David Ellison, CEO of Skydance, announced that the merged entity resulting from Skydance's acquisition of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will be named Skydance, with the deal expected to close next week [1]. Ellison emphasized that the new corporate identity is designed to empower the legacy studios, stating, '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' [1].
The combined company will trade under the ticker symbol 'SKYD' [1]. According to data from Rentrak, Paramount and Warner Bros. studios are set to release 35 films next year [1]. The merger follows Skydance's acquisition of Paramount in August 2025 and a subsequent takeover effort for Warner Bros. Discovery, which triggered a bidding war [1].
In February, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery reached an agreement valued at approximately $110 billion on an enterprise basis [1]. The deal's closure was delayed due to a legal challenge from a group of state attorneys general, but Paramount Skydance stated this week that the deal is now expected to close on Tuesday [1]. Upon completion, David Ellison and outgoing Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz will serve as co-CEOs of the new Skydance entity [1].
CONCLUSION
The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery under the Skydance name marks a significant consolidation in the entertainment industry, with a combined slate of 35 films planned for next year and a $110 billion valuation. The new entity, trading as 'SKYD,' is set to be led by David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz, signaling a new chapter for these iconic studios.