A proposed $111 billion deal to merge Paramount Skydance with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is facing significant opposition despite WBD shareholders overwhelmingly voting in favor of the merger on Thursday. The pact, which would see Paramount Skydance acquire WBD, is not yet finalized and still requires approval from regulatory bodies in the United States and Europe. The potential merger has drawn strong criticism from a coalition of film and entertainment industry professionals, including numerous Hollywood A-listers, who fear its negative ramifications.

An open letter opposing the Paramount-WBD combination has garnered over 4,194 signatories since its launch on April 13, starting with 1,000 names. The list of prominent figures includes actors like Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola, Holly Hunter, Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal, Edward Norton, Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Kristen Stewart, Bryan Cranston, Glenn Close, Jane Fonda, John Leguizamo, Mark Ruffalo, and Rosario Dawson, as well as directors such as David Fincher and Denis Villeneuve. Organizers of the letter emphasize that over 75 Oscar winners and nominees are among the signatories, highlighting the widespread concern within the industry.

The letter, accessible at BlockTheMerger.com, articulates several key concerns. It states that the transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, thereby reducing competition. This reduction, the letter argues, would lead to fewer opportunities for creators, widespread job losses across the production ecosystem, higher costs for consumers, and less choice for audiences globally. A particularly alarming consequence cited is the reduction of major U.S. film studios to just four, intensifying fears about market dominance and diminished diversity in content.

Beyond the open letter, the coalition against the merger has been actively organizing protests. They staged a rally outside WBD’s Manhattan headquarters ahead of the shareholder vote and planned another protest in Washington, D.C., outside a private dinner hosted by Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison. This dinner was reportedly held to honor President Donald Trump and CBS News White House correspondents at the recently renamed “The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”

The opposition extends to the political arena, with Democratic lawmakers also voicing their concerns. Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have actively campaigned to halt the takeover. Following the shareholder vote, Senator Warren issued a statement reiterating that the merger is “not a done deal” and expressed confidence that state attorneys general across the country would step up to prevent what she termed an “antitrust disaster.” This echoes earlier sentiments, such as Mark Ruffalo's statement at a Senate hearing, where he reportedly blasted the merger and warned against trusting