Lionsgate CEO Supports Paramount/Warner Merger: "Good for the Industry"

In a statement during Lionsgate’s earnings call, the company’s CEO, Jon Feltheimer, publicly defended the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, while also praising Paramount CEO David Ellison.

Feltheimer said the uncertainty surrounding the deal is harmful to the entire industry. "Uncertainty is the worst thing for our business, and uncertainty and delay is not good for anybody," he said. "I’m in favor of this transaction, but most importantly, I’m in favor of certainty and I’m getting all of the delay out of it."

The executive joins other industry leaders, such as TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, and the heads of theater chains AMC and Regal, who have also publicly spoken in favor of the deal. On the other side, more than 5,000 people have signed a petition against the merger, including major Hollywood names, citing concerns over mass layoffs and the concentration of power between two major studios.

Feltheimer also made a point of personally endorsing Ellison. "We did his first series, Manhattan, some years ago, I can tell you that I was super impressed with him. He loves content. I have no reason not to believe that he will be investing very heavily in content, whether it’s a 30-film slate or whether it’s at a bolstered Paramount+", he said.

The Lionsgate CEO revealed that he has already held recent talks with the companies about possible film co-financing opportunities. In his view, a stronger and better-funded Paramount+ would be beneficial for Lionsgate, both in terms of original programming and library sales. For him, investing on new business with the studio "would be good for us, and would be good for the industry".