David Ellison pointed to Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners when asked how Skydance could keep backing original films while carrying $80 billion in debt. He named it his favorite film of 2025 and said, “You absolutely will see us tell original stories.”
Skydance has completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, putting Warner Bros., HBO and DC alongside Paramount Pictures under Ellison’s umbrella. He said the combined companies would spend “more than Disney, more than Netflix”.
Former Mattel chief Ynon Kreiz, who’s joined Skydance as co-CEO, said Warner Bros. and Paramount would retain separate creative operations. Each studio would develop its own slate and relationships, while the company would coordinate release dates around genres and audience demographics.
Sinners earned 16 Academy Award nominations in 2026, setting the record for the most nominations for a film. It won 4 Oscars, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.