Tony Gilroy debuts his movie at New York Film Festival. Then he blasts Paramount merger and what it means for the future of Hollywood: ‘It’s tragic’

Tony Gilroy recently debuted his new film, Behemoth!, at the New York Film Festival and used the moment to speak out against the upcoming merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. The filmmaker sees the move as a major threat to the industry he has worked in for over thirty years.

David Ellison announced that both historic studios will soon exist under a single company called Skydance. This consolidation is expected to finalize on October 6, leaving Hollywood with only four major corporate owners instead of the traditional five.

Gilroy expressed his frustration while at Alice Tully Hall on Friday night, as reported by Variety. He believes the business itself is solid, but the decision to dismantle the existing structure for the sake of venture capital is a mistake. As Gilroy put it, “People say the movie business is in trouble. You go around, you stand anywhere you want, what do people talk about? Did you see this? Did you see that? What episode are you on? The business is solid, and to destroy the architecture that made it so in the name of venture capital, it’s tragic.”

Gilroy pins it on the underlying system that made way for the merger

Behemoth! was produced on a budget of $36 million, which is the type of mid-budget, adult-oriented drama that used to be a staple of theatrical success. The film stars Pedro Pascal as a talented cellist who begins working in the world of Hollywood film scoring. It is his first major project since he finished his work on the series Andor.

During his introduction at the festival, Gilroy made sure to thank Matt Greenfield and the team at Searchlight Pictures for helping bring the project to life. He noted that it is not an easy movie to get greenlit or sold in the current climate.

The New York Film Festival served as a welcome relief for Gilroy, who praised the event for its curation and atmosphere. He seemed genuinely appreciative of the festival lineup compared to the wider industry turmoil. He told the audience, “Thank you for making [the festival] so elegant and glamorous, and for surrounding us with so many amazing films. The way this is curated this year, this is a freakin’ lineup! Holy s—. And everybody knows it. When so many things go to s— in Hollywood, this is like a thank you. Thank you for letting us bring our soufflé to your groovy party.”

There is a real sense of anxiety among industry professionals regarding how this merger will impact future creative opportunities. Sanne Wohlenberg, who produced Behemoth!, shares the concern that the consolidation will make the landscape much more difficult for creators. She noted that the competitive nature of the industry is likely to suffer, and the possibilities for a filmmaker could become alarmingly limited.

While Wohlenberg remains hopeful that the industry will eventually cycle back to better times, she acknowledged the current uncertainty. As she said, “God, it’s certainly turbulent and uncertain times, isn’t it? It never seems to get any easier. I do think you have to take a deep breath and keep believing that things will be circular and come back. When you look at history, there have been many, many bad times. Sadly, we are steering into one, which will make the competitive nature of the industry and possibilities for a filmmaker alarmingly limited. And it shouldn’t be like that. I think we will survive it and I hope for better times.”