Actor Mark Ruffalo has condemned a federal judge’s approval of Paramount’s $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, warning that the deal will hurt Hollywood workers and vowing to keep fighting it.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín cleared the final hurdle Wednesday by approving the settlement. Ruffalo responded in a social media post that evening, calling the merger “a bad deal for this country” that threatens creativity, free speech and jobs. He added that the outcome was not the end of the campaign.
The settlement resolves the antitrust suit brought by California and other states. The five-year agreement requires Paramount to commit to 30 U.S. theatrical releases a year and creates a five-member panel to protect the editorial independence of CNN and CBS. Opponents consider those terms inadequate. The Block the Merger Coalition told the court the consent decree lacks teeth.
Ruffalo has led the public opposition for months. He cited 5,670 filmmakers and over 75,000 petition signers who oppose the merger, and he urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta not to accept a settlement. Job losses anchor much of the criticism. TheWrap reported the combination could eliminate nearly 4,500 film and television jobs in Los Angeles County over three years.
His campaign also drew a sharp response. Last month, Ruffalo attacked the Ellison family over business ties he said contributed to Israel’s conduct in Gaza, and Paramount condemned his remarks as antisemitic. The studio said it expected the merger to be judged on its legal merits, not on bias. The exchange divided Hollywood and set off rival petitions, one criticizing the actor and one backing him.
Paramount announced the deal on February 27. It offered $31 a share in cash for Warner Bros. Discovery, backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners. Both boards approved it unanimously. Paramount has tentatively set Tuesday, October 6, to close the transaction.
