---
title: "Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal: Relief, Anger, Concern"
description: "Via New York Times Top Stories: David Ellison, Paramount’s chief executive, said he was “grateful” for a “path forward” after reaching an agreement..."
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### Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal: Relief, Anger, Concern

New York Times Top Stories • September 21, 2026 at 5:52 PM ET

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David Ellison, Paramount’s chief executive, said he was “grateful” for a “path forward” after reaching an agreement to resolve an antitrust lawsuit and move ahead with its **$111 billion** acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Rob Bonta, California’s attorney general, praised the terms but cautioned it was “not a blessing” of the merger. Gov. Gavin Newsom called it “a win for California workers and our creative economy.”

But some critics in Hollywood are ticked off: “Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies,” actor Mark Ruffalo wrote, referring to the Ellison family’s ties to the president. President Trump had yet to weigh in by Monday afternoon. The cross-section of union leaders, politicians and media watchdogs underscores the breadth of opinions and reveals the industry’s anxiety. Los Angeles has been battered by loss of film and TV production to countries with tax incentives and cheaper labor, leading to a sharp decrease in filming and elimination of tens of thousands of jobs.

As part of the agreement, which needs court approval, Paramount agreed to concessions: distributing **30 movies** in theaters annually, spending an additional **$1.5 billion** on film production over five years, and increasing the proportion made in the U.S. “I do not want to see two of Hollywood’s largest studios consolidated under one company, but now we must focus on holding the companies accountable,” said Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees welcomed the agreement. The Directors Guild of America also struck an upbeat tone. But SAG-AFTRA leaders acknowledged the settlement “addresses some of our deep concerns” while wagging a finger: “These are the lowest standards that our employers must meet.” Connecticut’s attorney general, William Tong, said he was “deeply disappointed that we could not do more,” demanding full divestiture of CNN and CBS News. Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation called a Paramount-appointed editorial independence board “worthless.”

[Read original article](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/movies/paramount-agreement-reaction.html)

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