Hollywood stars oppose Paramount–Warner Bros merger

Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal, Edward Norton and comedian Atsuko Okatsuka are among the latest Hollywood figures to sign an open letter opposing the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros merger, with the number of signatories now surpassing 2,000. Early supporters of the campaign included Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller and Kristen Stewart. 

The letter, published in The New York Times and on BlocktheMerger.com, argues that the deal would damage the integrity, independence and diversity of the film and television industry. It says competition is vital not only for the economy, but also for democracy, and calls for stronger regulatory scrutiny. 

According to multiple reports, Paramount Skydance announced its plan in late February to acquire Warner Bros Discovery in a deal valued at about $111 billion, one of the biggest proposed mergers in entertainment history. Critics say the move would further shrink Hollywood’s already concentrated studio system and could reduce opportunities for creators, workers and smaller businesses. 

In response to the backlash, Paramount said it understood the concerns raised by members of the creative community but insisted the merger would expand, rather than limit, opportunities. The company said it remained committed to producing at least 30 theatrically released feature films a year, continuing content licensing, and preserving major brands under independent creative leadership. 

The opposition campaign has drawn support from a wide cross-section of the industry, including names such as Jane Fonda, David Fincher, Denis Villeneuve, J J Abrams and Mark Ruffalo. At the Oscars in March, Fonda publicly promoted the anti-merger campaign by wearing a “Block the Merger” pin. 

The proposed deal remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory review.