Crucial Meeting Between Paramount and California AG; Seeking Settlement in Warner Bros. Antitrust Case
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, representatives for Paramount Skydance are scheduled to meet with officials from the California Attorney General’s Office on Monday to discuss a potential settlement in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Paramount is pushing hard for a settlement to clear the path toward finalizing its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery—a deal currently suspended by court order, with a trial scheduled for March in Oakland federal court.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta noted that the door for dialogue remains open, but emphasized that Paramount has so far failed to offer the structural remedies necessary to address the states’ legal concerns.
In an official statement addressing the matter, Bonta stated: “As I’ve said before, my preference is always to resolve disputes in the conference room rather than the courtroom. If the other side is willing to work in good faith toward a resolution, we will talk. However, any discussion regarding the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger without serious, fundamental structural remedies will be non-viable.”
The California AG reiterated his stance on the merger’s harmful consequences for consumers, adding: “Under current conditions, the proposed merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount means higher costs, diminished competition, lower wages, job cuts, and ultimately fewer movies and television shows produced. This merger violates long-standing federal antitrust laws, and we are committed to enforcing the law.”
In July, Bonta led a coalition of 12 states in filing a lawsuit against the merger, arguing that the transaction would illegally restrict the theatrical distribution market and basic cable networks. The deal would combine two of Hollywood’s legacy five major studios and two dominant players among the top three television networks.
In recent days, several influential Hollywood entities—including the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and the Cinema United theater owners association—have called on both sides to reach a settlement. California Governor Gavin Newsom has also expressed hope that the dispute will be resolved through a reasonable settlement rather than trial.
Although Paramount pledged to produce 30 feature films annually for three years with a minimum 45-day exclusive theatrical window to satisfy regulators, the AG’s office views such behavioral commitments as historically difficult to monitor and enforce. Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has filed a separate lawsuit against the merger, which is slated to be heard alongside the states’ case in March.
