Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery to become Skydance
October 5, 2026 11.23 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The company created from the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery will be known as Skydance, with David Ellison opting to retain the name of the production company he founded two decades ago.

The change will take effect when Paramount Skydance completes its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, currently scheduled for October 6. The company will formally become Skydance Corporation, while its Class B shares will transfer from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SKYD.

The Paramount and Warner Bros names will remain as studio and operating brands beneath the new corporate identity, alongside businesses including CBS, CNN, HBO, MTV and Discovery. The enlarged group will also bring together the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming services.

“As we bring Paramount and Warner Bros. together, we wanted to preserve what has made each of these studios iconic,” Ellison told employees. He said adopting Skydance as the corporate name would give the combined business an identity of its own without diminishing the Paramount or Warner Bros brands.

The transaction creates one of the world’s largest entertainment groups, combining franchises including Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, DC, Yellowstone, Mission: Impossible and Top Gun, as well as the Nickelodeon portfolio.

Ellison will remain chairman and CEO, working alongside newly appointed co-CEO Ynon Kreiz. The former Mattel chief will oversee day-to-day operations and the integration of Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, while Ellison retains responsibility for strategy, creative and technology.

The adoption of Skydance also marks the latest change in corporate identity for the businesses involved. WarnerMedia became Warner Bros Discovery following its 2022 merger with Discovery, while Paramount Global became Paramount Skydance after Ellison’s Skydance completed its acquisition of the company. From October 6, the parent company will simply be Skydance.