The combined company created by the expected Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger will operate under the Skydance name, as David Ellison prepares to complete one of the biggest deals in the entertainment industry.
The merger is expected to close on October 6, creating a media group valued at around $110 billion.
The new corporate identity will sit above the existing studio brands, with Paramount and Warner Bros. continuing to operate under their established names. The company is also expected to move its Class B shares from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker SKYD.
Ellison and Kreiz to lead the combined group
The Skydance name comes from the production company founded by Ellison and is intended to give the merged business its own corporate identity without replacing the Paramount and Warner Bros. brands. The combined group will bring together major film, television and streaming operations, including Paramount+ and HBO Max.
David Ellison will remain Chairman and CEO, while former Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz will serve as Co-CEO. Ellison will focus on long-term strategy, creative direction, technology and strategic partnerships, while Kreiz will oversee day-to-day operations and the integration of the two businesses.
The merger follows Paramount’s acquisition agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery announced in February. Legal challenges to the transaction were settled in September, clearing the way for the planned October 6 closing.
