More than 1,000 Hollywood actors, writers, directors, and industry professionals have voiced strong opposition to the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, describing it as harmful to jobs and creative opportunities.
In an open letter released Monday, prominent figures including Denis Villeneuve, Kristen Stewart, J. J. Abrams, and Joaquin Phoenix expressed “unequivocal opposition” to the $111 billion deal. They warned that merging two legacy studios would further shrink an already downsized industry.
The letter cautioned that the merger would lead to fewer jobs, reduced production output, higher costs, and limited choices for audiences globally. It also highlighted concerns that the number of major U.S. film studios could drop to just four if the deal proceeds.
The proposed acquisition, spearheaded by David Ellison, is among the largest media mergers in history and follows months of negotiations, including a competing bid from Netflix that ultimately failed. The deal is still pending shareholder approval and regulatory clearance.
Supporters of the merger argue it could strengthen the overall job market despite expected role redundancies. However, critics within the industry fear it will centralize power and trigger widespread job losses.
Advocacy groups such as the Committee for the First Amendment, the Democracy Defenders Fund, and the Future Film Coalition coordinated the letter. Additional signatories include Ben Stiller, Don Cheadle, Javier Bardem, Lily Gladstone, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tiffany Haddish, and Ted Danson.
Meanwhile, television creator Damon Lindelof publicly criticized the merger, warning that such consolidations historically result in fewer films and TV shows—and ultimately, fewer jobs.
Despite assurances that both studios would continue operating independently and release up to 30 films annually, skepticism remains widespread across Hollywood about the long-term impact of the deal.
