California sues to block Paramount-Warner Bros deal

The deal would combine two notable film studios as well as streaming platforms Paramount+ and HBO Max.

The coalition behind the lawsuit is led by the California attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has been a staunch critic of the merger since it was agreed to in February after a bidding war between David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Netflix.

All of them spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive legal matter before it was public.

Paramount, which was bought by Skydance just last year, wants all of Warner.