UK stars warn $111bn Paramount-Warner deal may hit jobs and films

 Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong have called on the UK government to block the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, warning that the deal could cause “immense harm on the British public” by threatening jobs, independent filmmaking and media diversity. Their comments come as Paramount agreed to delay completing the takeover until a U.S. court rules on whether the transaction violates antitrust laws. Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong have called on the UK government to block the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, warning that the deal could cause “immense harm on the British public” by threatening jobs, independent filmmaking and media diversity. Their comments come as Paramount agreed to delay completing the takeover until a U.S. court rules on whether the transaction violates antitrust laws.