LAS VEGAS (AP) — Paramount Pictures showcased its future film projects to cinema operators Thursday during CinemaCon in Las Vegas, as the studio navigates controversy surrounding its massive acquisition deal with Warner Bros.
David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance finalized an agreement in late February worth $111 billion to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, creating significant buzz at the industry gathering as attendees speculate about potential impacts on the struggling theater exhibition sector.
During Warner Bros.’ extensive Tuesday presentation lasting more than two hours, no speakers addressed the Paramount situation directly. However, multiple filmmakers who appeared at the event were among thousands of industry professionals who signed a public letter condemning the merger, including Denis Villeneuve and J.J. Abrams. Amazon MGM was the sole studio to acknowledge the deal at all, making a lighthearted reference in a promotional video for the upcoming “Spaceballs” sequel.
Director James Cameron stands as one of the rare filmmakers endorsing the transaction, expressing confidence in a Paramount-controlled Warner Bros. Cameron is co-directing Paramount’s forthcoming concert documentary “Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D).” Speaking with The Associated Press recently, Cameron described Ellison as a “natural born storyteller” who “really cares about movies.”
“He’s the right man for the job to run a major studio, and now it looks like he’s going to have two of them, you know, swept under his leadership, which doesn’t bother me at all,” Cameron stated.
Following Paramount’s recent $8 billion Skydance merger completed just months earlier, the company committed to distributing 15 theatrical releases during 2026. Ellison has announced plans for 30 annual theater releases once the Warner Bros. and Paramount combination is complete. The transaction requires shareholder approval later this month plus government oversight at both state and federal levels. The U.S. Justice Department must still evaluate this major consolidation that could grant Paramount enhanced pricing control over films and additional services, potentially harming consumers.
In Securities and Exchange Commission filings, Paramount stated, “Our priority is to build a vibrant, healthy business and industry — one that supports Hollywood and creative, benefits consumers, encourages competition, and strengthens the overall job market.”
Company officials have indicated plans to achieve approximately $6 billion in savings through workforce reductions in “duplicative operations.”
Paramount leadership contends that joining forces with Warner will enable competition with larger competitors, especially in streaming services, while providing expanded content collections for subscribers. The century-old Warner Bros. possesses an extensive film catalog featuring “Harry Potter,” “Superman” and “Barbie.”
Democratic Senator Cory Booker conducted a focused hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C., examining possible anti-competitive consequences of combining two major Hollywood studios.
Actor Mark Ruffalo, among the merger’s most vocal opponents, warned that “tens of thousands of workers will be left poorer, along with the audiences we serve.”
Oscar winner David Borenstein, who recently received recognition for his documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” expressed concern about diminished documentary filmmaking opportunities, “because a small number of distributors have consolidated power and decided to feed audiences a narrow and politically safe diet of content.” Although neither Paramount nor Warner Bros. are recognized primarily for documentary distribution, WBD properties CNN and HBO maintain strong non-fiction programming.
At CinemaCon, Paramount will likely focus attention on upcoming film releases. The studio has already achieved success this year with “Scream 7,” which has earned more than $212 million globally.
