The planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance is receiving increasingly high-profile support from the US entertainment industry amid the ongoing antitrust proceedings. Within the space of a few days, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, AMC CEO Adam Aron and TKO CEO Ari Emanuel have publicly backed the merger and emphasised its significance for the future of Hollywood. This highlights the contrast with the plaintiffs – including twelve US states, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and parts of the cinema industry.

David Ellison set the tone in an internal letter to Paramount Skydance staff. In it, the CEO reaffirmed that, despite the ongoing antitrust lawsuits, the company remained firmly committed to bringing the transaction to a successful conclusion. Ellison described the decision to forego seeking an interim injunction and instead work directly towards a full trial as the quickest route to a final legal resolution. Until then, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery would continue to operate independently of one another.

Shortly afterwards, Ellison received support from AMC CEO Adam Aron. In a guest article for Variety The head of the world’s largest cinema chain argues that a merger could strengthen the competitiveness of traditional studios against streaming and technology companies. In his view, a high-performing studio with a reliable pipeline of feature films is more important for the future of cinemas than a protracted legal battle. Aron explicitly criticises the lawsuits brought by the US states and calls for the transaction to be finalised as quickly as possible.

With this stance, Aron is also taking a stand against the US cinema association Cinema United. Whilst AMC is relying on Paramount’s assurances of a strong cinema release strategy and a stable supply of films, the association warns of greater market concentration, a decline in film diversity and potential disadvantages for smaller cinema operators.

Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO Group Holdings and co-founder of the talent agency Endeavor, has also publicly backed the merger. In a guest article in the Wall Street Journal He describes the antitrust case as unfounded and criticises it for failing to recognise the current competitive landscape in the entertainment industry. Film studios have long since ceased to compete exclusively with one another; they now also compete with streaming services, YouTube, video games and other digital entertainment offerings. A stronger Paramount-Warner group could therefore promote competition rather than restrict it. Furthermore, Emanuel points to the considerable financial burdens that Paramount is incurring as a result of the delay in the transaction.

This public support shows that a coalition in favour of the merger is increasingly taking shape within Hollywood. Whilst unions such as the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, as well as Cinema United, are warning of negative consequences for employment, competition and cinema operators, leading figures from the studio, cinema and entertainment industries see the merger as a necessary response to the growing competitive pressure from global streaming platforms and technology conglomerates.

It remains to be seen when the legal dispute will be finally resolved. Under the agreement between Paramount Skydance and the claimants, the merger is to remain on hold until a court ruling is issued or, at the latest, until June 2027. Observers expect the proceedings to drag on for several more months.