movies

Hollywood Reacts To States Suing Over Paramount-WBD Merger

Published

4 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Several Hollywood trade organizations are in support of a dozen state attorneys general who filed suit Monday to block Paramount‘s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Unsurprisingly, the Writers Guild of America — which has loudly opposed the merger since the beginning of this saga — is chief among them.

Following the news that the long-anticipated litigation had finally been filed in federal court in Sacramento, the WGA East and West wrote in a joint statement: “The merger of two of the largest Hollywood studios will reduce competition in our industry, leading to fewer jobs, lower wages for entertainment workers, less variety of programming, and higher prices for consumers. We have engaged with the offices of many State Attorneys General to explain the impact of this proposed merger, and we commend Attorney General Bonta and this coalition of states for listening to working people in the entertainment industry and fighting to stop this dangerous merger.”

WGA West President Michele Mulroney called the move “one of the worst proposed mergers we’ve seen,” while eastern division chief Tom Fontana said the effects of the acquisition would create an “absolute, unmitigated disaster.”

The writers guild was not alone in voicing support for the state AGs’ lawsuit. Cinema United, an American trade organization whose members are the owners of movie theaters, also praised state leaders for pushing back on the plans to combine two of Hollywood’s most storied studios.

“We welcome the decision of the Attorneys General of multiple states to challenge the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Studios,” Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United, said in a statement Monday. “The ramifications of further movie studio consolidation will be significant and lasting, not just in Hollywood, but on Main Streets across this nation where local movie theaters serve as cultural and financial cornerstones for communities of all sizes.”

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Sacramento on Monday, challenges the transaction as stifling competition for wide release theatrical film distribution, big budget motion picture distribution and licensing of basic cable television channels.

Read the Paramount-Warner Bros. lawsuit filed by state attorneys general.

The focus on those aspects of competition come amid concerns that the merger would lead to widespread layoffs as the combined company grapples with its debt burden. Broader concerns have been on the impact on the creative community and the information environment, with Paramount set to own two legacy news brands, CBS News and CNN, although that was not the subject of the lawsuit’s claims.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led the lawsuit, said in a statement, “The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.”

movies

‘Hotel Transylvania 5’ In Works from Sony & Amazon MGM Studios

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2026

qasimgillani

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Animation and Amazon MGM Studios are coming back together for the fifth Hotel Transylvania movie, The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania, set for theatrical release on Oct. 8, 2027.

While Hotel Transylvania was born as a Sony property, during Covid when theaters were closed, the Culver City lot licensed the fourth movie, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, to Amazon to stream on Prime Video. As part of that deal, Amazon MGM Studios got dibs to be a co-producer on the next movie. Sony is handling the North American theatrical release and certain foreign territories for The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania, while Amazon/MGM will oversee international distribution across its global footprint including the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand. Sony will handle remaining territories.

What’s notable here is that after Transformania, the franchise is finally returning to the big screen. The $1.38 billion feature series follows Dracula, his daughter Mavis and all their monster friends and their adventures at Hotel Transylvania – the ultimate getaway where monster families can kick back far from the human world. In this new installment, Drac has happily settled into retirement while Mavis takes the reins of the legendary monster hotel. But when a series of spooky and unexplained happenings sends chills through the resort, the Drac Pack embarks on its most spellbinding adventure yet: uncovering the mystery behind the haunting of Hotel Transylvania.

Jennifer Kluska and Alan Hawkins are directing the fifth film with Lawrence Jonas producing, and Genndy Tartakovsky and Michelle Murdocca serving as EPs

“From the beginning, Hotel Transylvania has invited audiences into a world where monsters feel like family,” said Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville, Presidents of Sony Pictures Animation. “These films have been a cornerstone of Sony Animation’s storytelling identity, blending a unique visual style with heartfelt, character-driven comedy. With this next installment, we’re honoring that legacy of heart and humor while delivering the unexpected surprises audiences love. We’re delighted to partner with Amazon MGM Studios to bring the Drac Pack back to theatres for families around the world.”

