1,000+ Hollywood Professionals Oppose Paramount-WB Merger Over Power Consolidation Concerns

More than 1,000 writers, actors, and directors have signed an open letter opposing Paramount Skydance’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. The letter was released on Monday and includes signatures from high-profile figures such as Kristen Stewart, Ben Stiller, and Joaquin Phoenix.

The signatories argue that the merger would deepen structural imbalances in the entertainment sector and reduce opportunities for creators across film and television. They warn that continued consolidation in Hollywood has already contributed to a steep decline in mid-budget filmmaking and what it describes as a shrinking pipeline for independent distribution and international sales.

Paramount and Warner Bros did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment regarding the growing backlash and the developing regulatory scrutiny in the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the UK antitrust regulator is expected to open an investigation into the proposed acquisition in the coming weeks, signaling increasing international scrutiny of the deal.

The CMA has not yet outlined the scope of its inquiry, but its anticipated involvement adds to growing regulatory attention surrounding one of the largest proposed media transactions in recent years. The letter urges regulators to act in defense of competition, cultural diversity, and employment stability, arguing that unchecked consolidation poses a broader threat not only to Hollywood but also to the global cultural economy it helps sustain.