Mark Ruffalo Urges California Attorney General Not to Settle Paramount Megamerger Suit

Laura Bais
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The ongoing battle over media consolidation in Hollywood has intensified, with a rare public confrontation involving one of the industry’s most vocal advocates. Mark Ruffalo has taken a stand against California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, amid reports that a settlement regarding a significant media merger could be on the horizon.

Ruffalo’s message is clear: he is urging Bonta not to settle the antitrust lawsuit against Paramount Skydance. He expressed his sentiments on social media, stating, “Don’t you dare, [Rob Bonta], do not cave. 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’s appeal highlights significant industry opposition to the merger, citing the 5,670 filmmakers who have publicly opposed it, along with over 75,000 petition signatures collected in a short span. These figures aim to frame a potential settlement as a politically risky move for Bonta, who, as Ruffalo noted, “works for the people.”

This organized pressure campaign seeks to make it more appealing for Bonta’s office to continue litigation rather than accept a settlement, which critics argue would allow Paramount to evade thorough judicial examination. Whether this pressure will influence Bonta’s strategy remains to be seen.

The lawsuit centers on Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with Bonta leading a coalition of 12 state attorneys general challenging the merger under antitrust laws. The suit claims that the merger would significantly reduce competition in wide-release theatrical film distribution, blockbuster films, and basic cable channel licensing.

Bonta’s office argues that a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. would control about 27 percent of wide-release theatrical distribution, leaving only three distributors managing 75 percent of the market. In a statement, Bonta cautioned that the merger “would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.”

Concerns have arisen among opponents of the merger regarding reports of advanced settlement negotiations between Paramount Skydance and Bonta’s office, fearing that a deal could circumvent the trial currently set for March 2027 in Oakland federal court. Critics like Ruffalo contend that a trial would compel Paramount to demonstrate in court that the merger would not harm competition, while a settlement would allow the company to negotiate its own terms without the same level of scrutiny.

Notably, the U.S. Department of Justice approved the merger in June, making the state-level lawsuit the primary remaining legal hurdle. This situation significantly raises the stakes for the path Bonta’s office ultimately decides to take.

Ruffalo is not alone in his opposition to a potential settlement; Senator Elizabeth Warren has also publicly urged Bonta to reject a deal, citing broader concerns about media consolidation and its competitive implications. This combination of political and celebrity pressure adds an unusual layer of public attention to a case that might otherwise unfold largely out of the public eye.

As settlement discussions progress and the trial date approaches, the upcoming weeks could be crucial in determining whether this dispute will be resolved in court or through negotiation.

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