David Ellison
ON THE RECORD · 26 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“I think I understand”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison acknowledged the wariness surrounding the merger.
“is the solution to basically, I believe, that problem.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison said the Skydance merger is the solution to the industry's failure to disrupt itself.
“This was a turbulent process and, at times, an ugly process,”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison described the year-long merger process that included settling two antitrust lawsuits before closing the $110 billion deal.
“So, I love this community. I have really good relationships with this community, and I understand that even people who are friends oppose this merger.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison addressed the thousands of creative community members who signed a petition opposing the merger.
“the business of rebuilding trust”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison said the newly merged company will focus on rebuilding trust after the bruising Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger battle.
“How we got here to a place where Paramount could be acquired, and Warner Bros could be acquired, is the businesses didn’t disrupt themselves over a decade ago,”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison argued that traditional Hollywood companies were too complacent as streaming rivals cut into their revenue.
“When we follow through on all those promises, that’s how we will rebuild trust.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison said fulfilling merger goals and consent decree terms would help restore belief in the company.
“the only way you can do that is the creative community coming together,”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison was discussing the consent decree requirement to release at least 30 films in theaters per year.
“They allowed Netflix to disrupt their business. They allowed Amazon Prime Video to come and disrupt their business. They didn’t transform, and they held on to the past for too long. And, you know, it is a certainty that if you don’t disrupt your business, somebody else will do it.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison continued his argument about why Paramount and Warner Bros became acquirable due to failure to self-disrupt.
“turn the page and make sure that we are in the business of rebuilding trust.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
With the deal now official, Ellison said Skydance must move forward and rebuild trust.
“I was a big part of that community,”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison recalled his history in the creative community when asked about personal attacks from merger opponents.
“I think if you’re being intellectually honest, you need to zoom out and to see that the symptoms of this go back a long time. And when you start asking yourself, what was the alternative? And I believe this genuinely, as somebody who I’ve spent my entire life in this business. I went to film school at USC. I spent 16 years building Skydance. I do genuinely believe this is the best outcome for the industry. I think we will deliver for the creative community. I think we’ll deliver for our shareholders. And the best I can say to our detractors is: Give us time, and we’ll prove it.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison urged merger detractors to give Skydance time to prove the deal is the best outcome for the industry.
“For more than 15 years, I was an on-set producer”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison reminded the audience of his producing background on Skydance projects like Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible.
“able to compete with the Disneys and Netflixes and Amazons and anybody in the world.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-06 · reported 2026-10-07
Ellison said combining streaming services and franchise properties would make Skydance globally competitive.
“We still have work to do before the deal closes, and nothing changes until it does,”
David Ellison · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-10-03
Ellison told employees in a memo about Kreiz's hiring that nothing changes until the deal closes.
“and we intend to pursue them with passion, imagination and a willingness to take smart risks.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-02 · reported 2026-10-03
Ellison wrote on X that he intends to pursue Skydance's goals with passion, imagination and a willingness to take smart risks.
“By combining them, we aren’t rewriting history — we’re equipping these iconic studios with a more powerful engine. Together, we are Skydance: a creative-first home for bold, quality storytelling.”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-02 · reported 2026-10-03
Ellison wrote on X that combining the two studios equips them with a more powerful engine under the Skydance banner.
“We have big goals for Skydance,”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-02 · reported 2026-10-03
Ellison wrote on X that he has big goals for the new Skydance corporation.
“proven builder and operator.”
David Ellison · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-10-03
Ellison praised Ynon Kreiz as a proven builder and operator in a companywide email announcing Kreiz's hiring as co-CEO.
“Paramount and Warner Bros. shaped over a century of culture,”
David Ellison · said 2026-10-02 · reported 2026-10-03
Ellison wrote on X about the new Skydance corporate name, referencing Paramount and Warner Bros.' cultural legacy.
“We never wanted a new corporate identity to diminish, alter or overshadow either one. Instead, we wanted a name that would give the combined company an identity of its own while allowing Paramount and Warner Bros. — and all our extraordinary brands — to remain in the spotlight.”
David Ellison · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-02
Ellison explained in a staff memo that the Skydance name was chosen to avoid overshadowing iconic brands like Paramount and Warner Bros.
“As we bring Paramount and Warner Bros. together, we wanted to preserve what has made each of these studios iconic. Both have distinct identities, extraordinary legacies and brands that have resonated with audiences for generations,”
David Ellison · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-02
Ellison wrote to staff in a memo obtained by Variety about the combined company retaining the Skydance name while preserving Paramount and Warner Bros. as distinct brands.
“Our shared aim was an outcome that best serves consumers, workers and — most importantly — the creative community so vital to the art of visual storytelling.”
David Ellison · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-21
Paramount CEO David Ellison said the shared aim of the merger settlement was an outcome serving consumers, workers, and the creative community.
“We are grateful to Attorney General Bonta and his fellow AGs, as well as the WGA, for engaging in good faith to find a path forward to a resolution that serves all parties, and to Governor Newsom for his support throughout this process,”
David Ellison · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-21
Paramount CEO David Ellison commented on the settlement with state attorneys general that allows the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery to proceed.
“What I can promise is the work, and more of it.”
David Ellison · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-09
Ellison wrote in a New York Times op-ed that while he cannot guarantee financial performance, he is willing to vow to take more shots on goal.
“In my career, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ met financial expectations, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ exceeded them, and ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ fell short. I am proud of all these films, but nobody can dictate what audiences will love,”
David Ellison · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-09
In a New York Times op-ed, Ellison admitted he cannot guarantee the financial performance of a particular theatrical movie release.