Hollywood has spoken out against the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger: who signed the open letter
14 April 13:26
More than a thousand representatives of the Hollywood industry have signed an open letter calling for the merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance to be blocked, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Actors, directors, screenwriters, producers, and documentary filmmakers have spoken out against the high-profile deal, arguing that such consolidation will further weaken the American film industry, reduce competition, and lead to job losses.
The authors of the letter emphasize that the $110 billion deal is being made in the interests of a narrow circle of shareholders, rather than for the sake of market development, creative freedom, or the interests of viewers.
Who signed the letter opposing the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger
Among the most prominent signatories of the open letter are directors Denis Villeneuve, David Fincher, J.J. Abrams, Adam McKay, Alex Gibney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Jonathan Glazer, Celine Song, Daniel Kwan, David Chase, Jay Roach, Liz Garbus, Laura Poitras, Rori Kennedy, Kirby Dick, and Destin Daniel Cretton.
The letter was also endorsed by actors and industry figures including Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Bryan Cranston, Elliot Page, Emma Thompson, Kristen Stewart, Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, Jason Bateman, Don Cheadle, John Cusack, John Leguizamo, Pedro Pascal, Jane Fonda, Glenn Close, Sally Field, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, Matt Dillon, Noah Wyle, Patty Lupone, Rosario Dawson, Rose Byrne, Catherine Keener, Brad Whitford, Benjamin Brett, Alan Cumming, Alyssa Milano, James Cromwell, Will Wheaton, Wilson Cruz, Yvette Nicole Brown, Margaret Cho, Katie Griffin, Tig Notaro, and Patton Oswalt.
As of the time of publication, over 1,000 people have signed the letter.
Why Hollywood Opposes the Merger
The authors of the letter emphasize that the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance will further consolidate the already concentrated U.S. media market.
If the deal goes through, the number of major American film studios will drop to four. According to the signatories, this will have serious consequences for the entire industry.
Among the main risks, they cite:
- fewer opportunities for creators;
- fewer jobs in the production ecosystem;
- higher costs;
- less choice for audiences in the U.S. and worldwide;
- a further decline in the number of films and TV series;
- weakening of independent distribution.
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What consequences do the signatories of the letter foresee?
The open letter emphasizes that previous waves of consolidation in Hollywood have already led to negative outcomes. Specifically, these include:
- job cuts;
- rising production costs;
- the disappearance of mid-budget films;
- a decline in the international sales market;
- the weakening of copyright protections;
- diminished opportunities for directors and screenwriters.
The signatories believe that the new mega-merger will only exacerbate these problems and further alter the Hollywood landscape to the detriment of the industry.
Why the deal is called beneficial only for shareholders
The letter specifically notes that the merger is taking place in the interests of a “small group of shareholders, ” rather than for the public good or the development of American cinema.
The authors of the document believe that such a deal effectively prioritizes the profits of a few influential individuals over the interests of the entire creative community, audiences, and industry workers.
Which professions might be affected
The letter does not mention only famous actors or directors. The signatories emphasize that the consequences of the merger will hit thousands of workers hard—those who remain out of the headlines but ensure the very existence of the film industry.
Among them are:
- lighting technicians;
- drivers;
- set designers;
- cameramen;
- stunt performers;
- technical specialists;
- post-production staff;
- other members of production teams.
According to the authors of the letter, it is these individuals who will be the first to feel the effects of large-scale corporate consolidation.
Who is being called upon to intervene
The signatories of the letter expressed their support for California Attorney General Rob Bonti and his counterparts in other states who are considering the possibility of a judicial block on the deal.
Hollywood figures stated that they are ready to provide legal support for efforts aimed at stopping the merger.
In other words, this is not just a symbolic protest, but an attempt to actually influence the fate of the deal through legal mechanisms.
What the opponents of the merger are saying
One of the public commentators was “The Guardians” creator Damon Lindelof, who explained his position by noting that mergers in Hollywood always mean fewer movies, fewer TV series, and fewer jobs.
According to him, when two studios with a long history come under the control of a single company, one of them risks very quickly turning into a “ghost town.”
This view accurately reflects the general sentiment of those who opposed the high-profile deal.
When the deal is expected to close
According to available information, the parties plan to close the deal sometime in 2026.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is expected to lead the combined company. Warner Bros. Discovery is currently led by David Zaslav.
Company representatives have not yet commented on the wave of criticism from Hollywood.
Why this story is so important for the industry
The situation surrounding the potential merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount has become one of the biggest corporate conflicts in modern Hollywood. It’s not just about the merger of two brands, but about the future of competition, the number of jobs, content diversity, and creative independence.
For many in the film industry, this deal has become a symbol of the struggle between big corporate capital and the industry’s right to remain vibrant, diverse, and open to new voices.
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