Doubt whether Les Moonves ought to control both CBS and Viacom? It was written in the stars more than a year ago.

Hard-charging Wall Street lawyer Martin Lipton demanded in a 2016 letter to Viacom’s lawyer that CBS Chief Executive Moonves control both media giants if they merged — and the high-priced litigator used celestial code names to discreetly make his point.

“One of the key concerns is whether the Comet CEO and Comet management team will have complete and irrevocable authority to run the combined businesses,” Lipton wrote, using “Comet” as code for CBS.

Lipton also advised that “putting in place an appropriate governance framework will be critical to the success of a potential combination of Venus and Comet,” with “Venus” being Viacom, and “Neptune” National Amusements, through which Sumner Redstone and his daughter Shari control both boards.

The letter was unearthed in Ken Auletta’s upcoming book, “Frenemies: The Epic Disruption of the Ad Business (and Everything Else),” slated to hit stores in June.

In an interview, the veteran media-watcher pointed to the letter as a harbinger of CBS and Viacom’s current predicament, as Moonves stubbornly clings to demands for an iron grip over both companies should they merge.

In response, Shari Redstone has reportedly threatened to fire Moonves if he doesn’t accept Viacom CEO Bob Bakish as the No. 2 executive. She also has reportedly threatened to fire Moonves if a merger doesn’t happen.

“I think the larger issue is overall control,” Auletta told The Post. “If you look at that letter from Marty Lipton, he makes it very clear in those nine points what Moonves wants.”

The letter also demands the board of a combined company be comprised of at least 75 percent independent directors, and that it be capped at 13, with just one or two independents from Viacom who are approved by the CBS board.

To remove Moonves, two-thirds of independent directors — the majority of whom are CBS loyalists — would need to vote in favor, according to the letter.

Currently, CBS and Viacom find themselves at a stalemate with Moonves reportedly demanding his No. 2, Chief Operating Officer Joseph Ianniello, remain his No. 2 should a merger occur.

There’s also the matter of the acquisition price. This month, Viacom demanded $14.7 billion in a takeover deal, rejecting an offer from CBS of $11.9 billion.

Both CBS and Viacom declined to comment on the status of the deal, as well as whether the 2016 letter is indicative of CBS’ current demands.