UK government urged to block $111bn Paramount‑Warner Bros merger
Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong published an op‑ed in The Guardian calling on UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and stop Paramount Global’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. They argue the deal, valued at about $111 billion, threatens the British audiovisual sector, citing that the UK film industry supports more than 180,000 jobs, generates £6.8 billion in production spend and contributes roughly £12 billion to the economy.
The trio warns that the merger would give a single owner control of major outlets such as Channel 5 and CNN International, reduce investment in independent film, and lead to job cuts. They note that independent‑film acquisitions at the Sundance Festival have fallen by half between 2019 and 2025. In the United States, a coalition of 12 states led by California has sued to block the deal, prompting Paramount to pause the transaction. While the EU and regulators in China, South Korea, Australia, Canada and Brazil have approved the merger, the UK, Japan and India remain under formal review.
Lisa Nandy has said she is “minded to intervene,” and the actors stress that UK authorities should act independently of other jurisdictions to protect the public interest and the country's cultural heritage.
Entities: Alan Cumming · Benedict Cumberbatch · Benedict Wong · Lisa Nandy · Paramount Global · Warner Bros. Discovery
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The UK film industry supports more than 180,000 jobs, generates £6.8 billion in production spend and contributes around £12 billion to the economy. (existing)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The proposed Paramount‑Warner Bros merger is valued at about $111 billion. (existing)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] EU regulators have backed the merger, while regulators in China, South Korea, Australia, Canada and Brazil have approved it. (existing)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong wrote an op‑ed in The Guardian urging the UK government to block the Paramount‑Warner Bros merger. (new)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Independent film acquisitions at Sundance fell by half between 2019 and 2025. (existing)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The merger could give one owner control of UK Channel 5 and CNN International. (existing)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Twelve US states, led by California, have filed a lawsuit to block the Paramount‑Warner Bros merger. (existing)
- [● 5 SOURCES] UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy said she is “minded to intervene” on the merger. (existing)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong wrote an op‑ed in The Guardian urging the UK government to block the merger. (new)