Last week, Avatar director James Cameron slammed Netflix’s plans to purchase Warner Bros., branding the deal as “disastrous” for theaters and the movie industry at large. Now, Avengers actor Mark Ruffalo has responded to ask if Cameron believed the alternative was any better — that Warner Bros. is instead gobbled up by Paramount.
Cameron aired his thoughts in a letter to Senator Mike Lee, who chairs the Senate’s antitrust subcommittee, that was subsequently published online by CNBC. The Titanic maker’s criticsm was blunt, stating that Netflix’s acquisition would mean: “Theaters will close. Fewer films will be made. The job losses will spiral.”
Now, Ruffalo has responded, and publicly suggested that Cameron should answer the question of whether the alternative option for Warner Bros. — that it is bought by Paramount — was any better.
“So… the next question to Mr Cameron should be this,” Ruffalo wrote on Threads. “‘Are you also against the monopolization that a Paramount acquisition would create? Or is it just that of Netflix?’
“I think the answer would be very interesting for the film community to hear and one that should be asked immediately,” Ruffalo continued. “Is Mike Lee against the Paramount sale as well? Is he as concerned about that as he is the Netflix sale? We all want to know. Speaking on behalf of hundreds of thousands of film makers world wide.”
Warner Bros. has previously said it favors a deal with Netflix, which has in turn promised to maintain the company’s theatrical release strategy “largely like it is today.” Indeed, in a recent Variety interview, Netflix boss Ted Sarandos said he would be willing to perform a “blood oath” to this effect.
Still, last week Warner Bros. said it was re-opening a brief, seven-day window to allow Paramount one last chance to make its best and final offer — presumably before seeing if Netflix can raise its own bid in response.
While Netflix’s bid has been dogged by concern surrounding the company’s plans to curb theatrical release windows, Paramount’s offer has also raised eyebrows for its debt and equity financing, as well as the involvement of centibillionaire Larry Ellison.
Warner Bros. shareholders are currently set to vote on Netflix’s bid (whatever it looks like at the time) on March 20. But, even if a deal is technically agreed at this point, it will still have to pass antitrust checks before being allowed to proceed.
Netflix boss Ted Sarandos previously struck a confident tone when asked about the deal’s chance of success. “We’re highly confident in the regulatory process,” he said during a recent investor call. “This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it’s pro-creator, it’s pro-growth.” As part of the same call, Sarandos said Netflix would continue to release Warner Bros. movies in theaters for now, though expected theatrical release windows to shorten over time to become “more user friendly.” More recently, Sarandos committed to a 45-day window for theatrical movie releases once the deal goes through.
One report has claimed Netflix is particularly keen to obtain Warner Bros.’ vast content library as the streamer ramps up its potential to offer AI-generation tools and content in the future.
Image credit: Hoda Davaine/Getty Images
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
