Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong have co-authored an op-ed arguing that the proposed Paramount takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery must be blocked within the United Kingdom.
In a piece published by The Guardian, the actors urged Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene in the $111 billion merger to protect the interests of the British screen industry.
This call to action follows statements from Nandy to UK Parliament, in which she indicated she is “minded to intervene.” A final decision on whether to launch a full public interest investigation is expected following the parliamentary summer break in September.
In their statement, Cumberbatch, Cumming, and Wong asserted: “Nandy has opened the door to intervention. She must walk through it, for the sake of everyone who makes UK television and film – and everyone who watches it. If she does not, we will be left without the ability to protect our industry and our culture from this consolidation. We must not push the public’s interest aside; we must stand up for it and block this merger.”
Paramount has been approached for comment.
The trio expressed significant concerns regarding the potential impact on the livelihoods of thousands of UK workers. They also highlighted the risks associated with the extreme concentration of news media, as the merged entity would control 5 News, CNN International, and CBS News.
“One owner controlling this much of the news, and the truth, endangers the public in a way no ordinary consolidation does,” the actors stated.
The actors also raised concerns regarding editorial independence, noting reports that Paramount’s CEO discussed potential “sweeping changes” to CNN with political figures. They argued that when a buyer for a major international news channel makes editorial commitments to politicians, the British government has a responsibility to investigate.
The group concluded that a decision to intervene could represent one of the most significant actions taken by a Culture Secretary regarding the UK media landscape in a generation.
The op-ed arrives after WarnerMusic secured regulatory approval in the European Union last week. The deal remains subject to legal resolutions involving state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America, with a tentative timeline extending toward 2027.
While the UK’s current merger control regime is non-suspensory—meaning the deal could theoretically proceed without UK approval—David Ellison has expressed intent to respect the British regulatory process.
Alan Cumming has been a vocal opponent of the deal. Earlier this month, the The Traitors host participated in a video for the “Block the Merger UK” coalition, calling on the public to urge the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Ofcom to conduct a deeper investigation.