Los Angeles Mayor Calls on California AG and Paramount to Resolve Antitrust Dispute Over Warner Bros. Merger
Mayor Karen Bass urged Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount to negotiate a settlement in the 12-state antitrust case blocking the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, citing concerns for jobs and production in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday appealed to California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount Pictures to reach a settlement in the 12-state antitrust lawsuit that has halted Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Bass said the prolonged legal battle is harming workers, halting productions and threatening the city’s entertainment industry.
"While there are varying perspectives on the proposed transaction, today we are united around one clear message: It is time for all parties to come to the table," Bass told reporters.
She added that any agreement must contain enforceable commitments to keep both companies’ operations in Los Angeles and preserve jobs, productions and investments in the region. Bass emphasized that the issue is not about taking sides but about protecting the city’s long-standing role as an entertainment hub.
The mayor’s remarks followed meetings with labor leaders and members of the city’s Entertainment Industry Council. A recent Los Angeles County report estimated the merger could eliminate about 4,500 film and TV jobs over three years and accelerate a downturn that has already cost roughly 52,000 jobs in the past four years.
Paramount has paused the merger pending the lawsuit, which is scheduled for trial on March 2, 2027, but faces a daily $7 million fee that begins on Oct. 1 if the deal does not close. CEO David Ellison warned that the company may begin relocating out of California as early as Oct. 1 unless the merger is finalized by the end of September, a move Bonta described as an attempt to pressure the state.
Industry groups are divided: the three largest theater chains and the Directors Guild of America have urged a settlement, while the Writers Guild of America has filed its own antitrust suit to block the merger. Bass said a swift resolution is essential to avoid further instability for thousands of workers and families.
The Writers Guild criticized Bass for aligning with Paramount, accusing her of joining a “pressure campaign” against public enforcers and urging the mayor to prioritize legal compliance and worker protection.