Hollywood Petition to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Tops 4,000 Names as Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola, Holly Hunter and More Join the Fight

Key Points:

• Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the $111 billion merger deal with Paramount Skydance, bringing the combination closer to completion, though regulatory approval is still pending.
• A coalition of Hollywood actors, directors, and industry professionals, including Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola, and Holly Hunter, has opposed the merger through an open letter citing concerns about job losses, higher consumer costs, and reduced content diversity.
• The opposition group, which includes over 4,000 signatories with more than 75 Oscar winners and nominees, has organized protests and rallies to sustain resistance, highlighting fears that the merger would reduce major U.S. film studios to just four.
• Prominent signatories of the letter include Florence Pugh, Joaquin Phoenix, Kristen Stewart, Jane Fonda, and Mark Ruffalo, with support from industry organizations such as the Writers Guild of America and advocacy groups like the American Economic Liberties Project.
• Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren, are actively working to block the merger, emphasizing ongoing legal and regulatory challenges despite the shareholder vote approval.