Twelve States File Lawsuit to Block Paramount‑Warner Merger
Originally published Jul 13, 2026
By Gmaddaus · Variety
AI-generated summary based on Variety · Aggregated by Filmarian · Human-reviewed and approved on Jul 13, 2026
Key points
- Twelve states allege the merger breaches antitrust law.
- The deal is valued at $111 billion.
- The DOJ approved the merger despite state objections.
A coalition of twelve U.S. states filed an antitrust lawsuit on Monday seeking to stop the $111 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. The suit alleges that the transaction violates the Clayton Act by reducing competition in the entertainment market.
The legal action directly challenges a Department of Justice approval granted last month, with California Attorney General Rob Bonta leading the states' effort. If successful, the lawsuit could halt or reshape the proposed consolidation.
Read the original story: Variety — by Gmaddaus