California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading an effort to block a potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charlie Gasparino discusses the regulatory battle, while actor Mark Ruffalo urges officials to stop the deal. While Paramount has yet to announce its official departure from Hollywood, Los Angeles officials are on high alert after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Attorney General Rob Bonta were told that an exit announcement was imminent. While TMZ reported the statement was expected Tuesday, no announcement has been made. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance officials in Nashville have been seen scouting commercial properties as the studio considers moving some of its operations there, according to people with knowledge of the search in a new report. The studio has already analyzed more than 400,000 square feet of potential space in Music City, according to a Politico report. Other possible relocation options on the table include Texas and Georgia. Paramount declined to comment on reports of a possible move when contacted by Fox News Digital. The Paramount Studios sign in Los Angeles on April 23, 2026. (Noah Suave/Getty Images)PARAMOUNT’S FUTURE IN CALIFORNIA IN DOUBT AMID ESCALING LEGAL FIGHT “We cannot comment on a company’s plans,” Bonta’s office told Fox News Digital. “It’s no secret that Paramount has been making this threat despite its supposed commitment to California and Hollywood. What Paramount decides to do is Paramount’s sole decision. We will continue to enforce the law without fear or favor and remain open to coming to the table for good faith discussions.” Bonta told MS NOW on Thursday that Los Angeles officials are still willing to come to the table and negotiate. “We’ve heard this threat before, and it’s inconsistent with other things they’ve said,” he said. “If they decide to leave, that’s their independent choice. I’m not asking for it. I don’t want it, obviously, and that responsibility will fall at their feet.” CNN STAFF VIEWS PARAMOUNT MERGER AS ‘INEVITABLE’ DESPITE LEGAL BATTLE DELAYING ELLISON ACQUISITION California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks to the media after UC Irvine School of Social Ecology graduation ceremonies in Irvine. California, June 16, 2025. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images/Getty Images) Bonta was also asked about the possible move on Thursday at the Atlantic Festival in New York. “We will do our job,” he said. “We have the job of enforcing the law without fear and without favor, and at the same time, we are always open to coming to the table if it is in good faith and sincere. And we will always explore an opportunity to get the results we want with our evaluation of the case at the table.” CNN STAFF PREPARE FOR PARAMOUNT CEO’S POTENTIAL PLAN TO LAUNCH EDITORIAL BOARD TO OVERSIGHT THE NETWORK Other state attorneys general, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Paramount in an attempt to block the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. They claimed the merger would eliminate competition in movie distribution and basic cable, while negatively affecting industry workers and consumers. For his part, Paramount CEO David Ellison threatened to move the iconic studio out of the Golden State if Bonta did not back down and a deal was not reached by October 1. reached. Fox News Digital’s Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
