All posts tagged: Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo Slams Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger: “Bad Deal”

Mark Ruffalo Slams Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger: “Bad Deal”

Published by Daniella Wilson

Mark Ruffalo wants to Hulk smash the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. The Marvel actor slammed the deal after a federal judge cleared the final hurdle for the settlement of an antitrust lawsuit brought by a group of state attorneys general on Wednesday. The move clears the way for Paramount to absorb Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a newly combined megastudio under David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz. The merger is expected to result in industry layoffs and reduced competition. “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,” Ruffalo wrote on X. “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. This grassroots movement isn’t going to fade away and neither is our resolve. This was never about just one merger: this was about fighting back against corrupt oligarch billionaires trampling the interests of everyday …

Mark Ruffalo Tells Rob Bonta ‘Do Not Cave’ Settle Paramount Lawsuit

Mark Ruffalo Tells Rob Bonta ‘Do Not Cave’ Settle Paramount Lawsuit

Published by Daniella Wilson

Amid reports that Paramount is in “advanced talks” to settle the antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 state attorneys general led by California against the company’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, Mark Ruffalo is urging Rob Bonta to “not cave.” “Don’t you dare @AGRobBonta, do not cave. 5,670 film makers put their necks on the line for you to fight this merger. Another 75,000+ and counting have signed to tell you not to concede in just 3 weeks,” the actor wrote on X. “You work for the people — the very people who will be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward.” The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Paramount and the states are closing in on a deal to settle the lawsuit. Ruffalo included a link to sign a petition in support of the merger being blocked. “Please sign to send a message to the AG’s and Paramount. Reject the deal. The people don’t want it!” he added. The Task star has been very candid about his opposition to …

Mark Ruffalo Slams Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger: “Bad Deal”

The Brigade Condemns Mark Ruffalo for Using ‘Antisemitic Tropes’

Published by Daniella Wilson

An entertainment industry group that includes Hollywood producers Haim Saban, Lawrence Bender and Teddy Schwarzman has released a statement condemning the alleged “antisemitic tropes” underpinning Mark Ruffalo‘s opposition to Paramount’s leadership amid its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The statement comes from a group calling itself The Brigade, which describes itself as “a group of nearly 1,000 members, friends, and allies of the Jewish community who are proud to be working in film, television, music, Broadway, social and digital, and other platforms in and around the entertainment industry.” As well as Power Rangers media mogul Saban, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction producer Bender and Black Bear founder and CEO Schwarzman, the Brigade includes amongst its ranks Ram Bergman, Matti Leshem, Anthony Bregman, Micah Green and Lynn Harris. The Brigade’s statement comes in the wake of Ruffalo’s Aug. 21 Instagram post that spotlighted Oracle’s ties to the Israeli military — specifically a viral clip of former Oracle CEO Safra Catz at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024 as it related to Israel’s war effort in …

Mark Ruffalo Tells Rob Bonta ‘Do Not Cave’ Settle Paramount Lawsuit

Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Calls Out Mark Ruffalo’s Paramount Remarks

Published by Daniella Wilson

Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, is defending Paramount after the studio called Mark Ruffalo’s anti-merger comments “antisemitic.” “Words matter, and so does the willingness to draw a line when legitimate debate gives way to antisemitic tropes,” Berk wrote. “We commend Paramount for speaking clearly and refusing to allow prejudice to masquerade as political or corporate criticism. At a time when antisemitism is too often minimized, rationalized or repackaged in more socially acceptable language, this kind of moral clarity matters.” “Invoking Israel in an issue where it is completely irrelevant is a textbook case of obsession and demonization. Paramount was right to call it out. More leaders and institutions should have the courage to call antisemitism what it is, regardless of who is spreading it,” his statement concluded. Earlier this week, the Oscar-nominated actor, who has been an outspoken opponent of Paramount’s $111 billion deal for Warner Bros., highlighted Larry Ellison’s (Paramount CEO David Ellison’s father) Oracle’s ties to the Israeli military amid the Israel-Gaza war. Ruffalo resurfaced a clip from 2024 of former …

Mark Ruffalo Rejects Paramount Claim Anti-Merger Comments Antisemitic

Mark Ruffalo Rejects Paramount Claim Anti-Merger Comments Antisemitic

Published by Daniella Wilson

Mark Ruffalo is rejecting Paramount‘s claim that his recent comments highlighting the role Larry Ellison’s Oracle played in the Israel-Gaza war were “antisemitic.” “The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest,” Ruffalo wrote on X Saturday morning. “Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect. Everything I know about acting, activism and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life.” Ruffalo, a staunch opponent to Paramount’s $111 billion deal for Warner Bros., had recently shared on social media a clip from 2024 of former Oracle chief Safra Catz talking about “profoundly scary technologies” Oracle had built as Catz …

