Paramount and US State Attorneys General set to meet Monday
August 22, 2026 17.55 Europe/London By Robert Briel

Paramount Skydance representatives are expected to meet Monday with the California Attorney General’s office to explore whether the multistate antitrust lawsuit blocking the company’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery can be settled, according to two people familiar with the talks, reports Variety.

The merger — which would combine two of Hollywood’s legacy studios and two of the three largest U.S. cable programmers — is currently paused under a court stipulation. A federal trial is scheduled for March in Oakland.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has repeatedly said he is open to negotiations, but also that Paramount has so far refused to offer the “robust structural remedies” he believes are necessary to address the states’ concerns about market concentration.

A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment when asked by Variety.

In a statement Friday night, Bonta reiterated that he prefers resolving disputes outside the courtroom — but only if Paramount is prepared to discuss meaningful concessions: “Any potential discussions about the Paramount–Warner Brothers merger will be unproductive absent robust structural remedies on the table that address our concerns,” Bonta said.

He also repeated his view that the merger would harm consumers: “The proposed Warner Bros./Paramount merger will mean higher costs, less competition, lower wages, job cuts, and fewer movies and TV shows.”

Bonta is leading a coalition of 12 states that sued in July, arguing the merger would illegally reduce competition in theatrical distribution and basic cable. The Writers Guild of America has filed a parallel lawsuit, which will be tried alongside the states’ case.

Under federal rules, both sides must attempt mediation before trial. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin has asked the parties to propose two magistrate judges by next Wednesday.

A number of influential groups have recently urged the parties to settle, including: the Directors Guild of America, IATSE, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Cinema United, representing major theater chains.

California Governor Gavin Newsom also signaled support for a negotiated resolution, saying Friday: “I think there’s some universal sentiment there… The question is is that possible. And what’s the best deal? That has to be worked through.”

Paramount has floated several commitments aimed at easing regulatory concerns, including producing 30 films per year for the next three years and guaranteeing exclusive theatrical windows of at least 45 days.

But Bonta’s office has argued that such behavioral remedies are historically difficult to enforce and do not address the underlying structural issues.

The WGA, as a party to the stipulation that paused the merger, would also need to be involved in any global settlement. The guild did not respond to a request for comment.