Hollywood erupts in anger with 1,000 voices…Letter opposing Paramount–Warner merger worth about KRW 163 trillion

Worries over a Hollywood ecosystem breakdown—Putting the brakes on the birth of a media giant

Hollywood is strongly pushing back against the massive `'Paramount Skydance'` and `'Warner Bros. Discovery'` `'acquisition and merger (M&A)'`, which signal seismic shifts in the global entertainment industry. More than 1,000 industry professionals—including well-known actors, directors, and writers—have released an open letter to voice their opposition and slam the brakes firmly.

According to NBC News in the U.S. on the 13th (local time), more than 1,000 Hollywood workers have signed on in large numbers to an open letter condemning the merger between the two corporate giants. In the letter, they point out that if the merger goes through, America’s major film studios will be reduced to just four. They strongly criticized this as directly tied to taking away creators’ opportunities and shrinking jobs in the production ecosystem—ultimately limiting choices for viewers worldwide to an extreme degree.

They also said that competition is essential for a healthy economy and democracy, and expressed serious concerns that this merger represents the interests of only a small group of shareholders rather than the public interest.

A host of auteurs and top stars join in—A key variable in regulators’ review

In this open letter, leading filmmakers and top stars representing Hollywood have thrown their weight behind the effort, underscoring the seriousness of the matter.

• Starring in the film 'Joker': `'Joaquin Phoenix'`

• Directors of the 'Star Wars' and 'Star Trek' series: `'J.J. Abrams'`

• Director of the 'Dune' series: `'Denis Villeneuve'`

• Starring in 'Twilight': `'Kristen Stewart'`

• Korean Canadian director of 'Past Lives': `'Celine Song'`

• Stand-up comedian: `'Margaret Cho'`

Facing fierce backlash, Paramount said it deeply understands creators’ concerns—while explaining that it will preserve an iconic brand with independent, creative leadership, and ensure that creators can gain more opportunities.

Paramount previously agreed, after a highly competitive acquisition battle in February, to buy Warner Bros. for $110 billion (about KRW 163 trillion). Ongoing under intense `'Antitrust Review'` by U.S. and European regulators is the combination of Warner Bros., a major production company behind 'Harry Potter' and 'The Matrix,' and Paramount, a media empire that also controls CBS. All eyes in the global media industry are on how the collective backlash from Hollywood heavyweights will act as a variable in regulators’ final decision.