The entertainment industry is pushing back against further consolidation. A growing coalition of filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals, including Malcolm D. Lee, Billy Porter, and Cord Jefferson, have officially signed an open letter unequivocally opposing the proposed merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount.
If approved, the massive transaction would combine two of the world’s largest entertainment entities, effectively reducing the number of major U.S. film studios to just four.
The open letter, organized in conjunction with the Future Film Coalition, outlines the severe consequences this level of consolidation would have on an industry already under immense strain. The signatories argue that the merger will result in fewer opportunities for creators, massive job losses across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for global audiences.
“Our industry is already under severe strain, in large part due to prior waves of consolidation,” the letter states. “We have witnessed a steep decline in the number of films produced and released, alongside a narrowing of the kinds of stories that are financed and distributed. Increasingly, a small number of powerful entities determine what gets made—and on what terms.”
The coalition notes that previous media mergers have directly accelerated the disappearance of the mid-budget film, eroded independent distribution, and weakened profit participation for creators.
They argue that allowing Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount to merge would prioritize the interests of a “small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good” while grievously compromising the diversity and independence of the industry.
While the proposed merger has dominated headlines, the Future Film Coalition wants industry professionals and the public to know that it is not a done deal.
The coalition is calling on State Attorneys General (AGs), who serve as key enforcers of antitrust, consumer protection, and civil rights laws, to step in. They are urging state regulators to file a preliminary injunction to challenge the merger before it is rubber-stamped by the Department of Justice.
According to the Future Film Coalition, an injunction could block the merger entirely or result in structural remedies designed to mitigate the harms of excessive consolidation and restore fair competition.
They point to the recent success of State AGs in blocking the Albertsons-Kroger grocery merger as proof that state enforcement can successfully protect competitive markets.
The situation is highly time-sensitive. State Attorneys General reviewing the merger must decide in the coming months whether to formally challenge the transaction. To do so, they need concrete evidence demonstrating how this consolidation will affect real markets, employment, distribution access, and independent film circulation.
The Future Film Coalition is actively acting as a conduit, gathering stories and evidence from individuals working within the film and media supply chain to present to regulators.
“Competition is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy democracy,” the open letter concludes. “Media consolidation has already weakened one of America’s most vital global industries—one that has long shaped culture and connected people around the world.”
The coalition is expressing gratitude to state leaders, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who are reportedly scrutinizing the merger, and stands ready to support all efforts to preserve competition and protect the future of American cinema.
