De Luca, Abdy to Exit Warner Bros. as Paramount Merger Nears
Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will not join David Ellison's team after the $110 billion Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger closes, expected Oct. 6.
Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will not be part of David Ellison's management team once the Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery merger closes, according to reports. Puck first reported the executives' impending exit.
The $110 billion merger is expected to be finalized on Oct. 6. Paramount film heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are reported to oversee both movie studios. Under the deal's provisions, each studio will release 30 movies a year.
It remains unclear whether De Luca and Abdy will stay on for a transitionary period. Ellison has tapped former Mattel CEO Ynon Kriez as co-CEO to oversee day-to-day operations and integration.
Background
Almost one year ago, WBD CEO and president David Zaslav announced that De Luca and Abdy's contracts were being renewed at the studio. In October 2025, Warner Bros. tied the all-time studio record with 11 Academy Awards from 30 nominations, including a best picture win for Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another.'
Separately, Cindy Holland exited as head of streaming for Paramount+.
Quick answers
Who will lead the combined Paramount and Warner Bros. studios?
Paramount film heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are reported to oversee both movie studios.
When is the Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger expected to close?
The $110 billion merger is expected to be finalized on Oct. 6.
What role will Ynon Kriez have after the merger?
Ellison tapped former Mattel CEO Ynon Kriez as co-CEO to oversee day-to-day operations and integration.