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Paramount Settlement Talks With State AGs Reach Critical Stage as Merger Opponents Rally and Urge Rob Bonta ‘Do Not Cave’
Confirmed
In Short: Actor Mark Ruffalo is intensifying his campaign against the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta not to cave to settlement talks.
On Saturday, Ruffalo took to X to call on Bonta to reject the deal, warning him, “Don’t you dare @AGRobBonta, do not cave.” He cited the support of over 75,000 people who have signed a petition opposing the merger.
Ruffalo’s pressure comes as Paramount and state attorneys general, including Bonta, are in critical settlement talks over the $110 billion acquisition.
Sources familiar with the situation say the negotiations with the state AGs appear to be moving in a positive direction, but Ruffalo and other opponents are pushing back.
Ruffalo emphasized the risks the merger poses to the film industry, stating, “There is no debate here: This merger will snuff out competition, drive up prices, diminish content quality, and produce fewer movies and shows each year.”
What this adds
The settlement talks are scheduled to conclude before a March 2, 2027 federal antitrust trial.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that Ruffalo has been vocal about his opposition to the merger, testifying against it in a Senate hearing and linking Oracle’s ties to the Israeli military.
Background
U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson has ordered Paramount and California to schedule settlement talks by next Tuesday, with the conference set for the end of October.
What's confirmed
- “Don’t you dare @AGRobBonta, do not cave. 5670 film makers put their necks on the line for you to fight this merger. Another 75,000+ and counting have signed to tell you not to concede in just 3 weeks,” he wrote on X.
What's still developing
- As attorneys general meet with Paramount this weekend over a potential deal in the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, Mark Ruffalo is continuing to apply pressure.
- On Saturday, the 4x Oscar nominee called on Rob Bonta to “reject the deal” that he and other AGs are currently negotiating with the Ellison-run Paramount ahead of a scheduled March 2, 2027 federal antitrust trial.
- “Thousands of industry leaders took a risk when they spoke out publicly about the harm the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger would cause,” they said, claiming that more than 75,000 people have joined them to tell the state AGs to stand strong, including national leaders like Elizabeth Warren.
- You work for the people — the very people who will be hurt if you let this… To my friends in the Bay Area: I'm hearing Rob Bonta is about to cave and hand Warner Bros over to the Ellisons.
- The people don’t want it!… Block the Merger, with support from Ruffalo, Bryan Cranston, Hannah Einbinder, Jane Fonda, Noah Wyle, Denis Villeneuve, Sofia Coppola and more, previously released a statement on the settlement talks.
- “AG Bonta and his fellow state AGs should reject this deal, stand strong, and fully block the merger with no concessions.” As leaks of talks between the AGs, led by California’s politically ambitious Bonta, and Paramount flooded the media late Friday, AG Bonta’s office did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment.
- The Hollywood fight isn't entirely one-sided. Spencer Pratt, who ran for governor of California, criticized Ruffalo's position, arguing that blocking the transaction could hurt rank-and-file film workers. Bonta's office previously addressed reports that Paramount has raised the possibility of moving operations out of California. "It's no secret that Paramount has been making this threat despite its alleged commitment to California and Hollywood," Bonta's office told FOX Business. "What Paramount decides to do is Paramount's choice alone," his office added.
- California AG Rob Bonta leads a push to block a potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.
- Actor Mark Ruffalo is ramping up pressure on California Attorney General Rob Bonta amid reports of settlement talks over the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros.
- Discovery merger, warning the Democrat not to "cave" and urging supporters to rally outside his Oakland office.
- Ruffalo's lobbying comes as the massive transaction remains on hold under a court agreement and Paramount CEO David Ellison clashes with Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general over the company's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.
- As the megadeal remains on hold, Ellison has reportedly threatened to move Paramount to Texas, Tennessee or Georgia if the dispute is not resolved by Oct.