Mark Ruffalo, during an appearance on the “I’ve Had It” podcast, suggested he may be on a blacklist of Paramount-Skydance due to his opposition to their acquisition of Warner Bros.
Ruffalo's Stand Against Corporate Mergers
Ruffalo has been vocal about his concerns, stating, “I’m doing this because I know we have to. And I know no matter what, if I don’t speak out, it’s the same outcome. I’m already on a list. I’m already not a friend of these people. And so you’re either going to fight, or you’re going to lie down. But the same outcome will be if you don’t [fight], if you lay down. That’s the way it is with every bully in the world.”
Initial Fear Among Hollywood Insiders
In his open letter condemning the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, Ruffalo revealed that many were initially hesitant to sign due to fear. He quoted a prominent agent, “They’re afraid because, to quote one prominent agent whose name I won’t divulge here, these are some vindictive motherfuckers, the Ellisons.”
Despite this fear, Ruffalo noted a shift as more in Hollywood began to take a stand. “What we know is that courage is contagious, and there’s safety in numbers,” Ruffalo said. “A lot of the people on this letter are people who either can afford to be there, like myself, or people who can’t afford to not be there. They’re fighting for their lives. The stakes are very, very high.”
Impact of Past Mergers
Ruffalo drew parallels with the Fox-Disney merger, highlighting the loss of jobs and projects. “The last one was Fox-Disney, and we lost so many jobs, we lost so many shows, we so many films that were in production or in pre-production or being developed, and we know the writing’s on the wall.”
Ruffalo's Continued Advocacy
In April, Ruffalo released his open letter, followed by a May op-ed in The New York Times, urging action against the merger. In the op-ed, he emphasized the fear among actors and filmmakers of potential retaliation by Paramount-Skydance.
“The most revealing thing about that letter wasn’t the people who signed. It was the people who didn’t. Not because they disagreed — because they were afraid,” Ruffalo wrote. He underscored the fundamental issue as a pervasive fear of speaking out within the industry.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/mark-ruffalo-on-a-list-paramount-banned-actors-warner-bros-1236751039/
