Benedict Cumberbatch is urging the UK government to stop Paramount’s proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. In a Guardian op ed published July 27, 2026, Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming , and Benedict Wong called the deal a potential disaster for British film, television, workers, and news media. The actors are asking Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene before Parliament returns from its summer break in September. Nandy has told lawmakers she is “minded to intervene,” but she has not yet decided whether the merger should face a full public interest investigation. Why Are the Actors Sounding the Alarm? Cumberbatch, Cumming, and Wong said the consolidation could threaten the livelihoods of thousands of people working in the UK screen industry. Their concerns also extend to news ownership, since the combined company would include 5 News, CNN International, and CBS News under the same corporate umbrella. The op ed also pointed to reports that Paramount’s chief executive told Donald Trump he would make major changes at CNN if the transaction closes, arguing that alleged editorial promises to a politician deserve scrutiny before regulators approve the deal. Paramount has been approached for comment, while the actors described Nandy’s pending decision as potentially one of the most consequential cultural policy calls in a generation.