CinemaCon’s elephant in the room: The Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger

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As Tom Cruise, Dwayne Johnson and Zendaya touted their new films, it was Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison who acknowledged the industry's consolidation concerns.

The swag bag given to CinemaCon attendees; a pin that was being handed out by activists who are against the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.Rebecca Keegan / NBC News

April 17, 2026, 3:01 PM EDT

By Rebecca Keegan

When Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison took the stage at CinemaCon on Thursday, he was the second major Hollywood player to acknowledge the issue on everyone’s minds at the movie industry trade show: consolidation.

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