Glenn Close and Joaquin Phoenix among 1,000 Hollywood names protesting Paramount-Warner Bros merger in open letter
Glenn Close and Joaquin Phoenix are among over 1,000 massive names from Hollywood who have signed an open letter protesting the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.
The letter, published on April 13th, brings together stalwarts of the film industry including Emma Thompson, Denis Villeneuve, and Mark Ruffalo, to publicly oppose the proposed merger between Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Skydance, which outbid Netflix for a $110.9 deal in February.
However, the deal has caused significant concerns in the industry, firstly for the huge monopoly the new company would have in dwarfing other production houses.
But further to this, there are also worries about political interference, as Donald Trump was a significant backer of Paramount’s bid since Larry Ellison, father of its CEO David Ellison, is one of his biggest financial supporters. The president previously stated that he would not get involved in the process.
Speaking of the merger, the open letter, seen by Far Out, said: “This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries — and the audiences we serve — can least afford it. The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.”
With names including Javier Bardem and Jane Fonda also serving as signatories, it added: “We are deeply concerned by indications of support for this merger that prioritize the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good. The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised.”
The letter continued: “Competition is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy democracy. So is thoughtful regulation and enforcement. Media consolidation has already weakened one of America’s most vital global industries — one that has long shaped culture and connected people around the world.”
Although the letter already has a number of major film industry names such as Alan Cumming, Lily Gladstone, JJ Abrams, and Patti Lupone signed on, it will remain open for further industry figures to add their support.
The signatories also threw their support behind California Attorney General Rob Bonta, saying they were “grateful for [his] leadership” after Politico reported that he and other representatives are investigating the merger and exploring action to block it.
Concluding the letter, the signees said they “stand ready to support all efforts to preserve competition, protect jobs, and ensure a vibrant future for our industry, for American culture, and for our single most significant cultural export.”
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