{"id":7998866,"date":"2026-04-13T08:23:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thewrap.com\/?p=7998866"},"modified":"2026-04-13T08:23:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:23:40","slug":"damon-lindelof-open-letter-paramount-warner-bros-merger-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewrap.com\/industry-news\/industry-trends\/damon-lindelof-open-letter-paramount-warner-bros-merger-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Damon Lindelof Warns Paramount-WBD Merger Will Turn Warner Bros. Lot Into a ‘Ghost Town’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

“Lost” and “The Leftovers” creator Damon Lindelof<\/a> penned a lengthy social media post Monday morning explaining his decision to sign an open letter opposing the sale<\/a> of Warner Bros. Discovery to Paramount, predicting that the merger will leave Hollywood’s blue-collar workers “f\u2014ked.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lindelof was one of over 1,000 signatories to sign the open letter Monday. The other names attached to the document include industry heavyweights like J.J. Abrams, Denis Villeneuve, David Fincher, Jason Bateman, Kristen Stewart, Emma Thompson, Noah Wyle, Ben Stiller and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Together, they express their deep concerns about the merger and, specifically, the signs that it is being supported by those prioritizing “the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised,” the open letter stated. “This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries \u2014 and the audiences we serve \u2014 can least afford it. The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\tJ.J. Abrams, David Fincher, Denis Villeneuve and Over 1,000 More Sign Open Letter Against Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lindelof, for his part, took to Instagram<\/a> to express not only the initial fear he felt about attaching his name to the letter, but also the existential concerns that led him to ultimately do exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I was asked to sign a letter that openly opposed the sale of Warner Brothers to Paramount\/Skydance<\/a>, I felt two things; the first was that yes, absolutely, of course I opposed it. The second was oh shit, I\u2019m afraid to say so publicly,” Lindelof wrote. “Fear is embarrassing. No one wants to be the guy puking in the boat in ‘Saving Private Ryan.’ They want to be the ones storming the beach. So why was I afraid? Some implied retaliation?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Being put on some list of rabble-rousers? Getting kicked off the beloved Warner Brothers backlot I have called home for the last fifteen years?” Lindelof continued, adding that he “sort of” knows Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison. “We produced a few things together not too long ago. I found him to be bright, ambitious and passionate. He loved movies and trusted the people he made them with. But still\u2026 Better not to risk it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Damon (@damonlindelof)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n