Paramount and Warner Bros merge to become one Hollywood giant, Skydance
Skydance has finalized a $111 billion merger with Warner Bros, creating a massive new media conglomerate under the leadership of David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz. The deal consolidates major entertainment assets, including HBO, CNN, and Paramount, into a single entity.
Why it matters
This merger represents a significant consolidation of the global media landscape, impacting market competition and content distribution across major streaming and broadcast platforms.
The companies completed the deal on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), ushering in a new Hollywood giant with the now shorter “Skydance” name tag. The merger brings two of America's oldest moviemaking studios together. And HBO Max, titles ranging from “Harry Potter” to “Sinners,” and even networks like CNN find themselves under the same roof as Paramount+, CBS and the likes of “Top Gun” and “The Godfather”.
All of them will come under the helm of billionaire David Ellison and his new co-CEO, Ynon Kreiz. That further concentrates power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players.
Mr. Ellison's Skydance bought out Paramount for $8 billion just last year and set its sights on Warner — an even bigger fish — very soon after.
What followed erupted into a tumultuous, roughly year-long fight over Warner's fate.
Also covering this story
8 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
New Hollywood era begins with an epic mega merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.
Paramount closes historic Warner Bros. merger to form Skydance
CNN’s boss will remain as Paramount and WBD merge into Skydance
CNN boss Mark Thompson is staying on in the David Ellison era. Read his memo to staffers.
Paramount takes over Warner Bros in $110bn Hollywood merger
Paramount names leadership team for combined Skydance entity ahead of Warner Bros. deal close
David Ellison Unveils Skydance Team Who Will Run Paramount-Warner Bros. Empire - The Hollywood Reporter
David Ellison Names Skydance Corp.’s New Leadership Team for Movies, TV, Streaming and More - Variety
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