Paramount’s WB Bid: Could David Corenswet Be Out as Superman After Blacklist Report?

Paramount-Skydance wants to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, and that kicked up a very specific fan worry: if the deal happens, would new Superman David Corenswet get sidelined over politics? A messy rumor said yes. The actual answer is no — and the path to that answer is a little wild. Here’s what’s real, what isn’t, and where the takeover fight stands.

First, the rumor that blew up

Variety recently reported that Paramount has a list of talent it won’t work with — a do-not-book file that covers people it views as "xenophobic," "homophobic," or "overly antisemitic." The chatter around that report quickly morphed into: if an actor publicly supports Palestine, they’re in trouble with Paramount.

That speculation zeroed in on performers who signed the Film Workers Pledge to End Complicity — a statement where hundreds of industry folks commit to avoiding work with Israeli film institutions they believe are tied to crimes against Palestinians. Names like Javier Bardem, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, and Andrew Garfield signed on. The leap some people made: sign the pledge, get blacklisted by Paramount. That’s not what Paramount has publicly said, but the narrative spread fast anyway.

Did David Corenswet sign that pledge? No.

Social posts claimed he did, and it went everywhere — some cheering him, others slamming him, all of it feeding the idea that his Superman job might be at risk if Paramount ends up owning WBD.

Then the organizers of the pledge stepped in and shut it down. On Nov 4, 2025, Film Workers for Palestine said Corenswet didn’t sign. They apologized for the confusion and said someone impersonated him during their verification process. They also told a popular pro-Palestine Instagram account that a troll "went to great lengths to be David Corenswet in correspondence," and they removed his name. That Instagram post was deleted soon after.

"We would like to correct the record that David Corenswet did not sign the Film Worker Pledge to End Complicity. We have a stringent verification process but this one slipped through the cracks. We apologize for the confusion."

So no — Corenswet isn’t on that pledge, and there’s no reason to think his Superman status changes if Paramount-Skydance buys WBD. The rumor was a classic game of telephone mixed with an impersonation. Great for clicks, not for accuracy.

Where the Paramount-Skydance vs. WBD deal stands

This part is very boardroom, but it matters for everything from DC’s slate to what lands on your streaming home screen. CNBC reports that Paramount-Skydance told WBD its $23.50-per-share bid offers better value than breaking the company apart. WBD has turned down three offers so far. Here’s the current state of play, as reported by CNBC and others close to the process:

• Paramount-Skydance’s latest proposal is $23.50 per share, reportedly structured as an 80/20 equity mix.
• WBD has rejected three offers and pushed for a nondisclosure agreement that includes a standstill (meaning Paramount couldn’t launch a hostile tender offer) in exchange for data-room access.
• Paramount hasn’t signed that NDA and is keeping its options open.
• If WBD keeps stalling or chooses another path, Paramount has discussed going directly to shareholders with a hostile bid.
• Paramount would likely argue its price is strong versus WBD’s Sept 10 close at $12.54 — an 87% premium.
• The WGA has already blasted the possible merger as "a disaster for writers, for consumers, and for competition," and says it will work with regulators to try to block it.

Skydance boss David Ellison is the face of the bid, and for now both sides are circling — one pitching a friendly sale, the other demanding guardrails before they open the books. If it turns hostile, expect a very loud fall TV-movie-business season.

Bottom line: Corenswet’s Superman isn’t suddenly in danger because of a pledge he didn’t sign. The bigger story is whether Paramount-Skydance can actually pry WBD loose — and how messy they’re willing to get to do it.