Despite signs of increased hostility toward Chinese investment in the U. S., Wang Jianlin still wants to buy one of Hollywood’s \u00ab\u00a0Big Six. \u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0If we are able to buy one of the top six, that would be a great thing to do,\u00a0\u00bb the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. \u00ab\u00a0However, these six are not in a selling mood. That’s something we can’t crack. \u00a0\u00bb
Wang, who runs a gigantic real estate and entertainment business, has made a series of high-profile Hollywood acquisitions in recent years. But a major studio has proved elusive.
\u00ab\u00a0Let me just communicate this message: I would be a happy buyer,\u00a0\u00bb Wang said of the studios, which include 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros (owned by CNN parent Time Warner ( TWX ) ).
Related: This Chinese tycoon wants to conquer the entertainment world
Wang’s investments in the U. S. have attracted the attention of some U. S. lawmakers, who have called for tougher government scrutiny of such deals.
Wang brushed aside those concerns, saying the U. S. had nothing to fear.
\u00ab\u00a0So far, the U. S. government has not launched any censorship or control of entertainment,\u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0That would be a step back. \u00a0\u00bb
But Wang also made clear that there would be consequences if the U. S. chose to interfere.
\u00ab\u00a0If China were to retaliate, it would be bad for both parties,\u00a0\u00bb he said, adding that he had asked the head of the Motion Picture Association of America to tell President-elect Donald Trump: \u00ab\u00a0No war, please. \u00a0\u00bb
But it’s far from a level playing field. China already enforces strict controls on American entertainment companies, limiting the number of Western movies that can be shown in cinemas, and censoring their content.
Related: Trump attacks China on trade but misses the mark
Buying a major Hollywood studio would make Wang a top player in the industry. He already owns the AMC Theaters chain, and is active in film distribution. A major studio would give him control of film production, too.
If a deal were to materialize, he pledged to take a hands-off approach with the studio.
\u00ab\u00a0It’s still a company run by Americans,\u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0We won’t interfere with content. We just want the profit. \u00a0\u00bb
— Jethro Mullen contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

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