Over 1000 Hollywood figures oppose Paramount-Warner merger in open letter

WASHINGTON, DC: More than 1,000 Hollywood professionals, including actors Bryan Cranston, Jane Fonda and Joaquin Phoenix, have signed an open letter opposing the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Published on Monday, April 13, the letter argues the deal would deepen consolidation in an industry already “under severe strain.”

Signatories warn ‘fewer jobs, less choice’

The signatories warned the merger would reduce competition and shrink opportunities across the entertainment ecosystem.

“The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs, higher costs, and less choice for audiences,” the letter stated, adding that the number of major US film studios could drop to just four.

Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison struck the deal in February, outbidding Netflix for control of a vast media portfolio that includes HBO, CNN, and a historic film studio.

Ellison has said he aims to “honor the legacy” of both companies while building a next-generation entertainment giant.

Creative community raises alarm

The opposition letter features a wide cross-section of the industry, including actors like Glenn Close and Ben Stiller, filmmakers such as Denis Villeneuve and Yorgos Lanthimos, and writer David Chase.

They argue that ongoing consolidation has already eroded mid-budget filmmaking, weakened independent distribution, and reduced profit-sharing opportunities.

The letter was spearheaded by advocacy groups, including the Committee for the First Amendment, led by Fonda, who warned the merger could pose a serious threat to creative expression.

Regulatory scrutiny intensifies

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said the deal remains under active review, noting it is “not a done deal.” US antitrust regulators are also examining the merger.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has signaled plans to launch a formal investigation into the deal’s impact on competition and consumers.

Ellison, the son of Larry Ellison, is seen as a close ally of US President Donald Trump, who has previously called for changes in ownership at CNN.

Justice Department officials have pushed back on suggestions of political influence, insisting the merger review will proceed strictly on antitrust grounds.