Actors, directors and writers write letter opposing Paramount-Warner Bros. merger

(CBS, KYMA) - A letter was released Monday with more than 1,000 signatures from prominent writers, actors and directors in Hollywood, saying they oppose Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

The letter, which is signed by big names, including Alan Cumming, Ben Stiller, Mark Ruffalo, Marisa Tomei, Kristen Stewart, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joaquin Phoenix, Don Cheadle, John Cusack, and Noah Wyle, saying the deal would harm Hollywood's already distressed entertainment industry by reducing the number of major U.S. film studios to just four.

"A Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger would be one of the most destructive threats to free speech and creative expression in our history," said Jane Fonda, founder of the modern Committee for the First Amendment. "This deal would place unprecedented power in the hands of a single corporation that already appears to have proven itself willing to sacrifice integrity for political favor. The Committee refuses to stand by, as big media corporations serve their own interests at the expense of industry workers and American consumers. We will use every tool available to block this merger."

The signers are calling for "action by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, fellow state attorneys general, and others to investigate and block this transaction."

WBD and Paramount signed a merger agreement back in February after Netflix bowed out of their deal to acquire WBD.

Last month, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) hosted a hearing to highlight the potential impact on the Paramount-WBD merger.

"Two of Hollywood's biggest studios are now seeking to merge, and the decisions made in that boardroom will land squarely on industry workers…It would be an unprecedented consolidation of media and programming," Sen. Schiff expressed.

A shareholder vote on the proposed merger is set to take place next week.