It’s official: David Ellison has chosen the name for the combined Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures once the merger is complete – Skydance.
The newly minted name will reportedly serve as the corporate name for the two companies, but Paramount and Warner Bros. will remain brands under that umbrella (much like Paramount Pictures was under Viacom or Universal Pictures under Comcast) and retain their logos on their films.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of news a few hours ago, first reported by Puck News and subsequently confirmed by the trades, that Warner Bros. Pictures chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy are out.
They indicate De Luca and Abdy will not be part of Ellison’s management team after the $110 billion merger closes on what’s expected to be October 6th. Instead, Paramount film heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein will oversee both movie studios.
In a statement on X this morning, Ellison talked about the new name and his plans for the studio:
“Paramount and Warner Bros. shaped over a century of culture. 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.
We chose this name for a few important reasons. First and foremost, 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. 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.”
A newly released video confirms the logos that are being retained in this new combined empire including Paramount, Warners, CBS, HBO Max, Paramount+, DC Comics, Nickelodeon, and CNN.
Source: THR
