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Filmmaker Blasts "Tragic" Hollywood Merger
3 Oct
Summary
- Director Tony Gilroy criticizes the impending Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
- He believes the merger threatens the mid-budget drama film business.
- The merger will consolidate major studios under fewer corporate owners.
Filmmaker Tony Gilroy has voiced strong criticism regarding the planned merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., calling the move "tragic." The deal, announced by David Ellison, would place both historic studios under the Skydance umbrella. Gilroy, speaking at the premiere of his new film "Behemoth!" produced on a $36 million budget, expressed concern that this consolidation threatens the mid-budget, adult-oriented dramas that were once the backbone of Hollywood's theatrical business and allowed filmmakers to establish their careers.
Gilroy contends that the movie business is currently robust, evidenced by public engagement with films and series. He argues that dismantling the industry's existing structure in favor of venture capital is a detrimental step. His new film, "Behemoth!," starring Pedro Pascal, was notably selected as the centerpiece of the 64th New York Film Festival, a prestigious event Gilroy praised amidst Hollywood's turbulent landscape.
The merger is tentatively scheduled to close on Tuesday, October 6. This consolidation will reduce the number of traditional Big Five studios—Disney, Universal, Sony, Warner Bros., and Paramount—to just four corporate owners. Despite assurances that Paramount and Warner Bros. will maintain separate identities under Skydance, industry figures, including "Behemoth!" producer Sanne Wohlenberg, worry about the "alarmingly limited" possibilities for filmmakers. Wohlenberg noted that while turbulent times are not new to Hollywood, the current direction appears to be particularly challenging for creative professionals.
