Mark Ruffalo has publicly challenged James Cameron's strong opposition to Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal valued at $83 billion. Cameron had expressed his concerns in a letter to Senator Mike Lee, chair of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, stating that such an acquisition would be "disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business." He warned of potential theater closures, a reduction in film production, and widespread job losses, arguing that Netflix's streaming-centric business model inherently conflicts with the traditional theatrical exhibition and production sectors, including Warner Bros.' movie division.

Ruffalo, however, questioned Cameron's stance on monopolization, specifically asking on Instagram Threads if Cameron would also oppose a potential Paramount acquisition, or if his concerns were exclusively directed at Netflix. Ruffalo highlighted the importance of this question for the global film community, urging that it be posed immediately to both Cameron and Senator Lee to ascertain their consistency regarding industry consolidation, stating, "Speaking on behalf of hundreds of thousands of film makers world wide."

The proposed acquisition sees Netflix poised to take over Warner Bros. studios and HBO Max. However, the deal faces a crucial seven-day window, opened by Warner Bros., allowing Paramount Skydance to present a superior offer. Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are scheduled to vote on the Netflix acquisition on March 20. Amidst these discussions, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos attempted to assuage fears regarding the future of Warner Bros.' theatrical releases. In an interview with Variety, Sarandos metaphorically sealed a "blood oath," vowing that Warner Bros.' theatrical rollout strategy would "remain largely like it is today," a statement intended to reassure stakeholders concerned about the impact on traditional cinema.