California Attorney General Rob Bonta has canceled a scheduled meeting with Paramount Skydance concerning the company's planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, citing a “lack of good faith” from Paramount in settlement negotiations. Bonta accused Paramount of leaking and misrepresenting the substance of earlier discussions, which he said breached confidentiality and undermined trust. He indicated that negotiations could resume once Paramount engages sincerely in the process.

The attorney general is spearheading a coalition of 12 states in a lawsuit aimed at blocking Paramount Skydance’s roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on antitrust grounds. The states argue that the merger would result in an oversized media conglomerate with excessive control over films and TV programming, which could harm competition in the entertainment industry. Paramount has agreed to delay the deal’s closing until June 2027 as the litigation proceeds toward a trial set for March.

Paramount responded to the cancellation by asserting it had reassured the attorney general’s office that it was not responsible for the leaks. The company expressed hope for continuing constructive negotiations to resolve the lawsuit and emphasized its commitment to boosting competition and content production, benefiting industry talent and workers. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment on the development.

Bonta has maintained readiness to negotiate but stands firm on the need for “robust structural remedies” to address antitrust concerns. He has characterized the legal challenge as a clear-cut case and prefers settling disputes through dialogue rather than courtroom battles. However, until Paramount demonstrates sincerity in settlement talks, further meetings remain off the table.