There’s a letter circulating, signed by over 1,000 film and TV creatives, including David Fincher, Denis Villeneuve, J.J. Abrams, Yorgos Lanthimos, Kristen Stewart, and Joaquin Phoenix, opposing Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The letter zeroes in on the anticipated job cuts that would affect workers if the deal is finalized, a common outcome in mergers like this.
“We are deeply concerned by indications of support for this merger that prioritize the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good,” the letter, published Monday by The New York Times, and available BlocktheMerger.com, states. “The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised. Competition is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy democracy. So is thoughtful regulation and enforcement.”
Fincher signing this letter is rich.
Among other featured signatories in the letter—signed by more than 1,034 people at the time of publication—the other biggest names are Adam McKay, Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo, Bryan Cranston, Damon Lindelof, Jason Bateman, Ben Stiller, Don Cheadle, and Glenn Close, among others.
Damon Lindelof, the creator of “Watchmen” who is currently under an overall deal with HBO, later explained his decision in an Instagram post. He said he “sort of knows” his “(potential) new boss,” David Ellison, describing him as a “bright, ambitious and passionate” executive who “loved movies and trusted the people he made them with.”
Despite that impression—and despite concerns about possible industry retaliation—Lindelof said he still signed the open letter opposing the merger, mainly out of concern for Hollywood’s “blue-collar town” workforce.
Of course, there is no reason to believe this letter will change the minds of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav or the board, who stand to make significant financial gains from the Paramount/Skydance deal. Zaslav alone is reportedly set to earn more than $800 million from the merger.