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Mark Ruffalo condemned Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after a federal judge approved a settlement between Paramount and 12 state attorneys general on September 30, 2026. He warned the merger would “stifle creativity, weaken free speech, and cost people their jobs.” As of October 3, the deal had not closed: Reuters Connect reported that the companies expected it to close on October 6.
What did Mark Ruffalo say about the deal?
Hours after the settlement approval, Ruffalo criticized the outcome in a social-media statement. Fortune reproduced his words: “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.” He added: “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.” (Fortune)
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qrQaTrIWL._SL160_.jpg)
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Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray] | $259.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (Blu-ray) | $10.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Maverick (BD) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Maltese Falcon, The (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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WB 100th 25Film Collection Vol 1 Award Winners (Blu-ray) | $199.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Reports disagreed about whether Ruffalo posted on X or Threads, so the platform is not established by the available contemporary coverage. (Fortune; Variety Australia)
Has the Paramount–Warner Bros. deal closed?
No—not as of October 3, 2026. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín approved Paramount’s settlement with the 12-state coalition on September 30. Fortune reported that the approval removed the last reported legal obstacle to the roughly $111 billion transaction. Reuters Connect said the companies expected the merger to close on Tuesday, October 6, 2026; that was a reported expectation, not confirmation that it had closed. (Fortune; Reuters Connect)
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- Factory sealed DVD
What did the states allege, and what does the settlement require?
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said the coalition alleged that the merger could reduce output and raise prices, harming workers and consumers. The state identified theatrical film distribution, anticipated blockbuster theatrical film distribution, and basic-cable channel licensing as the markets at issue. It said the combined company would control nearly one-third of U.S. theatrical motion pictures and nearly one-third of basic-cable programming. Those concentration estimates and potential harms describe the state’s allegations, not findings established by a court. (California Department of Justice, July 13, 2026)
The September settlement announcement set out commitments enforceable for five years. California’s attorney general described the terms as follows: (California Department of Justice, September 21, 2026)
| Area | Settlement commitment |
|---|---|
| Film releases | In years one and two, 30 films annually, including 20 wide releases; in years three through five, 32 films annually, including 21 wide releases. |
| Independent films | At least four a year during the five-year commitment period. |
| Consequences for film-output shortfalls | For each missed film under the output requirement in any year, the announcement says the company would have to divest Miramax Studios and pay $30 million toward specified entertainment-industry health and retirement funds and a National Association of Attorneys General fund. |
| U.S. production | At least $1.5 billion in additional U.S. film-production spending over five years, above the stated 2025 U.S. spending baseline. |
| Workers | A $47.5 million fund for workers affected by the merger. |
| Cable negotiations | Restrictions on cable negotiations, which the state said were intended to help keep prices competitive. |
Does the settlement mean California backed the merger?
No. Bonta said, “This settlement is not a vote of support for this merger.” He framed the agreement as resolving the states’ antitrust concerns through production, worker, and cable commitments—not as an endorsement of the transaction. (California Department of Justice, September 21, 2026)
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Item name: The Maltese Falcon
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: WB
Rank #3
- Maverick [Blu-ray]
- PHYSICAL_MOVIE
- warner home video
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