Tom Cruise is throwing his weight behind David Ellison as the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros moves forward. The actor expressed his full confidence in Ellison’s promise to deliver a massive slate of 30 films annually during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Variety reported.
Cruise has a long history with Ellison, as their professional relationship spans major hits like the Mission: Impossible franchise and Top Gun: Maverick. He told The Pat McAfee Show, “I think it’s awesome,” before adding, “You know, here’s the thing. They’re going to deliver 30 movies. It’s a community to me. It’s not an industry. The people in these studios are not just people in the studios. They’re my family.
Cruise added, “I know we’re going to get those 30 movies. I want us all to come together as a community to help make those 30 movies. It’s not just going to be, you know, Paramount doing it. Everyone’s going to need all the help of every artist to be able to do it.”
Tom Cruise has chosen to look past the criticisms of the megamerger
Ellison is clearly aiming to build momentum for this deal by courting support from major theater chains. He has already pledged to AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas that the combined studio would provide a contractual guarantee for that 30-movie theatrical slate, which would include 45-day windows.
Cruise believes that hitting these numbers could lead to even more growth. He noted, “We do well with those, those 30 movies are going to turn into 40 movies. To have that window and what it means — it’s not good enough that I just get to make [‘Days of Thunder 2’]. I see so many talented people that I want them to have that opportunity to make the films that they want.”
Cruise also highlighted the importance of creating an environment where the next generation of filmmakers can refine their skills. He compared the filmmaking process to staying sharp at a high level, noting that “making movies isn’t competitive” and that “the more films we make, the better it’s going to be” for the theater business.
He specifically referenced the successful summer 2026 box office, pointing to films like Obsession, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 as examples of what the industry can achieve when it ramps up production.
The merger is currently facing significant legal hurdles, including a 12-state antitrust lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The states involved argue that the $111 billion deal could negatively impact competition in the theater and basic cable markets.
Additionally, the WGA has filed its own antitrust suit to stop the deal, and a coalition known as #BlockTheMerger has gathered signatures from more than 5,600 industry members. Despite this, Ellison maintains the support of major theater chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark, and now he has the backing of Tom Cruise as one of the most recognizable figures in Hollywood.
Published: Sep 2, 2026 05:45 pm