Tom Cruise has thrown his support behind Paramount’s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, expressing confidence that the combined studio can deliver on its ambitious promise to release 30 films a year.

Appearing on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’, Cruise was asked about the blockbuster deal and Paramount CEO David Ellison’s plans for the merged company. “I think it’s awesome,” Cruise said, adding that he believes the studio will follow through on its commitment to dramatically increase its theatrical output.

Cruise: “You know, here’s the thing. They’re going to deliver 30 movies. It’s a community to me. It’s not an industry. The people in these studios are not just people in the studios. They’re my family. I know we’re going to get those 30 movies. I want us all to come together as a community to help make those 30 movies. It’s not just going to be, you know, Paramount doing it. Everyone’s going to need all the help of every artist to be able to do it.”

The actor has deep ties to Paramount, which has distributed all eight ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies as well as both ‘Top Gun’ films. His lengthy history with the studio also includes ‘Days of Thunder’, ‘The Firm’, ‘Vanilla Sky’, ‘Collateral’, ‘War of the Worlds’ and ‘Jack Reacher’. Paramount is also behind the recently announced ‘Days of Thunder 2’, which is set for release in 2028.

Cruise’s enthusiastic response comes as the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery combination continues to face significant resistance in Hollywood. A coalition of state attorneys general has challenged the transaction on antitrust grounds, while filmmakers, actors and industry groups have raised concerns that another major studio consolidation could ultimately lead to job losses and fewer opportunities for creatives.

Despite that opposition, Cruise appears firmly convinced by Ellison’s vision for the combined company, particularly its promise to increase the number of movies reaching theaters each year.

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