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More than 1,000 movie stars, writers, directors and other Hollywood professionals have announced their “unwavering opposition” to the proposed merger between Prime and Warner Bros. Discovery in an open book published on Monday.
A number of the movie industry, including Denis Villeneuve, Kristen Stewart, JJ Abrams and Joaquin Phoenix have come out in force against the US deal worth 111 billion dollars that would have merged the legacy studios into one, arguing that it will further reduce jobs and movies in Hollywood already reduced.
“The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs in the manufacturing ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world,” reads the letter, posted on BlocktheMerger.com. “Frighteningly, this merger will reduce the number of major US film studios to just four.”
In late February, David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance reached an agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in one of the biggest media mergers ever. The deal is pending a shareholder vote later this month and regulatory approval. Paramount’s victory came after months of negotiations and a failed bid by rival Netflix.
Paramount is defending the merger, saying it will lead to ‘multiple streams’ of work
The deal was the latest major merger of rock Hollywood. In 2019, 20th Century Fox was acquired by The Walt Disney Co. 71.3 billion dollars. Ellison, the chief executive of Paramount Skydance, promised to keep Paramount and Warner Bros. as independent movie studio operations and vowed to release a combined 30 films a year in theaters. Paramount has admitted that the merger will result in significant cuts due to redundancy.
In response to the open letter, Paramount released a statement Monday arguing that the merger would give creators “more avenues for their work, not fewer.”
“This transaction uniquely combines complementary strengths to create a company that can light more projects, bring back bold ideas, support talent at multiple stages of their careers, and bring stories to a truly global audience,” the studio said.
But many in the film industry believe the merger will mean major job losses and consolidation of power.
“We are deeply concerned about indications of support for this merger that prioritizes the interests of a few powerful stakeholders over public good,” the letter reads. “The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be at serious risk.”
A coalition of civil rights groups drafted the letter, including the First Amendment Committee – a free speech group led by Jane Fonda – and the Defenders of Democracy Fund and the Future Film Coalition. Other signatories include: Ben Stiller, Don Cheadle, Javier Bardem, Lily Gladstone, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tiffany Haddish and Ted Danson.
On Monday, another signee, Damon Lindelof, explained his decision on Instagram. Lindelof, creator of They don’t wait and producer of It is losthas a comprehensive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Hollywood consolidation means fewer movies and fewer TV shows and that means fewer jobs,” Lindelof wrote. “When two backward companies have floors under one company, the result is obvious – the other becomes a Ghost Town. I’m afraid. But I’m not a ghost. And the battle is already lost if it’s never fought.”
Representatives for Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter.
