Tony Gilroy Slams Paramount-WB Merger as 'Tragic'

Filmmaker Tony Gilroy has taken aim at the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., calling it a destructive move driven by finance. He made the remarks during a premiere event for his latest movie, a drama titled "Behemoth!". According to Variety, Gilroy labeled the deal as "tragic" and said it would "destroy" what he described as a "healthy and beautiful business" solely "in the name of venture capital."

Gilroy's new film, produced for $36 million, serves as his example of the kind of project at risk. He presented it as a model of the mid-budget, adult-oriented dramas that used to be a backbone of Hollywood's theatrical releases.

The writer-director argued that such films were historically the foundation that allowed filmmakers like him to build careers within the industry. The merger, per his reported comments, represents a threat to that entire ecosystem.