Eduardo Acuna, CEO of Regal Cinemas, publicly backed the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasizing commitments made by Paramount’s leadership to support theatrical exhibition. Acuna highlighted specific promises, including the release of at least 30 theatrical films annually, protected windows for digital video-on-demand (TVOD) and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), and a substantial annual investment in content creation.
Acuna stressed that Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison offered to formalize these commitments through a consent decree with state attorneys general, underscoring these measures as tangible, verifiable benefits for the broader entertainment ecosystem. This endorsement arrives ahead of a high-profile antitrust trial scheduled for early 2027, where more than a dozen state attorneys general aim to block the deal.
The merger faces resistance from multiple industry voices, including unions, actors, and organizations like the Writers Guild of America, which filed its own lawsuit targeting Paramount. Opposition extends to Cinema United, the main trade group representing movie theaters, whose president has warned that reducing the number of major content distributors could negatively impact theaters and audiences worldwide by limiting film availability, scheduling, and access to historic catalogs.
In contrast, some key exhibitors have expressed cautious optimism. AMC’s CEO, Adam Aron, publicly supported Ellison’s promise to maintain a healthy volume of new theatrical releases, despite internal tensions within the exhibitor community. Several independent and chain theaters continue to side with Cinema United’s hardline stance against the merger.
Acuna voiced concerns that the protracted legal battle over the merger could itself damage the motion picture exhibition industry. He suggested that lengthy court proceedings might stall investments and undermine industry stability, potentially harming theaters and audiences before any final outcome.
The ongoing dispute reveals sharp divisions within the entertainment sector about consolidation and the future of theatrical releases. Paramount Skydance’s attempt to secure regulatory approval hinges on convincing both the courts and industry partners that the merger will promote, rather than restrict, competition and moviegoing opportunities.