Ari Emanuel Blasts States’ ‘Trash’ Lawsuit Aimed at Blocking Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger, Claims It Threatens to ‘Destroy’ Competition
Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel rallied to the defense of his friend and business associate David Ellison, claiming that the state attorneys general...
Key points
- Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel rallied to the defense of his friend and business associate David Ellison, claiming that the state attorneys general trying to block Paramount’s Warner Bros.
- In it, Emanuel says the lawsuit led by California attorney general Rob Bonta puts Hollywood — which he says has made “America the cultural center of the world” and is “a domestic economic growth engine” — at risk.
- “Countless writers, directors, actors, crews, theater owners and others will be worse off for it.” Popular on Variety Emanuel calls the states’ antitrust case “trash.” “You know an antitrust case is trash when it ignores some of the fastest-growing competitors in the market,” writes Emanuel.
- The state attorneys general “pretend Amazon MGM, A24 and Lionsgate don’t exist and that Netflix isn’t leaning into theatrical films with its coming release of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ (which I suspect will whet its appetite for more).” Emanuel says that Amazon MGM “crushed it” with “Project Hail Mary,” garnering nearly $700 million worldwide at the box office, while Lionsgate’s “Michael” crossed $1 billion.
What happened
Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel rallied to the defense of his friend and business associate David Ellison, claiming that the state attorneys general trying to block Paramount’s Warner Bros. In it, Emanuel says the lawsuit led by California attorney general Rob Bonta puts Hollywood — which he says has made “America the cultural center of the world” and is “a domestic economic growth engine” — at risk. “Countless writers, directors, actors, crews, theater owners and others will be worse off for it.” Popular on Variety Emanuel calls the states’ antitrust case “trash.” “You know an antitrust case is trash when it ignores some of the fastest-growing competitors in the market,” writes Emanuel. The state attorneys general “pretend Amazon MGM, A24 and Lionsgate don’t exist and that Netflix isn’t leaning into theatrical films with its coming release of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ (which I suspect will whet its appetite for more).” Emanuel says that Amazon MGM “crushed it” with “Project Hail Mary,” garnering nearly $700 million worldwide at the box office, while Lionsgate’s “Michael” crossed $1 billion. But Emanuel says the “real threat to competition” is what if the...
Related on this blog
- Some Warner Bros. Execs Are Hoping States’ Antitrust Lawsuit Derails Paramount Deal
- Gold Medal Figure Skater and Magic: The Gathering Superfan Amber Glenn on Her 100,000-Card Collection and What She’d Want in Her Own ‘Secret Lair’ Set
- BLacklight, Dark Star Set Wes Miller’s Courtroom Thriller ‘Wildcards’ for Theatrical Tour With Post-Screening Talks