Mark Ruffalo and Emma Thompson among more than 1,000 signatories to open letter opposing Paramount Warner buyout | film

Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Mark Ruffalo, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Kristen Stewart are among more than 1,000 film and television industry professionals who have signed an open letter protesting Paramount’s upcoming acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent group that owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, TBS, and Food Network, as well as the Warner Bros. film and television studios.

“We are deeply concerned by indications of support for this merger that prioritizes the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good,” the letter posted Monday on BlocktheMerger.com said.

“The integrity, independence and diversity of our industry will be seriously compromised. Competition is essential to a healthy economy and a healthy democracy. So are thoughtful regulation and enforcement.”

The letter claims that “media consolidation has already weakened one of America’s most vital global industries – an industry that has long shaped culture and connected people around the world” and concludes that the “vibrant future” of “the United States’ most important exports” must be ensured.

Other signatories to the letter include Jane Fonda, Javier Bardem, Glenn Close, Sandra Holler, Rose Byrne, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Steenburgen, Lily Gladstone, and documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras.

Denis Villeneuve, Boots Riley, Mimi Lederer, and Nicole Holofcener are among the directors who have put their names to work. Emma Thompson is among the Brits on the list, as is James Wilson, Jonathan Glazer’s long-time film producer.

A number of major names from television have also registered their disapproval, including David Chase, Noah Wyle, Ramy Youssef, Rob Delaney, Jason Bateman and Ted Danson.

Stiller’s criticism is particularly relevant since Paramount distributed the Zoolander films and the Madagascar series. Steenburgen’s recent Book Club films were also produced by the studio, while Danson’s big break was on Paramount’s Cheers.

Meanwhile, both Ruffalo and Phoenix have long-standing relationships with Warner Bros Discovery. Phoenix won Best Actor for his role in Joker, which was produced by Warner Bros. Inherent Vice and Her were also produced by the studio.

Ruffalo recently starred in two HBO productions — “I Know This Much Is True” and “This Normal Heart” — as well as in last year’s Mickey 17, which Warner Bros. produced. His most recent work with Paramount was Shutter Island in 2010; Three years earlier, he and David Fincher – who also signed the letter – had worked with Paramount on the film Zodiac.

Thompson played Professor Trelawney in Warner Bros.’ original Harry Potter films, while Chase is best known for showcasing HBO’s The Sopranos.

The deal, worth about $111 billion, is awaiting regulatory approval. If successful, it would merge two of Hollywood’s major studios, which many believe would lead to a decline in quality and significant job losses.

Paramount CEO David Ellison, who beat out Netflix to become Warner Bros.’ lead showrunner, emphasized that the deal would be beneficial to the creative community and pledged to invest in both studios. However, his promise to release 30 films in cinemas every year was met with skepticism by many across the industry.

Ellison’s close ties to his father, Larry, and Donald Trump have raised concerns that the merger will mean fewer films about politics will be greenlit.

Films produced by Warner Bros – including Sinners and One Battle After Another – won 11 Oscars in March. Paramount-produced films failed to receive a single nomination.

Later Monday, the company issued a statement affirming its commitment to at least 30 theatrical titles a year and dismissing many of the concerns raised in the letter.

“This transaction uniquely combines complementary strengths, to create a company that can greenlight more projects, support bold ideas, support talent across multiple stages of their careers, and bring stories to audiences on a truly global scale – while strengthening competition by ensuring multiple players invest in creative talent,” the statement said.

The complete message

As filmmakers, documentarians And professionals in the film and television industry, we are writing to express our unequivocal opposition to the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Fusion discovery.

This deal would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a time when our industries are in decline – and the audiences we serve -The least that can be tolerated. The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, and higher costs And fewer options for audiences in the United States and around the world. It is worrying that this merger would reduce the number of major American companiesS Movie studios are down to just four.

Our industry is already under intense pressure, largely due to previous waves of consolidation. We have seen a sharp decline in the number of films produced and released, along with a narrowing of the types of stories that are financed and distributed. Increasingly, a small number of powerful entities determine what is manufactured -And under what conditions -Leaving creatives and independent businesses with less viable paths to sustaining their work.

Media consolidation has accelerated the disappearance of mid-budget films, the erosion of independent distribution, the collapse of the international sales market, and the elimination of meaningful profit sharing. And weaken the integrity of the screen balance.

Together, these factors threaten the sustainability of the entire creative community. This includes jeopardizing the careers of tens of thousands of workers who help shape this society in small, often independent businesses embedded in economies and communities nationwide.

We are deeply concerned about the signs of support for this priority mergerPutting the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders ahead of the broader public good. Integrity and independence The diversity of our industry will be severely compromised.

Competition is essential to a healthy economy and a healthy democracy. The same applies to organization and thoughtful implementation. Media consolidation has already weakened one of America’s most vital global industries – which has long shaped culture and connected people around the world.

Fortunately, someone is doing something about all this. ca lawyer general Rob Bonta And his colleagues in other states are reportedly under scrutinySing the merger and consider taking legal action to prevent it. We are grateful for their leadership, and stand ready to support all efforts to maintain competition and protect jobs And ensuring a vibrant future for our industry, American culture, and our most important exports.