Mark Ruffalo Links Paramount to Oracle, Israeli Military. Studio Responds

Mark Ruffalo Links Paramount to Oracle, Israeli Military. Studio Responds

Published by Daniella Wilson

Mark Ruffalo has been a consistent opponent of Paramount’s $111 billion deal for Warner Bros., testifying against the merger to a Senate hearing, signing an open letter along with hundreds of actors opposing the buy and amplifying his message on social media consistently. His latest missive took aim at Larry Ellison, the Oracle founder worth about $200 billion who’s the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison. Larry’s billions are a key backstop to help his son’s merger of the two historic Hollywood studios cross the finish line. Ruffalo’s post on Instagram highlighted Oracle’s ties to the Israeli military, circulating a clip of former Oracle chief Safra Catz talking up Oracle’s tech at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024 as it related to Israel’s war effort in Gaza. In the clip, which was resurfaced over the past week by several social media accounts, the executive spoke about “profoundly scary technologies” the company had built that could be deployed. The Marvel actor added his own commentary and described the war as a “genocide” that “was built …

Sony Boss Teases Future Movies

Sony Boss Teases Future Movies

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sony Pictures is flying high after Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, swung into the record books with its spectacular opening weekend at the box office. Director Destin Daniel Cretton‘s film launched to $360 million domestically, leaping past 2019’s Avengers: Endgame for the biggest North American debut ever. Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo also star in Brand New Day, which focuses on the title Marvel superhero’s lonely life as he sets out to stop an invisible new foe. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman admits that there have yet to be significant talks about Holland returning as Spider-Man for a fifth film: “No, not in any concrete sense — only aspirational.” In light of Holland having told THR at the Brand New Day premiere that he would be open to reprising his role, Rothman says, “I can tell you when I heard that Tom said that, I jumped for joy. All I will say is that hope springs eternal. I really hope so.” He …

Brand New Day Opening Beats Endgame for Box Office Record

Brand New Day Opening Beats Endgame for Box Office Record

Published by Daniella Wilson

There is a brand new title topping the list for the all-time biggest domestic opening weekend at the box office, as Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s debut has been adjusted in final numbers and will now surpass Avengers: Endgame, which previously led the way. Sony Pictures‘ new movie earned $360 million from 4,487 North American screens in Monday actuals, which is up from the $355 million that the studio had projected on Sunday. This leaps past Avengers: Endgame’s previous record of $357.1 million in its domestic opening from April 2019. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has proven to be a head-spinning success story, as it also set records for the biggest Thursday previews and top Friday opening domestic sum, along with becoming Sony’s best-ever launch. Before the weekend, Sony had initially been projecting a much less dazzling start of $195 million domestic and $465 million global that would have still put the film among the top 10 all-time debuts. Hailing from producers Marvel Studios and Amy Pascal, it carries a $225 million production budget. Sony Pictures chief …

Brand New Day’ Box Office Opening at 5M Is Second-Best

Brand New Day’ Box Office Opening at $355M Is Second-Best

Published by Daniella Wilson

Spider-Man: Brand New Day received quite the friendly welcome in its opening weekend, as Sony Pictures‘ superhero feature starring Tom Holland and Zendaya got off to a spectacular start at the box office. The movie scored a head-spinning $355 million from 4,487 North American screens to land as the second-biggest domestic launch ever. Analysts had been holding their collective breath all weekend in a photo finish between Spidey and Avengers: Endgame, as the latter’s $357.1 million opening from April 2019 ultimately hung on to retain its title as the No. 1 all-time domestic opening frame. Spider-Man: Brand New Day created a slew of brand new records throughout the weekend, giving Sony its best opening ever. The movie’s historic $72 million from Thursday previews topped the previous best of $60 million in previews for Endgame. Brand New Day also set the record for the top opening Friday domestic sum with $168 million, surpassing Avengers: Endgame’s $156.7 million. Brand New Day took in $101.5 million on Saturday for the second-biggest tally ever on that day of the week. …

Brand New Day’ Opening to Record Friday at Box Office

Brand New Day’ Opening to Record Friday at Box Office

Published by Daniella Wilson

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is swinging far higher than expected, as the superhero feature starring Tom Holland and Zendaya is becoming a breathtaking triumph in its opening weekend at the box office for Sony Pictures. It collected $168 million domestically on Friday from 4,487 North American screens, including Thursday previews. With the movie earning an A CinemaScore from audiences, the studio is now projecting $325 million in its opening weekend, which would count as the second-highest domestic launch ever. But rival estimates see the film’s domestic start as potentially topping Avengers: Endgame, which opened to $357.1 million domestically and a mind-boggling $1.2 billion globally in 2019. Set to be displaced from the No. 2 spot for all-time North American debuts is Spider-Man: No Way Home, which marked the most recent lead outing for Holland’s Marvel superhero and opened to $260.1 million domestically and $587.2 million worldwide in December 2021. Its impressive success — culminating with its $1.9 billion global total for No. 8 all-time — was seen as tough to replicate, given the buzzy appearances of …