Netflix fans believe they already know what’s happening after the streamer shared a cryptic advert teasing something big in the new year.
It has been a huge year for the streaming giant as it marks the end of its flagship sci-fi epic, Stranger Things, after a decade; celebrates the mammoth success of KPop Demon Hunters as the most-watched movie ever; and looks towards an ever-evolving future.
On Christmas Day, Netflix dropped a one-minute advert with the caption: ‘Your Future is on its way.’
‘Sometimes the universe shows you a sign. You can brush it off, call it a coincidence but I know you’ve got some questions. Lucky you.
‘Your future’s on its way. Even when you’re not looking, it finds you. So go on, all you gotta do is ask,’ the voiceover says.
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Meanwhile, we watch a woman go through her day, left bamboozled by glitchy images blurring in and out of reality from Netflix shows and beyond. We have the Muppets, Bridgerton, WWE and One Piece all flashing in and out in different ways, from costumed actors to pirate-themed tea leaves.
Eventually, she stumbles into a tarot reading as the words ‘What Next’ flash up on screen alongside the date, January 7, 2026.
Given how vague Netflix has been, fans have run riot with their theories on exactly what they could be announcing.
What could be next for Netflix?
The natural first guess for several people was that Netflix would officially confirm its acquisition of Warner Bros with X user rorschasan writing: ‘WB acquisition is confirmed’ with ms agreeing it was a ‘WB and HBO announcement’.
At the start of December, it was announced that the streamer had agreed to a £54billion ($72b) deal to acquire Warner Brothers’ film, television and streaming businesses – beating out rivals Comcast and Paramount Skydance.
Warner Bros. president and chief executive David Zaslav said at the time: ‘By coming together with Netflix, we will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world’s most resonant stories for generations to come.’
Nevertheless, the likelihood that the January 7 news will confirm the merger with Warner Bros is low.
The deal still needs to be approved by a board of federal regulators and the official Netflix Warner Bros joint website which shares details of the groundbreaking deal confirms that they ‘expect to close in 12-18 months’.
There are other theories, however.
Many have questioned whether Netflix could be teasing an AI feature, specifically offering tailored recommendations – although not all are thrilled at this prospect.
Hum wrote: ‘The “fortune teller” thing probably means it’s integrated AI that does some lame recommendations.’
‘Watch it be an AI recommending feature,’ koziy agreed.
Last but not least, with Stranger Things coming to an end, some fans wondered if Netflix was gearing up to announce a new major series to plug the gap.
Most likely, Netflix will be announcing their 2026 slate of their biggest projects (we can already expect Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man and Bridgerton season four).
We’ll have to wait until January 7, 2026, to find out exactly what to expect.
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