Emmy-winning actor Mark Ruffalo has claimed that Hollywood figures are “afraid” to oppose the proposed merger of studios Paramount and Warner Brothers. In April, shareholders at media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery approved a $81bn merger with competitor Paramount – which would result in the latter company owning HBO Max, the Harry Potter franchise and news outlet CNN. The deal has been criticised by industry professionals and politicians, who fear cost-cutting measures being brought in and Trump-friendly editorial changes at CNN as a result. Mark Ruffalo, who has been an outspoken critic of the merger, has spoken out against the deal in a new opinion piece – revealing that fellow actors are too scared to sign an open letter protesting against the merger.…