California Attorney General Cancels Paramount Merger Talks, Citing Bad Faith

California Attorney General Rob Bonta canceled settlement talks with Paramount late Sunday regarding its proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros.

Discovery. Bonta accused Paramount of leaking and misrepresenting private discussions, stating this demonstrated a lack of good faith. He indicated his office would meet again when Paramount stops playing games and engages sincerely. California and 11 other states filed a lawsuit on July 13 to block the merger, arguing it would diminish competition in movie distribution and cable television.

The lawsuit claims the combined company would control nearly one-third of theatrical motion pictures and basic cable programming, harming theaters, pay-TV distributors, consumers, and workers. Paramount countered that the acquisition would expand output, with CEO David Ellison promising 30 annual movies, a pledge regulators dismissed as unenforceable. Paramount has threatened to leave California if the merger is blocked.

California Democrats, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, have publicly pushed for a resolution due to concerns about Hollywood jobs. The merger is paused, with a trial scheduled for March. Paramount faces hundreds of millions of dollars in fees if the deal is not closed by October. Actor Mark Ruffalo rejected Paramount Skydance's accusation of using antisemitic tropes in his criticism of the merger.

Ruffalo highlighted links between Paramount Skydance (David Ellison) and Oracle (Larry Ellison), noting Oracle's supply of software to the Israel Defense Forces for decades. Larry Ellison agreed to personally backstop $40.4 billion in equity financing for the deal. Paramount stated it is troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked. Groups including the Anti-Defamation League condemned Ruffalo's comments.