Tony Blair appointed 'board adviser' to Hollywood giant Skydance days after its $110bn Warner-Paramount merger closed

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026 · last updated 8 October 2026.

Tony Blair has been appointed board adviser to Skydance, the newly formed entertainment behemoth created by David Ellison's $110bn takeover of Warner Bros Discovery by Paramount. Skydance said Blair's 'global leadership experience and commitment to innovation position him as an invaluable adviser in shaping Skydance's strategic priorities.' Blair's ties to the Ellison family run deep — Larry Ellison, Oracle founder and Trump ally, has reportedly invested hundreds of millions into Blair's policy institute since their friendship began during his Downing Street years.

The merger, which closed Tuesday, unites franchises from Harry Potter and Game of Thrones to Mission: Impossible and Top Gun under one roof, with HBO Max and Paramount+ set to merge into a single streaming service.

Executives are already hinting at layoffs, warning staff that integrating the two companies will bring 'difficult decisions that affect our workforce,' with Paramount previously targeting $6bn in cost cuts over three years.

CNN's editorial future is under scrutiny — Skydance has insisted the network will stay independent, but David Ellison's closeness to Trump, who has long railed against CNN, has left staff anxious.