Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison Promises 30 Annual Film Releases and 45-Day Theatrical Window at CinemaCon

At CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday, Paramount Skydance CEO and chairman David Ellison pledged to guarantee 30 movie releases annually through Paramount and Warner Bros., committing to a 45-day exclusive theatrical window effective immediately. His company's pending $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has sparked Hollywood concern, but Ellison emphasized his dedication to cinema with a promotional film directed by Jon M. Chu and narrated by Tom Cruise, featuring cameos from Will Smith, Mark Wahlberg, Chris Pratt, Timothée Chalamet, John Krasinski, and Teyana Taylor. While filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve and J.J. Abrams oppose the merger, James Cameron supports it, praising Ellison as a "natural born storyteller." Paramount, which recently merged with Skydance in an $8 billion deal, plans 15 theatrical releases in 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals, including from the US Justice Department. The merger aims to enhance competitiveness in streaming and expand content libraries, including Warner Bros.'s "Harry Potter," "Superman," and "Barbie." Critics like actor Mark Ruffalo and Oscar-winning documentarian David Borenstein warn of job losses and reduced documentary access, with Senator Cory Booker holding a hearing on anticompetitive impacts. Paramount's "Scream 7" has already grossed over $212 million worldwide this year.