Greater than a thousand film stars, writers, administrators, and different Hollywood professionals introduced their “unequivocal opposition” to the proposed Paramount merger with Warner Bros. Discovery in an open letter printed Monday.
A big swath of the film business—together with Denis Villeneuve, Kristen Stewart, J.J. Abrams, and Joaquin Phoenix—got here out forcefully in opposition to the $111 billion deal that might consolidate two legacy studios into one, arguing that it could additional scale back jobs and films in an already downsized Hollywood.
“The end result can be fewer alternatives for creators, fewer jobs throughout the manufacturing ecosystem, increased prices, and fewer selection for audiences in america and all over the world,” reads the letter, posted on BlockTheMerger.com. “Alarmingly, this merger would cut back the variety of main U.S. movie studios to only 4.”
In late February, David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance reached a deal to accumulate Warner Bros. Discovery in one of many largest media mergers ever. The deal awaits a shareholder vote later this month and authorities regulatory approval. Paramount’s victory got here after months of negotiations and a rival bid by Netflix that ultimately fell short.
The deal was solely the newest large merger to rock Hollywood. In 2019, 20th Century Fox was acquired by the Walt Disney Co. for $71.3 billion.
Ellison, chief govt of Paramount Skydance, has pledged to maintain Paramount and Warner Bros. as stand-alone film studio operations, and vowed to launch a mixed 30 films a yr in theaters. Paramount has acknowledged the merger can even result in vital cuts on account of duplication.
In response to the open letter, Paramount issued an announcement Monday arguing that the merger will give creators “extra avenues for his or her work, not fewer.”
“This transaction uniquely brings collectively complementary strengths to create an organization that may greenlight extra tasks, again daring concepts, assist expertise throughout a number of levels of their careers, and convey tales to audiences at a really world scale,” the studio mentioned.
However many within the movie business consider a merger will imply in depth job losses and a consolidation of energy.
“We’re deeply involved by indications of assist for this merger that prioritize the pursuits of a small group of highly effective stakeholders over the broader public good,” learn the letter. “The integrity, independence, and variety of our business could be grievously compromised.”
A coalition of advocacy teams organized the letter, together with the Committee for the First Modification—a free speech group led by Jane Fonda—in addition to the Democracy Defenders Fund and the Future Movie Coalition. Different signatories embrace Ben Stiller, Don Cheadle, Javier Bardem, Lily Gladstone, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tiffany Haddish, and Ted Danson.
On Monday, one signee, Damon Lindelof, detailed his determination on Instagram. Lindelof, the creator of Watchmen and the co-creator of Misplaced, has an total take care of Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Hollywood mergers imply fewer films and fewer TV exhibits, and which means fewer jobs,” Lindelof wrote. “When two storied backlots are owned by the identical firm, the end result is intuitive—one turns into a ghost city. I’m scared. However I’m not a ghost. And a battle is already misplaced if it’s by no means fought.”
Representatives for Warner Bros. didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the letter.
—By Jake Coyle, AP movie author
