Elizabeth Warren Warns Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Could Kill Shows Like 'Severance'

Senator Elizabeth Warren is again opposing the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would be detrimental to consumers and creators alike. Using the hit series Severance as a cautionary example, Warren highlighted how media consolidation could eliminate opportunities for innovative storytelling.

Warren Cites 'Severance' as Proof of Harm from Media Mergers

"Here is the most eerie thing about the TV show Severance: Shows like Severance could go away entirely if a single studio has a monopoly control over Hollywood — and that’s something that Donald Trump is trying to enable."

Warren explained that Severance nearly didn’t become a TV show due to the challenges of pitching to a limited number of studios. The series, created by Dan Erickson and executive produced by Ben Stiller, was first developed in 2015 before Apple TV+ acquired it in 2019. It premiered in February 2022, with Season 2 airing in early 2025 and Season 3 still in production.

"If the creator of Severance had just one, maybe two studios to be able to pitch, there probably wouldn’t have been a Severance at all," Warren stated. "Understanding this: Huge media mergers, they’re bad for everyone — your prices could go up, people could love their jobs and you’ll have fewer options when you turn on the TV."

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Raises Antitrust Concerns

Warren emphasized the risks of a single entity controlling a vast portion of Hollywood’s output, particularly under the influence of the Trump-aligned Ellison family, which holds significant control over Paramount. "When Paramount wants to buy Warner Bros. and Paramount just happens to be controlled by the Trump-aligned family, The Ellisons, we have a real problem," she said.

She added, "Listen, I know I don’t want all my movies and TV shows to be controlled by some Trump-aligned dynasty, and that’s why I’m speaking out on this. We can’t let Donald Trump control everything that appears on our screens. No way."

Previous Criticism of Paramount’s Acquisition Strategy

In February 2026, Warren questioned how Paramount secured Warner Bros. Discovery in a bidding war against Netflix, calling the merger an "antitrust disaster." She warned of higher prices and fewer choices for families, stating:

"A Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. merger is an antitrust disaster threatening higher prices and fewer choices for American families. What did Trump officials tell the Netflix CEO today at the White House? A handful of Trump-aligned billionaires are trying to seize control of what you watch and charge you whatever price they want. With the cloud of corruption looming over Trump’s Department of Justice, it’ll be up to the American people to speak up and state attorneys general to enforce the law."

The senator urged the public and state attorneys general to take action to prevent the merger, which she argues would further consolidate media power under figures aligned with former President Donald Trump.