"Not A Done Deal": California AG Warns Paramount + WBD Merger Far From Certain

Source: Deadline

The champagne corks may be popping right now at Paramount over the David Ellison-owned company’s successful bid for Warner Bros Discovery, but up in Sacramento the mood is far from celebratory over the latest possible Hollywood mega-merger.

“Paramount/Warner Bros is not a done deal,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Deadline this evening after Netflix dropped out of bidding for WB’s studio and streaming assets.

“These two Hollywood titans have not cleared regulatory scrutiny — the California Department of Justice has an open investigation, and we intend to be vigorous in our review,” the Golden State’s top lawman added.

Bonta’s cold water on the Paramount-WBD fireworks comes a week after the CA Department of Justice opened a probe into any deal to take over WB — be it Netflix or Ellison’s team. A probe that could see legal action if the deal doesn’t pass muster.

Read more: https://deadline.com/2026/02/paramount-warner-merger-california-attorney-general-1236738292/