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Regal Cinemas CEO Eduardo Acuna voiced his support for the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery in a statement released Wednesday evening. Acuna highlighted positive momentum in the theatrical exhibition industry, noting increased attendance and strong youth engagement alongside an encouraging upcoming film slate. He emphasized that maintaining a robust studio ecosystem is essential for the sector’s continued expansion.
The theater chain executive outlined specific commitments made by Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison to sustain the health of cinema operations. These include distributing at least 30 theatrical films annually, protecting exclusive theatrical windows lasting 45 days before premium streaming access and 90 days before standard streaming availability for a minimum three-year period, and allocating $30 billion annually toward media content production.
Acuna argued that prolonged antitrust litigation would harm the industry by creating uncertainty and distracting key stakeholders from capitalizing on current success. He contended that an extended court battle extending into spring or summer would not benefit studios, filmmakers, moviegoers, or theater employees. Regal’s backing represents a significant development, as both major theater chains—AMC and Regal—now support the merger ahead of an anticipated March 2027 antitrust trial scheduled to last 12 days.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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