Paramount CEO Reaffirms Confidence in WBD Deal

Paramount Skydance Chief Executive Officer David Ellison has reaffirmed his confidence in the company’s planned $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. In a memo to employees dated July 27, Ellison said he is “highly confident” that the transaction will ultimately close. His comments come as the companies navigate ongoing legal proceedings related to the deal.

Ellison’s message was directed at staff who may be concerned about recent court activity and media attention surrounding the transaction. By emphasizing his confidence in completion, he aimed to provide clarity on management’s view of the deal’s prospects at this stage.

In the same memo, Ellison told employees that “for now, it remains business as usual.” He stressed that Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are continuing to operate as separate companies. This means day‑to‑day operations, decision‑making, and responsibilities remain with each standalone organization.

The clarification underscores that, despite the scale of the planned takeover, there has been no change in corporate control or integration of the two companies while litigation is underway. Employees were effectively advised to continue their work as normal within their existing structures.

Ellison’s memo also addressed the status of the transaction timeline. He wrote that, in the meantime and in the absence of further developments, completion of the takeover will remain paused. This pause reflects the impact of ongoing court proceedings on the schedule for closing the deal.

The pause does not indicate that the transaction has been cancelled; rather, it highlights that closing cannot occur until key legal issues are resolved. Ellison’s comments balance an expression of confidence in eventual completion with an acknowledgment that timing is constrained by the legal process.

Looking ahead, Ellison said the parties involved in the deal plan to discuss potential trial dates this week. These discussions are a step toward setting the schedule for a merits trial that will help determine when, and under what conditions, the transaction can proceed.

Ellison added that the parties are due to provide an update to the court on July 31. That update is expected to inform the court on their progress in agreeing trial dates and other procedural matters. Until further developments are announced, the companies remain separate and the transaction’s completion stays on hold.