Avengers Star Mark Ruffalo Responds to James Cameron's Criticism of Netflix's Warner Bros. Buyout: 'Are You Also Against the Monopolization a Paramount Acquisition Would Create?'

Last week, Avatar manager James Cameron slammed Netflix's plans to acquisition Warner Bros., branding the woody arsenic "disastrous" for theaters and the movie manufacture astatine large. Now, Avengers histrion Mark Ruffalo has responded to inquire if Cameron believed the alternate was immoderate amended — that Warner Bros. is alternatively gobbled up by Paramount.

Cameron aired his thoughts successful a missive 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 volition close. Fewer films volition beryllium made. The occupation losses volition spiral."

Now, Ruffalo has responded, and publically suggested that Cameron should reply the question of whether the alternate enactment for Warner Bros. — that it is bought by Paramount — was immoderate better.

Mark Ruffalo. Image credit: Hoda Devine/Getty Images.

"So... the adjacent question to Mr Cameron should beryllium this," Ruffalo wrote connected Threads. "'Are you besides against the monopolization that a Paramount acquisition would create? Or is it conscionable that of Netflix?'

"I deliberation the reply would beryllium precise absorbing for the movie assemblage to perceive and 1 that should beryllium asked immediately," Ruffalo continued. "Is Mike Lee against the Paramount merchantability arsenic well? Is helium arsenic acrophobic astir that arsenic helium is the Netflix sale? We each privation to know. Speaking connected behalf of hundreds of thousands of movie makers satellite wide."

Warner Bros. has antecedently said it favors a woody with Netflix, which has successful crook promised to support the company's theatrical merchandise strategy "largely similar it is today." Indeed, successful a caller Variety interview, Netflix brag Ted Sarandos said helium would beryllium consenting to execute a "blood oath" to this effect.

Still, past week Warner Bros. said it was re-opening a brief, seven-day model to let Paramount 1 past accidental to marque its champion and last connection — presumably earlier seeing if Netflix tin rise its ain bid successful response.

While Netflix's bid has been dogged by interest surrounding the company's plans to curb theatrical merchandise windows, Paramount's connection has besides raised eyebrows for its indebtedness and equity financing, arsenic good arsenic the engagement of centibillionaire Larry Ellison.

Warner Bros. shareholders are presently acceptable to ballot connected Netflix's bid (whatever it looks similar astatine the time) connected March 20. But, adjacent if a woody is technically agreed astatine this point, it volition inactive person to walk antitrust checks earlier being allowed to proceed.

Netflix brag Ted Sarandos antecedently struck a assured code erstwhile asked astir the deal’s accidental of success. "We're highly assured successful the regulatory process," helium said during a caller capitalist call. "This woody is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it's pro-creator, it's pro-growth.” As portion of the aforesaid call, Sarandos said Netflix would proceed to merchandise Warner Bros. movies successful theaters for now, though expected theatrical merchandise windows to shorten implicit clip to go "more idiosyncratic friendly." More recently, Sarandos committed to a 45-day model for theatrical movie releases erstwhile the woody goes through.

One study has claimed Netflix is peculiarly keen to get Warner Bros.' immense contented room arsenic the streamer ramps up its imaginable to connection AI-generation tools and contented successful the future.

Image credit: Hoda Davaine/Getty Images

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social