More than 1,000 Hollywood professionals have signed an open letter opposing the proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking one of the entertainment industry's largest coordinated protests against media consolidation.
The signatories include A-list actors Jane Fonda, Joaquin Phoenix, Bryan Cranston, and Kristen Stewart, alongside directors J.J. Abrams and Denis Villeneuve. Their opposition centers on concerns that combining two legacy studios would further concentrate an already consolidated media landscape.
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
Open letter — Daily Sabah
The deal would merge Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, with Warner Bros. Discovery, home to major franchises including Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones. The acquisition reportedly beat out a competing bid from Netflix, though industry insiders had viewed Netflix as the preferable option.
Hollywood professionals fear the merger's enormous price tag will force cost-cutting measures across both studios. The consolidation threatens not only high-profile creative roles but also thousands of below-the-line positions — makeup artists, set designers, catering staff, and other support workers who form the backbone of Los Angeles' entertainment economy.
Daily Sabah frames the story as a straightforward industry dispute, emphasizing economic concerns over cultural implications. The outlet provides balanced coverage of both opposition arguments and company responses, reflecting Turkey's position as an observer rather than stakeholder in American media consolidation.
The Hindu emphasizes the collective nature of industry opposition, framing it as a democratic response to corporate consolidation. Their coverage reflects India's own concerns about media concentration while maintaining journalistic distance from American entertainment industry politics.
Le Monde frames the merger critically through the lens of media concentration concerns, reflecting France's strong tradition of cultural protectionism and skepticism toward Anglo-American media dominance. The outlet emphasizes competitive threats in an already concentrated landscape.
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
Open letter — Daily Sabah
The merger would reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to just four, according to the letter. Industry professionals point to previous consolidation waves as evidence of declining film production and theatrical releases, arguing that further concentration threatens both economic competition and democratic discourse.
Paramount Skydance has attempted to address these concerns, pledging to maintain robust theatrical output. The company committed to producing at least 30 high-quality feature films annually with full theatrical releases, positioning the merger as strengthening rather than weakening competition.
We understand the concerns raised as a result of the disruptions caused to our industry by COVID, entry of big-tech, and changes in consumer behavior, but we promise this: Paramount remains deeply committed to talent, and this merger strengthens both consumer choice and competition
Paramount Skydance statement — Daily Sabah
The proposed deal reportedly has support from President Donald Trump, though the administration has not publicly commented on the merger's regulatory prospects. The transaction would require approval from federal antitrust authorities, who will weigh industry consolidation concerns against potential efficiency gains.
The entertainment industry remains under pressure from streaming competition, changing consumer habits, and lingering effects from pandemic-era production shutdowns. Whether regulators view this merger as necessary adaptation or harmful consolidation will determine the future structure of American filmmaking.