Mark Ruffalo calls out James Cameron amid criticism of Netflix-Warner Bros. deal

Mark Ruffalo has publicly challenged James Cameron following the director’s criticism of Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Cameron wrote to Senator Mike Lee, chair of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, warning that Netflix buying Warner Bros. Discovery would be “disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business.” He added, “Theaters will close. Fewer films will be made. The job losses will spiral.”

Responding on Instagram Threads, Ruffalo questioned whether Cameron’s concerns extended beyond the Netflix deal. “So… the next question to Mr Cameron should be this,” Ruffalo wrote. “’Are you also against the monopolization that a Paramount acquisition would create? Or is it just that of Netflix?’”

He continued, “I think the answer would be very interesting for the film community to hear and one that should be asked immediately. 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.”

Netflix is poised to acquire Warner Bros. studios and HBO Max in a deal valued at $83 billion. On February 17, Warner Bros. opened a seven-day window allowing Paramount Skydance to assemble a superior offer. Shareholders are scheduled to vote on the Netflix acquisition on March 20.

Cameron argued in his letter that Netflix’s subscription-driven model conflicts with theatrical distribution. “The business model of Netflix is directly at odds with the theatrical film production and exhibition business, which employs hundreds of thousands of Americans,” he wrote. “It is therefore directly at odds with the business model of the Warner Brothers movie division, one of the few remaining major movie studios.”

In a recent interview, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos sought to reassure audiences that the Warner Bros. theatrical rollout strategy would “remain largely like it is today,” adding, “Your listeners can watch us now, cut a finger and do a blood oath together.”