Mark Ruffalo is pushing back hard against a potential settlement in the antitrust lawsuit currently blocking the Paramount Skydance merger. The actor is calling on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of 11 other state attorneys general to stand their ground and reject any deal that would allow David Ellison to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, Variety reported.
The pressure is mounting after reports surfaced on Friday suggesting that Paramount Skydance and Bonta are currently in advanced talks to reach a settlement. This news follows the Department of Justice approval of the $111 billion deal back in June. That approval was essentially halted by the antitrust lawsuit, which is why the potential settlement is such a major development for the future of the media landscape.
Ruffalo took to X to voice his frustration and demand action from the legal team handling the case. He wrote, “Don’t you dare, [Rob Bonta], do not cave,” in a post directed at the attorney general. He further urged, “5,670 filmmakers 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. You work for the people — the very people who will be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward. Please sign to send a message to the AGs and Paramount. Reject the deal. The people don’t want it!”
Ruffalo is deeply invested in this outcome
Ruffalo has established himself as one of the most vocal critics of the merger within the industry. This stance has already led to some heated friction, including a recent public disagreement where a studio representative accused him of being “antisemitic” after he raised concerns about the Ellisons’ connections to Israel.
Ruffalo is not the only high-profile figure warning Bonta against backing down. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts shared her concerns regarding the merger on Facebook on Saturday morning. She linked the potential consolidation to broader issues regarding media access and political power. Warren noted that President Donald Trump banning CNN from the White House serves as a warning for what could happen if this massive media conglomerate is allowed to form.
Warren wrote, “As Trump tries to ban CNN from the White House, it would be a massive mistake to cave on the Paramount merger.” She added, “The last thing we need is another Trump-controlled media conglomerate abusing its power to stomp out competition. This is a dangerous merger.”
It is worth noting that the President has also taken similar actions against other outlets, including MSNBC and Politico.
Published: Sep 20, 2026 04:37 pm