Ruffalo Urges Bonta to Reject Paramount-Warner Deal

Ruffalo's Public Campaign Against the Merger

Ruffalo has mobilized filmmakers and activists to pressure Bonta's office. TMZ reported he called on supporters to protest outside Bonta's Oakland office. His campaign highlights concerns that consolidating two major studios would give too much power to a single media company in an already concentrated industry.

Breitbart noted that Block the Merger — an advocacy group backed by actors including Bryan Cranston, Jane Fonda, and director Denis Villeneuve — echoed Ruffalo's call. The group urged attorneys general to block the merger entirely without accepting any concessions or settlements.

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Warren Warns of Media Concentration Under Trump

Senator Elizabeth Warren separately opposed a settlement, citing the danger of media consolidation. Breitbart reported that Warren compared the risk to President Trump's reported exclusion of CNN from White House events. Warren stated: "The last thing we need is another Trump-controlled media conglomerate abusing its power to stomp out competition."

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Settlement Talks Advance as Trial Date Looms

California and 11 other state attorneys general are in advanced settlement talks with Paramount after the Justice Department approved the deal. IJR reported that if no settlement is reached, the antitrust trial is scheduled to begin March 2, 2027. Paramount has reportedly threatened to move operations to Texas, Tennessee, or Georgia if disputes are not resolved by October 1.

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