Federal Judge Halts Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Following State Antitrust Lawsuit

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on July 20, 2026, pausing the proposed $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery for at least 14 days. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading a coalition of twelve state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit alleging the deal would violate U.S. antitrust laws, potentially reducing competition and increasing costs for consumers and movie theaters. This legal challenge introduces significant uncertainty into one of Hollywood's largest potential mergers in decades.