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Tue, 06 Oct 2026

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 Paramount takes over Warner Bros in $110bn Hollywood merger

The merger of two of Hollywood's biggest movie studios comes after months of legal disputes and concern over competition.
Paramount and Warner Bros have merged in a $110 billion deal, creating a massive entertainment conglomerate called Skydance Corporation. The merger brings together iconic franchises such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings with Paramount's existing hits like Indiana Jones and Mission: Impossible. The new company will be led by David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Skydance, who said the deal was "historic" for the film industry. Ellison will focus on strategy and technology, while Ynon Kreiz, former CEO of Mattel, will oversee day-to-day operations. The merger has raised concerns about job losses, reduced competition, and higher prices for consumers. US states had filed lawsuits to block the deal, but a settlement was reached last month that included conditions such as establishing a news editorial independence board at CNN and CBS. The merged company must also release at least 30 films per year, with at least 20% of production taking place in the US for the first two years. Failure to meet these quotas could result in the sale of Paramount's stake in Miramax. Industry analysts are warning that Skydance will face pressure to cut costs and increase profits to reduce its high debt levels. The deal is set to reshape the media landscape and have significant implications for the film and TV industry, as well as consumers.