David Ellison has officially designated “Skydance” as the name for the combined entity of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, signaling the start of a new chapter for the $110 billion media giant. Addressing employees on October 2, 2026, Ellison confirmed the name change just days before the massive merger is scheduled to formally close on Tuesday, October 6.
The rebranded corporation will shift its presence on the public markets as well. The company’s Class B shares are moving from the Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange, where they will trade under the new ticker symbol “SKYD.”
New Leadership and the Mattel Connection
A significant component of the new executive structure is the appointment of Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO of the Skydance corporation. Kreiz, the former CEO of Mattel, joins the leadership team as the company prepares to integrate the vast portfolios of Paramount and Warner Bros.
According to a report from Forbes, the transition marks a definitive move away from the legacy branding of the two historical studios in favor of the Skydance identity Ellison built over the last two decades.
The Strategic Push for ‘Barbie 2’
The arrival of Kreiz in the co-CEO role is being viewed as a strategic maneuver to solidify relationships with major intellectual property holders. Reports indicate that a primary objective for the new Skydance leadership is to revive stalled negotiations for a “Barbie” sequel.
Re-engaging director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie for a follow-up to the 2023 blockbuster is considered a top priority for the incoming regime. The move to bring the former Mattel chief into the executive suite is widely interpreted as a way to streamline those discussions and ensure the franchise remains a cornerstone of the new company’s film slate.
While the corporate identity is changing, the internal focus appears to be on stabilizing the studio’s major franchises and navigating the final logistical hurdles of the merger. The combined entity will oversee a massive library of content across theatrical, television, and streaming platforms as it begins operations under the Skydance banner next week.
