Actors and creators in Hollywood have intensified opposition to the merger operation between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, expanding the list of signatories to more than two thousand names. Among the new supporters are Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal, Edward Norton and comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who join veterans such as Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Kristen Stewart, David Fincher and Denis Villeneuve.
The campaign, initially released on April 13 with a thousand signatures, was published by the _New York Times_ and is available on the website BlocktheMerger.com. The text warns of the risks of financial concentration in the entertainment sector, stating that the merger could jeopardize the integrity, independence and diversity of cultural production. “Competition is essential for a healthy economy and for democracy”, reads the letter.
The criticism had already echoed at awards ceremonies: Jane Fonda, during the Oscar ceremony, displayed a brooch with the phrase “Block the Merger”. In response, Paramount released a statement reinforcing its commitment to creativity, promising to produce at least thirty high‑quality feature films per year and to keep releases focused on cinemas, as well as preserving iconic brands under independent leadership.
The operation, announced at the end of February, foresees an investment of US$ 111 billion and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, the catalogs of the two studios remain available on the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming services. The debate over media market consolidation remains heated, with the creative community demanding greater regulation and oversight.
