‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Star Mark Ruffalo Sounds the Alarm on Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: “It Will Stifle Creativity”

Few Hollywood deals have drawn as much attention, or as much argument, as Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance announced a definitive agreement on Feb. 27, with an enterprise value of $110 billion. The deal followed a bidding contest in which Paramount ended up replacing an earlier agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix.

Over the months that followed, the merger collected approvals and objections in roughly equal measure. The Department of Justice cleared it of federal antitrust concerns in June, and the deal later moved through approvals in the EU and the U.K. before getting a final sign-off from the Federal Communications Commission. To secure FCC approval, Paramount pledged to eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion programs and establish a CBS News ombudsman position to review bias complaints.

The last legal obstacle fell on Sept. 30. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín approved an antitrust settlement between Paramount and a dozen state attorneys general, calling it a reasonable factual and legal resolution and rejecting objections seeking broader restrictions. Within hours, Mark Ruffalo posted his reaction.

Ruffalo said the merger will stifle creativity, weaken free speech and cost people their jobs, calling it a bad deal for the country that should never have been approved. He described the result as an incredibly disappointing outcome for the hundreds of thousands of people who stood up to block it, but added that it is not the end. He said the grassroots movement against the deal will not fade away, and urged supporters to keep fighting.

Ruffalo also framed the fight as bigger than one deal, describing it as a stand against what he called corrupt oligarch billionaires trampling the interests of everyday people. Those are his characterizations, and Paramount and its supporters dispute the framing of the transaction. The post drew 44,000 views on X within hours of Variety sharing it.

Ruffalo has been one of the most visible faces of the opposition. In April, more than 1,000 actors, directors, writers and crew members signed an open letter opposing the deal, with Ruffalo among the signatories. ‘Watchmen’ creator Damon Lindelof, who signed, said his concern was fewer movies and shows and therefore fewer jobs, even though he holds a positive impression of Ellison personally.

Ruffalo also publicly urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta not to cave on the antitrust front. That push turned more contentious when Ruffalo criticized the business relationship between Oracle, founded by Larry Ellison, and the Israeli military. Paramount called those remarks antisemitic, and rival industry petitions criticized and supported the actor, which shows how divisive the debate became.

Paramount has made its own case throughout. The company says the merger will give creators more avenues for their work, not fewer, and Ellison has promised to release 30 films a year. Theater owners and longtime industry players were skeptical that Paramount could deliver on that pledge, so Ellison offered 3-year contracts to cinema operators, and at least 1 exhibitor signed.

The settlement also won over some critics. The Writers Guild of America had sued to block the merger, citing specific harm to writers, but settled its claim with Paramount on Sept. 21. Ellison thanked Bonta, the other attorneys general, the WGA and Gov. Gavin Newsom for engaging in good faith to find a path forward.

Paramount has tentatively set Tuesday, Oct. 6, to close the deal. The merged studio is expected to take on more than $80 billion in debt. Supporters of the opposition say the real test will come afterward, when promises on release slates, jobs and independence are measured against results.

Whatever the outcome, the fight has shown how many people in the industry feel strongly about consolidation. Studios argue that scale will help them compete, while critics see fewer buyers and fewer jobs. For now, Ruffalo says his side will keep organizing.

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