The chief executive of Regal Cinemas has publicly backed a major deal that would see Paramount Skydance acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. This move comes as the company prepares to face legal action from a group of state attorneys general who want to stop the merger. The CEO of Regal, Eduardo Acuna, said he had spoken with Paramount’s David Ellison about what the merger could mean for movie theaters.
Ellison made several promises, including releasing at least thirty films each year and protecting theatrical windows for a set number of days. He also committed to investing thirty billion dollars annually in media content, which Acuna said was a strong and measurable promise. Acuna added that he believed Ellison was sincere in these commitments and that the company had offered to sign a legal agreement to back them.
The support from Regal comes as the merger faces growing resistance from unions, actors, and advocacy groups like the Writers Guild of America. The group has also filed its own lawsuit against Paramount, challenging the deal. This support from Regal is a shift from the stance taken by Cinema United, an organization that has led opposition to the merger.
Cinema United’s leader, Michael O’Leary, has consistently spoken against any deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery. The first theater chain to express doubt was AMC, whose CEO Adam Aron said he trusted David Ellison’s promise about film releases. Aron said he was confident in the success of the deal and that he supported it wholeheartedly.
However, many exhibitors have expressed frustration with the slow progress of the merger and its potential impact on their business. Acuna warned that a long court battle could hurt the current success of the movie industry. He said that such a legal fight would not bring more movies to theaters and could harm all parties involved.
The CEO urged all sides to come together and formalize the commitments made by Paramount. This call came shortly after reports that California Governor Gavin Newsom had asked the state’s attorney general to consider settling the case. Newsom was concerned about how a blocked merger might affect jobs in the state.
Acuna said that with these promises in place, Paramount could be a good steward of the companies involved. Cinemark remains the only major theater chain that has not publicly supported the deal, though its CEO did express cautious optimism. Sean Gamble said that any deal that increases investment in movies and marketing is a positive for the industry.
However, support from large chains does not necessarily reflect how smaller or independent theaters feel about the merger. A group called Art House Convergence, which supports independent cinemas, has been part of a broader coalition against the deal. This coalition has focused on gathering support from industry professionals to challenge the merger through state legal action.
The group’s statement emphasized that recent growth in movie attendance and release schedules show promise for the industry. They said that a strong studio system is needed to continue this progress and support future film releases. After careful consideration, they believe the merger should move forward as it could help sustain investment in movies.
They also reiterated the key commitments made by Paramount’s leadership, including the number of films and window protections. They added that a long legal fight would not benefit anyone in the industry and that all parties should work together. The statement concluded by urging a resolution to formalize the promises made in the deal.
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