MCU Star Benedict Cumberbatch Slams Paramount-Warner Deal as a “Calamity” and Says It Must Be Stopped
Benedict Cumberbatch has joined a growing group of voices pushing back against Paramount’s planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, warning that the deal could have a major impact on the future of British film, television, and media.
The actor, along with fellow performers Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong, wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian calling on the UK government to step in and block the proposed $111 billion merger. The trio argued that allowing the deal to move forward could harm the creative industry and reduce competition in entertainment.
In their article, titled “A TV and cinema calamity could be disastrous for what you watch and what you know. Act now to stop that,” the actors urged Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to take action before the agreement is finalized.
The comments come after Nandy told Parliament that she was considering whether to launch a full public interest investigation into the takeover. A final decision is expected after Parliament returns from its summer break in September.
Cumberbatch, Cumming, and Wong believe the merger could put thousands of jobs in the UK entertainment industry at risk. They also raised concerns about the amount of media power that would be controlled by one company if the deal goes ahead.
The combined company would include major news platforms such as CNN International, CBS News, and 5 News. The actors argued that having so many important news outlets under one owner could create serious problems.
“One owner controlling this much of the news, and the truth, endangers the public in a way no ordinary consolidation does,” they wrote in The Guardian.
They also questioned comments reportedly linked to Paramount CEO David Ellison, who allegedly told Donald Trump that he would make major changes to CNN if the deal was completed. The actors said that political influence over a major international news organization should be carefully examined before approval is given.
“When the buyer of the world’s most trusted international news channel makes editorial promises to a politician, a British secretary of state is entitled – and, really, obliged – to ask questions before the ink dries,” the actors wrote.
The group also warned that failing to investigate the merger could have long-term consequences for British culture and entertainment. They said that stopping the deal could become one of the most important decisions made by a culture secretary in years.
Paramount has defended the merger plans. According to The Guardian’s reporting, the company pointed to an earlier statement from CEO David Ellison in which he promised continued investment in content, support for theatrical releases, and protection for HBO.
The deal has already faced challenges in other areas. Warner Bros. Discovery recently received regulatory approval from the European Union, but the agreement has been delayed until 2027 or until legal challenges from several groups, including U.S. state officials and the Writers Guild of America, are resolved.
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Actor Alan Cumming has previously spoken against the merger as well. Earlier this month, he shared a video supporting a campaign called Block the Merger UK, encouraging people to contact government officials and regulators to demand a closer review of the agreement.
As the Paramount-Warner deal continues to face scrutiny, Cumberbatch and his fellow actors are adding more pressure on officials to consider what the merger could mean for the future of entertainment and news.
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