Cumberbatch, Cumming, Wong Urge UK to Block Paramount-Warner Merger
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- Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong co-authored a Guardian op-ed urging UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to block Paramount’s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing threats to British film, TV, and media pluralism
- Lisa Nandy has indicated she is 'minded to intervene' in the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, with a final decision expected after Parliament returns in September
- The actors warned the merger would endanger public access to independent news, noting the combined entity would control 5 News, CNN International, and CBS News under one owner
- The op-ed cited concerns about Paramount’s CEO reportedly promising Donald Trump 'sweeping changes' to CNN, calling it a reason for the UK government to scrutinize the deal’s editorial implications
- WarnerMount secured EU regulatory clearance last week, but the deal is paused until June 2027 pending resolution of lawsuits from state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America
- Alan Cumming previously promoted the Block the Merger UK campaign, urging the public to contact the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Ofcom to demand deeper scrutiny
Why it matters: The UK government holds rare leverage in a global media deal that could consolidate major news outlets under one owner, with 5,000+ UK screen industry jobs and media pluralism at stake. Nandy’s September decision could delay or derail a merger designed to close by September 30—even though the UK process is non-suspensory, Paramount has committed to respecting it.
