Hollywood stars oppose merger

More than 1,000 Hollywood actors, writers, directors and producers publicly urged regulators on Monday to block Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. (variety.com) The open letter said the deal would cut competition, eliminate jobs across production, raise costs for audiences and shrink the number of major United States film studios to four. Signers included Bryan Cranston, J.J. Abrams, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Denis Villeneuve, Ben Stiller and Joaquin Phoenix. (hollywoodreporter.com) The campaign went public on April 13, 2026, less than two weeks before Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are scheduled to vote on the sale on April 23. Warner Bros. Discovery said shareholders would receive $31 a share in cash if they approve the transaction. (wbd.com) Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery announced the merger agreement on February 27, valuing Warner Bros. Discovery at about $110 billion and targeting a closing in the third quarter of 2026. Paramount said the combined company would unite film studios, cable networks and streaming services under one owner. (paramount.com) The letter lands after years of layoffs, canceled projects and shrinking output across the entertainment business, where writers, crew members and independent producers have argued that consolidation already narrowed the market for new work. The signers said another merger would leave “fewer opportunities for creators” and “fewer jobs across the production ecosystem.” (variety.com) The timing also reflects how far the deal has advanced. Reuters reported on April 9 that Paramount had syndicated its bridge loan and secured permanent financing from a bank group for the planned $111 billion acquisition. (money.usnews.com) Paramount answered the criticism on Monday, saying the merger would create “more avenues” for creative work, not fewer. The company said it plans to release at least 30 theatrical films a year, keep licensing content and preserve major brands with separate creative leadership. (deadline.com) Regulatory pressure is building outside Hollywood too. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said his office is investigating the transaction and could challenge it even if federal regulators do not. (aol.com) For now, the fight is moving on two tracks at once: shareholders are preparing for the April 23 vote, and the people who make movies and television are trying to turn star power into antitrust pressure before the deal gets any closer to closing. (wbd.com)