Mark Ruffalo Leads Opposition to Paramount’s Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery

Paramount Global announced a 2026 bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $31 per share, placing CBS, CNN and assets under the Ellison family. The move follows the 2019 Disney–Fox merger, which prompted industry job cuts and antitrust scrutiny.

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Mark Ruffalo and Norm Eisen head opposition; letter, organized by Committee for the First Amendment, Future Film Coalition, Writers Guild of America, Democracy Defenders Fund, follows Netflix’s February 2026 withdrawal of its competing bid.

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Ruffalo and Eisen circulated an open letter urging antitrust action, warning merger would “threaten the sustainability of creative community.” Over 1,000 creators signed; campaign says signatures have since risen sharply. Ruffalo cited CBS coverage of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as evidence of editorial pressure.

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The deal is $31 per share; Netflix’s WBD deal was $82.7 billion. The letter’s signatures are reported as “more than 5,000” plus 2,000, and “nearly 5,000” elsewhere. Over 1,000 signed initially.

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Ruffalo and Eisen urged antitrust enforcement and asked agencies to stop shaping agendas. Netflix withdrew its bid, leaving Paramount as bidder.

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Opponents claim merger could trigger job losses, citing Fox-Disney precedent, and increase pressure on outlets, noting Netanyahu’s appearance on CBS. Critics warn concentration may curb diversity and weaken bargaining power.

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• “They’re afraid because, to quote one prominent agent whose name I won’t divulge here, these are some vindictive motherfuckers, the Ellisons.” — Mark Ruffalo, Actor

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• “What we know is that courage is contagious, and there’s safety in numbers,” — Mark Ruffalo, Actor

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• “A lot of the people on this letter are people who either can afford to be there, like myself, or people who can’t afford to not be there. They’re fighting for their lives. The stakes are very, very high. They understand what happens when these mergers happen. The last one was Fox-Disney, and we lost so many jobs, we lost so many shows, we so many films that were in production or in pre-production or being developed, and we know the writing’s on the wall.” — Mark Ruffalo, Actor

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• “I’m already on a list, I’m already not a friend of these people.” — Mark Ruffalo, Actor

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• “Their clients are gonna suffer more from sitting back and letting this happen than getting out and fighting next to us, the unions too.” — Mark Ruffalo, Actor

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Sources differ: >5,000 plus 2,000 vs. nearly 5,000 signatures. No verification or details are provided.

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Ruffalo and allies will keep lobbying regulators and filing challenges. Hearings before committees are expected, though dates are pending. The outcome could reshape media ownership and affect journalists and creators.

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