“Hotel Transylvania is one of those rare franchises that has become a beloved tradition for families around the world – a film series that has always balanced irreverent humor with genuine heart,” said Courtenay Valenti, Head of Film, Amazon MGM Studios. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Sony Pictures Animation to bring the Drac Pack back to the big screen and continue this legacy of inventive, character-driven storytelling that audiences have embraced for over a decade.”

Sony Pictures Animation debuted the original Hotel Transylvania in theaters in 2012, where it grossed $355M worldwide. Hotel Transylvania 2 and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation respectively earned $475M and $530M worldwide, respectively. The fourth installment, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, premiered exclusively on Prime Video in 2022.

movies

Cindy Busby To Star In Great American Media Holiday Film

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2026

qasimgillani

EXCLUSIVE: Cindy Busby (When Hope Calls, There’s No Place Like Christmas) is set to star in the Great American Media holiday film Christmas Wrapped in Love, which just began production.

The film will have its world premiere across Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+ during the network’s top-rated Great American Christmas programming event, which returns in October.

In Christmas Wrapped in Love, based on Jennifer Snow’s bestselling novel, The Christmas Gift List, Natasha Lloyd (Busby) has built a unique business helping clients locate thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts for the people they love. When overworked surgeon Ryan Bartlett finds himself tasked with purchasing meaningful Christmas gifts for his entire family, he hires Natasha for help. To uncover the perfect presents, Natasha agrees to pose as Ryan’s girlfriend and spend the holiday season getting to know his family. What begins as a professional arrangement soon becomes something much more as Natasha discovers the true meaning of family, belonging, and love at Christmas.

“Cindy Busby represents everything audiences have come to expect from Great American Media – authenticity, heart, and performances that feel both timeless and deeply personal,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “It is remarkable that in just five years, we’ve built a family of talent that viewers actively seek out because they trust the stories we tell together. This kind of enduring connection is rare in entertainment today, and it is the foundation of everything we are building,” Abbott concluded.

Filled with festive traditions, heartfelt moments, and the enduring message that the greatest gifts come from the heart, Christmas Wrapped in Love celebrates the power of thoughtful giving and the connections that make the season meaningful, touts Great American Media.

Busby is best known for her series regular role as Ashley Stanton in the popular Canadian series Heartland. Her recent work includes When Hope Calls, where she stars as leading lady Nora Anderson. The series recently wrapped its third season, with the Season 4 renewal announced in October. Her additional TV credits include Hallmark’s Cedar Cove and ABC’s Somewhere Between. Among her film credits are Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Royal Hearts, The Big Year, A Life Interrupted, and Honey Girls. Busby is repped by Play Management and Gilbertson Entertainment.

movies

Paramount-WBD Combo Is “Not A Merger That Serves The Public,” NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Says

Published

2 hours ago

July 13, 2026

qasimgillani

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expressing solidarity with New York Attorney General Letitia James and 11 other state attorneys general suing to stop the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

In a statement posted to social media after 12 state AGs filed an antitrust lawsuit Monday seeking to block the $110 billion deal, Mamdani said he was “proud” that his state was among those taking a stand.

“This is not a merger that serves the public,” he said. “It would hand one company nearly a third of the movies and cable channels Americans watch, raise prices for streaming and cable, endanger the livelihoods of thousands of New York artists and entertainment workers, and threaten to shutter theaters across our city. New York’s workers helped build this industry. They should not be sacrificed for the sake of further corporate consolidation.”

Mamdani, who became mayor on January 1, has a notable Hollywood connection. His mother, Mira Nair, is an Oscar-nominated director. Before focusing on politics, Mamdani pursued a rap career and had one of his songs featured in Queen of Katwe, a film Nair directed for Disney in which the future mayor also made a cameo.

Paramount, meanwhile, has pushed back against the lawsuit. The company says it will result in delays that will harm entertainment workers and help tech companies that have “come to dominate” the entertainment sector.

New York and the other plaintiffs view it differently, as James explained in a statement.

“For over a century, Paramount and Warner Bros. have competed to create movies and television that bring people together, inspire and sustain generations of artists, and help us understand the world,” she said. “This merger would destroy that competition, creating a massive company with unprecedented power and influence over news and entertainment across the globe. Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. threatens to raise costs for consumers and put jobs and businesses nationwide at risk. I thank my fellow attorneys general for joining this effort to uphold the law and block this merger.”