Paramount’s Warner Bros. megamerger will just be called Skydance

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has announced that the company will just be called Skydance when it completes its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery next week. In a post on X, Ellison writes that “we wanted a name that would give the combined company an identity of its own while allowing Paramount and Warner Bros. — and all our extraordinary brands — to remain in the spotlight.” Earlier this week, a judge approved the settlement Paramount reached with California and 11 other states that sued over the planned acquisition, clearing the last major hurdle blocking the deal.

Under the deal, Paramount must release a minimum number of theatrical films over the next five years, starting with 30 annually in years one and two. Ahead of the close, Paramount has also appointed Ynon Kreiz, the former chairman and CEO of Mattel, as the co-CEO of the soon-to-be even bigger company. The deal is expected to close on October 6th. Here’s Ellison’s full announcement: > What once was the peak, is now just the beginning.

> Paramount and Warner Bros. shaped over a century of culture. By combining them, we aren’t rewriting history — we’re equipping these iconic studios with a more powerful engine. Together, we are Skydance: a creative-first home for bold, quality storytelling. > We chose this name for a few important reasons. First and foremost, as we bring Paramount and Warner Bros. together, we wanted to preserve what has made each of these studios iconic.

Both have distinct identities, extraordinary legacies and brands that have resonated with audiences for generations. We never wanted a new corporate identity to diminish, alter or overshadow either one. Instead, we wanted a name that would give the combined company an identity of its own while allowing Paramount and Warner Bros. — and all our extraordinary brands — to remain in the spotlight. > We have big goals for Skydance, and we intend to pursue them with passion, imagination and a willingness to take smart risks.

At the same time, we will honor what makes Paramount and Warner Bros. special — giving both studios the opportunity to grow, tell more great stories and bring those stories to even broader audiences around the world, powered by the scale and capabilities of Skydance. > I couldn’t be more excited about what we’re going to build together.