Paramount and California to at least pretend to try to settle their Warner Bros. grudge match

Paramount and California are reportedly on the verge of settling their ongoing dispute over the merger of Warner Bros. Paramount and the state of California are reportedly set to meet for a two-day in-person negotiation session to try to resolve their differences. The Writers Guild Of America, one of several labor groups skeptical of the $111 billion merger, will also reportedly be involved in the talks.

The conflict between Paramount and California has been tense, with state attorney general Rob Bonta leading a coalition of AGs opposing the acquisition. Paramount has threatened to pull its business out of the state entirely, while Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed a preference for avoiding such a move. Both sides are reportedly unwilling to budge on their positions, which could lead to a trial in 2027.

The negotiations are set to begin at the end of October, with Paramount facing a "ticking" fee of $7 million per day starting on October 1. Despite the potential financial impact, Ellison and his father, Larry, seem to view the figure as inconsequential.