Spike Lee is worried.
The 69-year-old filmmaker has worked steadily for decades, but with all the changes in Hollywood he fears he one less studio will return his calls.
Skydance/Paramount/Warner Bros.
Skydance previously gobbled up Paramount before setting its sights on Warner Bros., a merger that generated endless headlines and angst within Hollywood proper. The Left fought like mad to keep Warner Bros. (and CNN) out of Skydance's clutches, suing Skydance to delay if not crush the deal.
Skydance outlasted the incendiary attacks, including those lobbed by far-Left actor Mark Ruffalo. And it's looking even worse for the Left. Enemy no. 2, AKA Elon Musk, is eager to partner up with the mega-studio in some capacity.
Elon Musk Steps In With $1 Billion Equity Investment For Debt-Laden Skydance -- Report https://t.co/zJIN2zJPBx
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) October 22, 2026
Why would Lee fear the new, all-powerful Skydance? Well, it's owned by the Ellisons, a family with ties to President Donald Trump. The clan isn't nearly as cozy as other studios have been to the DNC over the years. It's still a rare example of a studio that isn't automatically progressive or eager to enrage the Heartland.
Here's how Lee framed it from his perspective.
You know… It might be one less place I’m going to be making films! I’m not hoping for that, but it could be. I don’t think it’s a crazy statement based on my politics and them guys.
Boo hoo.
Hollywood has made right-leaning artists persona non grata for too many years to count. They've been canceled, ostracized and essentially told their views aren't welcome.
Now, they may have one major studio to take their calls for a change. Good. It's about time because they've faced nothing but punishment for years.
Andrew Klavan has shared how his screenwriting career collapsed when he stopped hiding his conservative views. James Woods' acting career vanished due to his conservative opinions. The two-time Oscar nominee's last role of consequence? The little-seen 2014 drama "Jamesy Boy."
Scott Baio, Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo have similar stories. And poor Cheryl Hines. All she did was fall for a man who was a Democrat before he soured on his own party — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and her career also hit a brick wall.
And we should care that Lee has one less studio where he can pitch future movies? And that's even assuming the new Skydance would take his far-Left views into consideration.
They may not. Nor should they.
Two wrongs don't make a right. Conservatives might feel a sense of schadenfreude to see Lee punished for his far-Left views, but the art should come first.
Always.
At the very least, Lee should know the brutal imbalance within his industry. He's always piping up on everything from President Trump to the New York Knicks. He's a perfect person to speak up for conservative peers who have been punished for sharing the wrong views.
Maybe he doesn't realize there's a new Blacklist in town. His colleagues are too busy reliving the old one.
