Paramount responds to the 1,000-plus Hollywood names who signed an open letter opposing the studio’s deal to buy Warner Bros:
“We hear and understand the concerns that some in our creative community have raised and respect the commitment to protecting and expanding creativity…… pic.twitter.com/AYG48I2pVj
— Variety (@Variety) April 13, 2026
-Over 1000 actors like Bryan Cranston, Glenn Close, Ben Stiller, Don Cheadle, Jason Bateman and Ted Danson, directors like J.J. Abrams, Denis Villeneuve and Yorgos Lanthimos, producers like Ted Hope and Mark Duplass, Lin-Manuel Miranda and David Chase have signed an open letter opposing the Paramount/WB merger. Full list can be seen here
-The letter states “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. 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. Alarmingly, this merger would reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to just four.”
-Ellison has responded stating “We hear and understand the concerns that some in our creative community have raised and respect the commitment to protecting and expanding creativity… This transaction uniquely brings together complementary strengths to create a company that can greenlight more projects, back bold ideas, support talent across multiple stages of their careers, and bring stories to audiences at a truly global scale—while strengthening competition by ensuring multiple scaled players are investing in creative talent.”
MEDIA KERFUFFLE. Thread by me. Kerfuffle by others: https://t.co/SNDqVEbYZt pic.twitter.com/YCIcRSLV4f
— Sharon Waxman (follow me on Threads @sharonwaxman (@sharonwaxman) April 14, 2026
-Paramount has pulled its advertising from The Ankler after its editorial director and chief columnist, Richard Rushfield, was seen at CinemaCon on Monday with a bag of “Block the Merger” buttons.
