Insiders blow lid on top secret actor ‘blacklist’ at Paramount that’s tearing Hollywood apart… and start naming names

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It’s the mysterious list that’s shaking Hollywood’s most outspoken and progressive stars.

Rumors in Hollywood suggest that Paramount, now owned by billionaire David Ellison (a supporter of Donald Trump), is creating a ‘blacklist’ to limit work opportunities for prominent actors and actresses with views considered unacceptable by the new ownership.

During his first 100 days as CEO of Paramount, Bob Bakish has used personal funds to begin a significant shift in the company’s culture.

At age 42, the new leader of CBS News caused significant changes by hiring Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief. Weiss then made the decision to lay off approximately 1,000 employees.

People familiar with the situation say Ellison wants to shift Paramount’s focus away from appealing primarily to liberal viewers and instead attract a wider audience, particularly those in middle America.

Several exciting films are in the works, including a third Top Gun movie, a video game adaptation of Call of Duty, and a high-octane motocross film with Timothée Chalamet. These projects are aiming for broad appeal with action-packed stories and a focus on entertainment, avoiding controversial political themes.

And he’s also trying to flip the script on Hollywood standards that have been common for decades.

Variety reported this week that studio executives have been privately reviewing the past behavior of actors, looking for instances of anti-Semitism, prejudice against LGBTQ+ people, and hostility towards foreigners.

A new strict policy could make it difficult for actors and actresses to get roles in big-budget projects if they’ve publicly expressed opinions about the war in Gaza or are known supporters of Donald Trump (MAGA).

I’m hearing from people within the industry that a serious crackdown is happening, and they’re starting to share what this could mean for everyone involved. It’s becoming clear this isn’t just a minor issue – it could really shake things up.

According to a source at Paramount, although there’s an unofficial list of people, it’s not written down anywhere – but those involved are well aware of who’s included.

And executives are taking note of stars who could be deemed too risky in a major project.

We don’t have a formal blacklist, but the job market is incredibly competitive right now.

We look at a lot of content, but only purchase a small fraction of it – for every show or movie we buy, there are many more we pass on. We carefully evaluate everything, including who’s starring in it.

We understand that some celebrities can be divisive and attract controversy. While we wouldn’t automatically dismiss a project featuring someone like Susan Sarandon or Mark Ruffalo, it would need to be an exceptionally strong project that we feel confident in supporting.

We’re interested in collaborating with talents like Ramy Youssef and Pedro Pascal, but we need to carefully consider the potential impact of their public statements before making a financial commitment. While Emma Stone publicly supported a certain cause, her talent is undeniable and we would be foolish not to explore a partnership.

We don’t have a formal blacklist, but we keep track of people we’ve worked with. If a project is really good, we’re happy to collaborate with anyone.

The Daily Mail has contacted Paramount for comment. 

In September, Paramount was the first major movie studio to publicly speak out against an open letter signed by many prominent figures. The letter called for a boycott of Israeli film organizations and described the conflict in Gaza as ‘genocide and apartheid’.

The letter was signed by a group of prominent figures including actors Emma Stone, Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Hannah Einbinder, Aimee Lou Wood, Peter Sarsgaard, Rooney Mara, and Academy Award-winning director Yorgos Lanthimos.

It’s unclear if any of them were on the supposed internal list, but Daily Mail executives have privately acknowledged that these individuals are considered when new projects are being discussed.

Last November, Susan Sarandon said she believed she was being professionally excluded after publicly supporting Gaza and sharing her views on Israel and Jewish people.

It’s been incredibly tough. I recently learned my agency let me go and cancelled all my upcoming work. Honestly, it feels like I’m being held up as a cautionary tale – a prime example of how not to behave if you want to continue a career in this industry. It’s really disheartening.

Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, actress Melissa Barrera, known for her role in Scream 7, was let go by Spyglass Entertainment after she shared posts critical of Israel’s reaction to the attacks.

Barrera shared on Instagram that she doesn’t hold individuals accountable for the actions of their leaders, and that all authorities should be open to scrutiny.

I constantly hope for an end to loss of life, violence, and a future where everyone can live together peacefully. I will keep using my voice to support those who are vulnerable and will continue to fight for peace, security, human rights, and freedom.

‘Silence is not an option for me.’

Spyglass stated they have absolutely no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech, and that includes denying or misrepresenting the genocide of the Holocaust.

Despite the perception of Ellison’s plans for Paramount, he insists it’s not the case.

According to Ellison, their company prioritizes entertainment, and they consider everyone a potential viewer or customer. He stated this at a press conference earlier this year.

We’re not getting involved in politics here. Our priority is simply supporting talented filmmakers and letting them create amazing films.

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2025-11-08 04:19