California Eyes Robert Van Nest for Paramount's $110 Billion Deal Fight as States Ready Suit
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 9
California Eyes Robert Van Nest for Paramount's $110 Billion Deal Fight as States Ready Suit
1 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 9
Summary
Robert Van Nest met California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office on Friday about representing California and other states in a lawsuit expected within a month to block Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Several states — including New York, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Connecticut and Tennessee — are discussing joining California, with investigators focusing so far on theatrical distribution, streaming and news markets.
Van Nest would face Paramount’s team led by Jeffrey Kessler and former DOJ antitrust chief Makan Delrahim; California has added $14.3 million for antitrust litigation as federal enforcement pulls back.
Regulatory pressure is widening beyond the states: the Justice Department, FCC, EU and consumers remain potential obstacles, and U.K. regulators on Tuesday opened a probe with an Aug. 7 deadline for a deeper review decision.
Is blocking this media merger protecting competition, or is it crippling a potential rival to giants like Netflix and Disney?
With $79B in debt, can a merged Paramount-WBD truly innovate or is it destined to collapse under its own weight?
$110 Billion Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Faces State-Led Antitrust Showdown and Global Regulatory Scrutiny
Overview
A major $110–$111 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, approved by Warner Bros. Discovery’s shareholders in April 2026, is facing strong opposition. A coalition of U.S. states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, is preparing an antitrust lawsuit to block the deal, citing concerns about reduced competition, lower wages, and significant job losses in the entertainment industry. Hollywood professionals and workers have also voiced fears about the merger’s negative impact. In response, Paramount hired top antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler in May 2026 to defend the acquisition, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle.