Over 1,000 Hollywood Creatives Sign Open Letter Opposing Paramount and Warner Bros. Merger

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Summary

  • Over 1,000 Hollywood professionals signed an open letter unequivocally opposing the $111 billion USD merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery
  • The collective argues the deal will eliminate vital jobs, reduce creative opportunities, and shrink the number of major U.S. film studios to just four
  • The statement aims to galvanize opponents ahead of strict regulatory reviews and impending shareholder votes

More than 1,000 people in the film industry—including prominent actors and filmmakers like Joaquin Phoenix, Kristen Stewart, and Ben Stiller—have signed an open letter protesting the planned merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. As first reported by Variety, the group published the letter on BlocktheMerger.com, expressing concerns that the merger would stifle competition and harm the creative landscape.

An open letter is raising concerns about the shrinking state of Hollywood after recent large company mergers. Those who signed the letter believe that combining major studio lots will mean fewer chances for filmmakers, increased prices for viewers, and job losses for many behind-the-scenes workers. The letter points out that mergers are making it harder to produce mid-budget films and are even affecting how film credits are handled, leaving only four major studios operating in the U.S.

Damon Lindelof, who has a deal with HBO, shared his concerns on social media, stating that big company mergers often lead to empty studio spaces. Paramount responded by claiming the merger will actually allow for more movie and TV projects, supporting creative risks and ensuring at least 30 movies are released each year. However, the $111 billion deal is still facing a lot of doubt as it goes through legal reviews and needs to be approved by shareholders this spring.

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2026-04-14 12:56