be entertaining a Paramount offer.

Netflix, Warner Bros, Paramount Saga

Netflix Chief Ted Sarandos has opened up a seven day window for Warner Bros./Discovery to explore another offer from Paramount's David Ellison determined effort to win over the WBD shareholders with a better stock offer.

This latest attempt to derail the Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros., Discovery by Paramount Chief David Ellison, and by proxy his billionaire father Oracle founder Larry Ellison, has set a precedent for future business dealings by both paramount and other tech companies looking to gain a more substantial footing in the entertainment production industry.

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As the wrangling continues, the argument that the acquisition could derail the theatrical business has little bearing on the truth. Large metropolitan areas and dense urban centers still retain strong box office attendance, and the transformation of the living room experience is beneficial for many who would not participate in the theatrical experience.

The idea that the Netflix acquisition will in someway create a monopoly is irrational thinking as the Anti-Trust legislation depends on a singular offering controlling the market. Netflix doesn't control the market, granted they are the largest streamer but that is due to the merging of unforeseen elements, forced majeure, a pandemic which no one could predict and a burgeoning platform, essentially, they were ahead of the curve.

The population of streaming consumers have free agency, the right to choose and the right to cancel the subscription at any time.

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Nancy Guthrie Abduction Update

Law enforcement authorities investigating the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the mother NBC Today show host Savannah Guthrie, who was kidnapped in the early morning hours of February 1, 2026, continue to be optimistic the elder Guthrie is alive, but have yet to announce any suspects.

Over the last three week, according to the New York Times, there have been "unverified reports of ransom notes, chilling doorbell camera footage and the fame of Ms. Guthrie's daughter capturing intense interest. However, none of these clues have led to solid evidence or suspects.

During the initial days after the kidnapping, Savannah Guthrie announced her mother needed medication daily and in the absence of it would most likely die in a matter of days. The importance of the medication was emphasized during initial broadcast appeals by the family. If Mrs. Guthrie is still alive, then during the preparation phase the prescription would have needed to be filled or slowly siphoned during household visits. That type of medicine would be filled on regular intervals; early refills would indicate a pre-planning stage.

As the investigation enters its fourth week, Pima County Sherriff Chris Nanos, announced all members of the Guthrie family, including the son-in-law, who was named by Journalist Ashleigh Banfield as the main suspect, have been cleared.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, lived alone in Tucson, Arizona, near the home of her daughter, Annie, and Camron,. Her son-in-law- Tommasco Cioni was the last person to see her on January 31, 2026, after returning her to her home after a family dinner.  The elder Guthrie's medical condition has become well-known, and her mobility issues have led to questions as to why she would still be living alone, in a large property.

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The conversations adult children need to discuss with their ailing parents can be daunting, and yet, at 84, and coupled with mobility issues, which were probably discussed at some point during an episode of the Today show, Nancy Guthrie became an easy target. The notoriety of her daughter, Savannah, instead of being a deterrent became a magnet for anyone confronting financial issues.

The released evidence over the past three week include black and white front door ring camera footage showing a man, who is either of Latin descent or Caucasian, with a ski mask with large eye holes, black surgical gloves, (which are often used by influencers and chefs), as most medical personal use white or blue latex gloves, a backpack that appears to have cushioned shoulder pads, and night reflectors on either the jacket or above the back pack's shoulder pads, white sneakers, jeans, and a front half-zipper jacket. A pair of gloves matching the description have been found, but to date, the DNA found on them has yet to produce a match.

While hope is important, as the time lengthens between the abduction, the probability of finding Ms. Guthrie alive lessens. The Pima County Sheriff has not announced whether cadaver dogs have been requested. The Guthrie family have indicated they would pay any ransom.

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Robert Duvall, Star of Stage, Screen and Television, Dies

Robert Duvall, an Oscar winning actor, and star of stage, screen, and television, died this week. He was 95.

His wife of 41 years, Luciana Duvall, announced his death on Facebook, saying, "Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort. To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, [and] a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind."

Duvall believed the actor served his roles best when he could depend on personal experiences to inform the character, humanizing instead of acting. His early days of acting training were in New York where he studied with Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, and James Caan.

With more than 140 acting credits to his name, Duvall is most remembered for his role as Tom Hagen, in the cultural watershed film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, a role in which reprised for the sequel, aptly named The Godfather 2.

Even with a repertoire that explored the depths of a growing America, the second role of his career that seems to rise to the surface in all conversations is that of Lieutenant Colonel William "Bill" Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, also directed by Coppola, an indictment of the Vietnam War, with all its atrocities, resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"In "Apocalypse Now," an epic film about war and madness set in Vietnam, Mr. Duvall played Kilgore, the surfing-obsessed lieutenant colonel who declares, in one of the movie's oft-quoted lines, that he loves "the smell of napalm in the morning." Instead of devolving into crackpot flamboyance, Mr. Duvall delivered, in the description of New York Times film critic Vincent Canby, a performance of "breathtaking force and charm," The Washington Post reported.

Robert Duvall earned seven Academy Award nominations during his legendary career, winning Best Actor for Tender Mercies (1983). Known for his intense versatility, he received nominations for The Godfather (1972), Apocalypse Now (1979), The Great Santini (1979), The Apostle (1997), A Civil Action (1998), and The Judge (2014).

Mr. Duvall is survived by his wife, Luciana.

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Eric Dane Loses Battle with ALS

Actor Eric Dane, best known for his recurring role as Dr. Mark Sloan, on the long running medical drama Grey's Anatomy died this week from ALS complications. He was 53.

Dane, a champion athlete, tall, handsome, a winning smile, once the embodiment of manliness, surprised the world with his announcement on April 10, 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS. The star of stage and screen used his platform to bring awareness to the incurable disease.

He shared his journey with ABC's Special Correspondent Diane Sawyer, shocking viewers as he explained what seemed like minor tired hand annoyances that progressed, sending him to a series of specialists, and finally 18 months later received the unbelievable diagnosis. Dane, who continued to advocate for research, lost his battle against the disease and passed away less than one year after the confirmation of his condition.

Dane, who also participated in Netflix interview Last Words, deteriorated rapidly after his initial announcement. Throughout the interview, the shocking damage inflicted upon him due to this incurable disease, jumped off the screen.

To hear his story, he arrived in Los Angeles with $40 bucks in his pocket and was determined to work as an actor. His early days were spent with bit parts, on Saved by the Bell (1991), and The Wonder Years (1993), and Roseanne (1996) where he played a bell hop.

In 2001 he book a recurring  gig on Charmed, and by 2006, his one episode role on an up and coming ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, was so well received and set off a fandom reaction, that the role, Dr. Mark Sloan, was rewritten and Dane became a household name.

Dane spent most of his adult life entertaining the public, in addition to the nine seasons on Grey's Anatomy, he also starred in films, Bad Boys: Ride of Die, (2024), Borderline (2025), Burlesque (2010), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and television roles, Euphoria, (2019-2022), The Last Ship (2014-2018).

Dane is survived by his two daughter, Billy Dane, and Georgia Dane.

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Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five award-winning screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," a non-fiction narrative, "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," and "Songs of Freedom: A Collection of Biblical Teachings," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.