April 14 (UPI) -- Hundreds of film and television professionals, including A-list stars Javier Bardem, Jane Fonda, David Fincher and others, are opposing the proposed $110 billion merger of Paramount Skydance with Warner Bros. Discovery, warning that further consolidation of media is a threat to their cultural industry.
Paramount Skydance announced a merger with Warner Bros. Discovery in late February, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to vote on the deal April 23. If agreed to, the merger would still need to pass regulatory clearances in the United States and Britain.
If approved, the number of major American film studios will shrink to four as film studios have consolidated over the last few years, including Paramount merging with Skydance in August 2025 and WarnerMedia merging with Discovery in April 2022.
In an open letter signed by more than 1,000 film and television professionals, the signatories voiced their opposition to the merger, warning of its potential economic, creative and societal damage.
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