Paramount Skydance has once again defended its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in a new letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, highlighting the potential benefits for theatrical film distribution amid growing concerns that the deal could reduce the number of theatrical releases.
The letter, sent by Paramount’s chief legal officer Makan Delrahim, argues that the merger would strengthen competition in the entertainment industry, particularly against streaming services like Netflix.
"Paramount’s proposed merger with WBD will help drive meaningful improvements for movie theaters and their audiences," Delrahim stated. "To compete more effectively with Netflix and others leading services, a combined Paramount-WBD will need to capture audiences’ attention in fresh ways, and that includes broadening theatrical distribution to tap into the magic of the moviegoing experience and create momentum behind films before they reach streaming services."
The letter was first reported by Semafor.
Related articles
Euphoria Claims No. 1 Spot on Streaming Charts, Ending Netflix’s Reign with HBO Max Victory
The streaming landscape is wide and varied, with something for everyone. In the past few months, the Samba TV weekly Wrap Report streaming chart has i...
Keith Cox, Paramount’s Showtime/MTV Entertainment President, Departs After Two Decades
After 20 years working for Paramount, Keith Cox, the president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment, will be departing the company, TheWrap has learned. Pres...
Netflix’s East of Eden Reimagines Steinbeck’s Darkest Character in Upcoming Limited Series
John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel East of Eden is being adapted yet again to question if identity truly is based on what you choose. Now Netflix has release...
Amazon MGM Studios Begins Search for Next James Bond with Nina Gold Leading Casting
Amazon MGM Studios has tapped British casting director Nina Gold to find the actor that will play James Bond, TheWrap has learned. “The search for the...
Barry Levinson Reflects on the Controversial Legacy of 'Sleepers' 30 Years Later
Since Barry Levinson’s directorial debut, 1982’s “Diner,” the filmmaker has had a remarkable run. Through the 1980s and ’90s, he touched a number of g...
AMC+ Secures Doctor Who Streaming Rights: What It Means for Fans and the Franchise's Future
Doctor Who has a new streaming home, but not quite in the way that fans were likely expecting. AMC+ has acquired the streaming rights to the popular s...
NBC Dominates 2025-26 TV Season Ahead of Upfronts 2026-27: Key Takeaways for Advertisers
As the 2025-26 TV season winds down, May’s upfronts week means industry eyes are already on next year, with Hollywood players showing off their upcomi...
Linden Productions CEO Riva Marker on Adapting Plays for Screen and the Art of Letting Go
When Linden Productions CEO Riva Marker first read the script for Aleshea Harris’ “Is God Is,” which came to her as a writing sample, she knew the pla...