Trending Now - Paramount's CEO Skips Senate Hearing Due to Family Loss
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Paramount policy executive Ted Lehman informed Sen. Cory Booker that David Ellison is attending a funeral due to a death in the family.
The Hollywood Reporter - A group of Democratic senators opposing the merger includes Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Elizabeth Warren.
The Hollywood Reporter - Michael O’Leary, chair of Cinema United, expressed strong opposition to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
Variety - David Ellison, Paramount's chairman and CEO
Deadline - Sen. Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, top Democrat on the Senate antitrust subcommittee
WHAT:
The Hollywood Reporter - Sen. Cory Booker stated in a letter to David Ellison, “As the leader of the company seeking to execute one of the largest media mergers in American history, your continued unwillingness to engage with Congressional oversight is itself a matter of public concern.”
The Hollywood Reporter - A letter signed by more than 1,000 Hollywood figures described the merger as resulting in “fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Signatories of the letter include notable names such as J.J. Abrams, Yorgos Lanthimos, Vince Gilligan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Glenn Close, Denis Villeneuve, and Nia DaCosta.
The Hollywood Reporter - Sen. Booker expressed concern in a letter that Ellison's unwillingness to engage with Congressional oversight is a matter of public concern.
The Hollywood Reporter - The proposed merger is described as one of the largest media mergers in American history.
The Hollywood Reporter - O’Leary stated, “We believe this transaction will be harmful to exhibition, consumers and the entire entertainment eco-system.”
The Hollywood Reporter - A letter signed by more than 1,000 Hollywood figures expressed “unequivocal opposition” to the merger.
Variety - David Ellison will not attend a Senate hearing due to a death in the family.
Deadline - Sen. Cory Booker is holding a "spotlight hearing" regarding Paramount's proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
WHERE:
Variety - The hearing is taking place in Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - O’Leary delivered his remarks during his annual state of the union address on April 14th, 2026.
Variety - The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15th, 2026.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - Democratic senators raised concerns about foreign investments from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar backing Paramount with billions to close the deal.
The Hollywood Reporter - O’Leary emphasized that consolidation results in fewer films being produced for theaters.
Variety - The company stated that Ellison's absence is due to a death in the family.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ellison's team is hoping to have the merger deal closed by the end of September 2026, following the formal agreement made in late February 2026.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ellison's team aims to close the merger deal by the end of September 2026.
The Hollywood Reporter - O’Leary noted that the average theatrical window for the top 100 films in 2025 was 37 days, a three-day increase from the previous year.
Deadline - Sen. Booker has invited David Ellison to testify and has previously sent letters requesting his appearance.
(UPDATED April 16, 2026 01:22 UTC)
Senator Cory Booker has expressed concern over the proposed media merger in a letter to David Ellison, emphasizing the importance of Congressional oversight in such a significant deal. In support of this stance, over 1,000 Hollywood figures, including prominent names like J.J. Abrams and Lin-Manuel Miranda, signed a letter warning that the merger could lead to fewer opportunities for creators and higher costs for audiences. Ellison's team aims to finalize the merger by the end of September 20th26, following a formal agreement reached in late February.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 21:17 UTC)
Senator Cory Booker has raised concerns about David Ellison's lack of engagement with Congressional oversight regarding the proposed merger, which is being described as one of the largest media mergers in American history. A group of Democratic senators, including Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, are opposing the merger due to worries about foreign investments from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar backing Paramount with billions to finalize the deal. Ellison is currently attending a funeral for a family member, but his team is working to close the merger by the end of September 20th26.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 17:23 UTC)
Michael O’Leary, chair of Cinema United, voiced strong opposition to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger during his annual state of the union address on Tuesday, stating that the transaction could harm exhibition, consumers, and the entire entertainment ecosystem. He highlighted that a letter signed by over 1,000 Hollywood figures expressed unequivocal opposition to the merger, emphasizing concerns that consolidation leads to fewer films being produced for theaters. O’Leary also pointed out that the average theatrical window for the top 100 films in 2025 was 37 days, which is a three-day increase from the previous year.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 15:24 UTC)
David Ellison, the chairman and CEO of Paramount, will not attend a Senate hearing on Wednesday regarding the company's proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery due to a death in the family. The hearing, led by Sen. Cory Booker, who is the top Democrat on the Senate antitrust subcommittee, is taking place in Washington, D.C. Sen. Booker has previously invited Ellison to testify and has sent letters requesting his appearance.