Behind-the-scenes employees have called the merger a disaster, and actors and writers gathered at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles have rallied against the deal, accusing regulators of ignoring industry livelihoods.
Criminal Minds star Kirsten Vangsness told the BBC she was “heartbroken.”
She said, “heartbroken.”
A report by consultancy CVL Economics for LA County estimated the merger could eliminate roughly 4,500 direct film and TV jobs, generating about $1.26 billion in lost wages over three years.
The regional toll could be severe, as the area has already lost roughly a third of its film and TV workforce — about 50,000 jobs — since 2022.
Syleecia Thompson, a business professor at National University, noted that the impact extends to small businesses, vendors, caterers, and local communities.
She warned Hollywood may evolve from a single-location hub into a more dispersed network.
While the settlement creates a workforce fund aimed at retraining displaced workers, legal analysts point out it does not prevent job cuts.
“Nothing in the settlement limits layoffs,” attorney Gilliam added.
