Hollywood Professionals Oppose Paramount-Warner Merger in Open Letter

More than 1,000 industry figures voice concerns over potential job losses and reduced creative opportunities.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:39pm

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring bold, jagged shapes in red and white, conceptually representing the tension between Hollywood's creative forces and the push for media consolidation.Hollywood's creative community unites to voice concerns over a proposed merger that could further consolidate the industry.Paramount Today

More than a thousand movie stars, writers, directors, and other Hollywood professionals have announced their 'unequivocal opposition' to the proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery in an open letter. The letter argues the deal would further consolidate the industry, leading to fewer jobs, less creative freedom, and higher costs for audiences.

Why it matters

This merger is the latest in a series of major media consolidations that have rocked Hollywood in recent years, including Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Many in the industry fear that further consolidation will reduce competition, limit opportunities for creators, and give too much power to a small group of stakeholders.

The details

The open letter, posted on BlocktheMerger.com, was signed by a large group of high-profile figures including directors Denis Villeneuve and J.J. Abrams, as well as actors Kristen Stewart, Joaquin Phoenix, and others. They argue the merger would 'reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to just four' and lead to 'fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences.' Paramount has pledged to keep the two studios operating separately and release 30 films per year, but the letter's signatories believe extensive job cuts are inevitable due to duplication.

  • The open letter was published on April 13, 2026.
  • A shareholder vote on the Paramount-Warner merger is scheduled for later this month.

The players

Paramount Skydance

The media company that reached a deal in late February 2026 to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in one of the largest media mergers ever.

Warner Bros. Discovery

The media conglomerate that owns Warner Bros. studios and other entertainment assets, which is the target of the Paramount acquisition.

Netflix

The streaming giant that made a rival bid to acquire the Warner Bros. and HBO assets from Warner Bros. Discovery, but ultimately fell short.

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What they’re saying

“Hollywood mergers mean fewer movies and fewer TV shows and that means fewer jobs. When two storied backlots are owned by the same company, the outcome is intuitive — one becomes a Ghost Town. I'm scared. But I'm not a ghost. And a fight is already lost if it's never fought.”

— Damon Lindelof, Creator of 'Watchmen' and co-creator of 'Lost'

What’s next

The shareholder vote on the Paramount-Warner merger is scheduled for later this month, and the deal still requires government regulatory approval.

The takeaway

This open letter highlights the deep concerns within the Hollywood creative community about the potential negative impacts of further industry consolidation, including job losses, reduced creative opportunities, and less choice for audiences. The fight over this merger is emblematic of the broader debate over the future of the entertainment industry.