Paramount promises to roll out 30 films a year

CEO Ellison reminds theater owners of company's ability to increase output

LAS VEGAS:

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has promised movie theater owners that the company will keep its commitment to release at least 30 films per year, if regulators clear the proposed $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros Discovery.

Cinema operators have voiced skepticism of Ellison's vow and called on regulators to block the deal. "I wanted to look every single one of you in the eye and give you my word," Ellison told thousands of cinema owners and executives.

"Once we combine with Warner Bros, we are going to make a minimum of 30 films annually across both studios," he added, speaking to pack audience in a theater at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas.

Ellison said Paramount had already demonstrated an ability to increase film output. The company, which was created when Paramount Global and Skydance Media merged last August, plans to release 15 movies this year, up from eight in 2025.

Ellison spoke to the theatre owners and general audience as more than 1,000 film industry figures penned an open letter, opposing Paramount Skydance's planned acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, warning the proposed deal could concentrate power in an already heavily consolidated Hollywood.

The letter, released earlier this week, includes signatures from high-profile figures such as Kristen Stewart, Ben Stiller and Joaquin Phoenix. It argued that the merger would deepen structural imbalances in the entertainment sector and reduce opportunities for creators across film and television.

At the heart of the appeal was a concern that the deal would "consolidate an already concentrated media landscape", ultimately weakening competition and narrowing the diversity of stories being produced.

The open letter warned that continued consolidation in Hollywood has already contributed to a steep decline in mid-budget filmmaking, alongside a shrinking pipeline for independent distribution and international sales.

The signatories also raised concerns over diminishing profit participation for creators and reduced integrity in screen credits. They highlights wider concerns about the impact on employment, stating that tens of thousands of workers across production ecosystems could face long-term instability.