More than 1,000 film and television professionals have come together in a unified stand against the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, warning of sweeping consequences for the creative economy and the future of media.
The open letter, signed by actors, writers, directors, producers, and other industry workers, calls on regulators, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, to investigate the Paramount, Warner-Bros. transaction and block it. The group argues the deal would accelerate consolidation in an already strained industry, limiting opportunity while increasing costs for audiences.
“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 letter states. “The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences.”
Signatories also point to broader structural issues that have already reshaped Hollywood, including the decline of mid-budget films, the erosion of independent distribution, and fewer viable pathways for creators.
“Media consolidation has accelerated the disappearance of the mid-budget film, the erosion of independent distribution, the collapse of the international sales market, and the elimination of meaningful profit participation,” the letter continues.
The coalition warns that the merger would deepen those challenges and threaten the long-term sustainability of the industry, particularly for independent businesses and freelance workers who make up much of the production ecosystem.
“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 letter states. “The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised.”
Organizers behind the effort, including the Democracy Defenders Fund and the Committee for the First Amendment, are positioning the issue as one that extends beyond entertainment into broader economic and cultural impact.
“The future of free media and a strong entertainment industry in America is at stake here,” said Norm Eisen, co-founder of the Democracy Defenders Fund. “This proposed merger would not only harm competition and creativity, but it would also erode the very bedrock of our democracy.”
Advocates also warn of the potential impact on jobs, creative output, and press freedom, arguing that further consolidation would concentrate power in ways that could reshape what stories get told and who gets to tell them.
“Competition is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy democracy,” the letter concludes. “So is thoughtful regulation and enforcement.”
The letter remains open to additional signatories, with organizers encouraging industry members and the public to continue voicing opposition as regulatory scrutiny intensifies.
To see the full list of signees, click here.
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