The Writers Guild of America filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal violates federal antitrust law and would harm writers by reducing competition in theatrical films, episodic television, and streaming series. The complaint came one day after a coalition of 12 U.S. states sued to block the merger.
The WGA lawsuit focuses on anticompetitive effects in anticipated top-grossing films, episodic television and streaming series, and overall deals. The merger would bring together HBO Max and Paramount+ streaming platforms and place CNN and CBS News under one ownership umbrella.
Paramount Skydance aims to close the acquisition by the end of September 2026 and would pay approximately $650 million per quarter in ticking fees if closing extends past that deadline. The European Union has set July 22 as a provisional deadline for reviewing the deal, while British regulators have yet to approve the transaction. CEO David Ellison has promised a slate of 30 movies annually after the merger.