More than 1,400 actors, directors and filmmakers have signed an open letter opposing the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The letter has been signed by prominent names including Emma Thompson, Ben Stiller, Javier Bardem and Rose Byrne, who have argued that the deal would harm an already strained US entertainment industry.
The proposed merger, valued at approximately $111 billion, has been positioned as the latest development in an industry still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2023 dual labour union strikes, and ongoing technological and consumer shifts, as per media reports.
In the letter, the signatories have stated, “This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries—and the audiences we serve, can least afford it.” They have further argued that the merger would reduce the number of US film studios to four, potentially leading to fewer jobs, fewer buyers and makers of film and television content, and limited opportunities across the production ecosystem.
Additional signatories including Kristen Stewart, Kristin Scott Thomas and Glenn Close have also expressed opposition, with more industry professionals continuing to add their names. The letter has called on regulators, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, to block the deal.
The signatories have also stated, “The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.”
Meanwhile, Damon Lindelof has voiced his opposition on social media, writing, “Hollywood mergers mean fewer movies and fewer TV shows and that means fewer jobs. When two storied backlots are owned by the same company, the outcome is intuitive, one becomes a Ghost Town. I’m scared. But I’m not a ghost. And a fight is already lost if it’s never fought.”
In response, Paramount has reiterated its commitment to supporting creators and expanding opportunities. The company has stated, “[A]s creators we know firsthand that this is also a moment when the industry has been facing significant disruption—and the need for strong, creative-first and well-capitalized companies that can continue to invest in storytelling has never been greater,” and added that it aims at “ensuring creators have more avenues for their work, not fewer.”
