Skydance CEO David Ellison disclosed on Friday that the merged company resulting from his firm’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will operate under the Skydance name. The announcement comes ahead of the deal’s expected closing date of next week, following regulatory clearance and settlement of a legal challenge initiated by state attorneys general.
Ellison emphasized that the new corporate identity aims to provide a unified framework for the combined operations while maintaining the distinct identities of the two historic studios. Both Paramount and Warner Bros. will continue to operate as separate entities under the Skydance umbrella, alongside the company’s other established brands. The merged organization will conduct public market trading under the ticker symbol “SKYD.”
The transaction represents the culmination of rapid consolidation within Skydance’s portfolio. The production company, known for franchises including Mission: Impossible and films such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” completed its acquisition of Paramount in August 2025. Subsequently, Ellison initiated efforts to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, an ambition that triggered competitive bidding. The companies finalized their merger agreement in February at an enterprise valuation of approximately $110 billion.
Following the transaction closing, governance of the combined entity will be shared between Ellison and Ynon Kreiz, the departing CEO of Mattel, who will assume the co-CEO position. Industry data indicates the newly consolidated studios have scheduled approximately 35 film releases for the following year across their combined slate.
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