- On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued an order allowing Paramount to close its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing the way for the historic Hollywood merger.
- Mark Ruffalo, a vocal opponent, blasted the outcome on X, calling it 'incredibly disappointing' and stating the merger 'will stifle creativity, weaken free speech, and cost people their jobs.'
- Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are expected to close the deal Oct. 6.
- In July, a California-led coalition of 12 state attorneys general sued to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, citing reduced competition and excessive market power.
- On Sept. 21, a settlement was announced resolving the states' claims, with Paramount agreeing to spend at least an additional $1.5 billion on U.S. production over five years.
- Ruffalo continued, "This is an incredibly disappointing outcome for the hundreds of thousands of us who stood up to block it, but it's also not the end... We're still in that fight. Join us."
Mark Ruffalo expressed his discontent over a federal judge's approval of Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, labeling it "incredibly disappointing." He emphasized that the merger threatens creativity and jobs, stating, "This merger will stifle creativity, weaken free speech, and cost people their jobs – it is a bad deal for this country and should never have been approved."12
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín allows the merger to proceed, following a settlement between Paramount and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general who had sought to block the deal. The judge described the agreement as a "reasonable factual and legal resolution" while dismissing broader restrictions.4
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led the coalition, noted that the combined company made an "enforceable commitment to significantly increase domestic production." Under the settlement, Paramount must release at least 30 films annually in the first two years, increasing to 32 films per year over the next three years, with at least four being independent releases.
Additionally, Paramount has committed to spending an extra $1.5 billion on U.S. productions over five years compared to its 2025 spending levels. The merger is expected to close on October 6, according to reports.5
Ruffalo concluded, "This was never about just one merger: this was about fighting back against corrupt oligarch billionaires trampling the interests of everyday people to line their own pockets."
“The judge's order followed a settlement with a California-led coalition of 12 state attorneys general, who had sued to block the deal. Paramount agreed to spend at least an additional $1.5 billion on U.S. production over five years, and the deal is expected to close Oct. 6.”
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