What Happens Next?

A coalition of twelve state Attorneys General, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount merger.

The lawsuit argues that the merger would substantially reduce competition in film and television markets. The states are asking the court to prevent the transaction from moving forward.

Not yet.

The lawsuit begins the legal process — it does not decide the outcome. The court has not yet determined whether the merger may proceed.

Paramount filed a joint agreement with the court stating that it will not complete the merger until five days after the court rules on the case — or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

Because the deal is now paused by agreement, the lawsuit continues as the case moves toward a full hearing on the merits. The lawsuit is still ongoing — the merger has not been approved or blocked. It is on hold while the case proceeds.

The Attorneys General argue that combining Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount would reduce competition in major film and television markets.

According to the complaint, the merger could lead to fewer opportunities for creators, less competition for film and television projects, reduced investment in programming, harm to theaters and distributors, and higher prices or fewer choices for audiences.

State Attorneys General have independent authority under antitrust law to challenge mergers they believe would substantially lessen competition.

In this case, twelve states concluded that the proposed transaction warranted legal action in federal court.

The court granted a temporary order on July 20, 2026, and on July 24, 2026 Paramount agreed not to close the merger until the court rules on the states' challenge — no later than June 1, 2027. With the deal now paused by agreement, the lawsuit continues as the case moves toward a full hearing on the merits. The case may then move through trial, a court decision, and possibly an appeal.

Every case is different, and some stages may not occur.

Major merger cases can take many months or longer. Appeals may extend the process further.

No.

On July 20, 2026, the court granted a Temporary Restraining Order preventing the companies from closing the merger. Then, on July 24, 2026, Paramount itself agreed not to close the deal until the court rules on the states' challenge — no later than June 1, 2027.

The merger is now on hold both by court order and by the companies' own agreement. The lawsuit continues as the case moves toward a full hearing on the merits.

A Temporary Restraining Order, or TRO, is a short-term emergency court order intended to preserve the status quo while the court considers whether longer-lasting relief is appropriate.

A TRO has been granted. On July 13, 2026, Attorney General Bonta filed an emergency motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking a TRO and Preliminary Injunction to immediately block the merger from closing. On July 20, 2026, the court granted the motion, temporarily preventing the merger from closing while the case proceeds.

A Preliminary Injunction is a longer-lasting order that may prevent the merger from closing while the lawsuit proceeds. It does not determine whether the merger is ultimately legal.

The July 13, 2026 emergency motion filed by Attorney General Bonta asked the court for both a TRO and a Preliminary Injunction. The court's July 20 order granting the TRO was the first temporary relief in the case. On July 24, 2026, Paramount agreed not to close the merger until the court rules — no later than June 1, 2027. That agreement keeps the merger from closing while the case proceeds toward a full hearing on the merits.

A Permanent Injunction is the final remedy requested by the states. If granted, it would permanently prohibit the proposed merger from moving forward.

No.

The lawsuit addresses one proposed merger. Broader challenges involving financing, distribution, exhibition, market concentration, and access to audiences extend beyond this case.

Future Film Coalition will continue working on those issues regardless of the lawsuit's outcome.

No — and this is exactly the moment to stay engaged.

The freeze is a milestone, not a finish line. The merger is paused, not defeated, and the case still has to be won on the merits. Public attention is what got us this far, and it is what keeps the pressure on through trial. If people step back now, that pressure fades right when it matters most.

The campaign is entering a new phase focused on public education, legal updates, research, and continuing to elevate the experiences of independent filmmakers, creative workers, small businesses, and audiences. Staying involved now matters more than ever.

#BlockTheMerger is a broad, grassroots coalition — filmmakers, creative workers, unions, exhibitors, distributors, journalists, consumer advocates, and pro-democracy and public-interest organizations who came together to oppose this merger. Dozens of organizations and thousands of individuals have been essential to the movement.

The Future Film Coalition (FFC) manages this website as an educational resource for the campaign — but the movement belongs to everyone who has spoken out, and it is far bigger than any single organization.

If you'd like to continue supporting this work, here are a few ways to help:

• Thank State AGs for taking action by tagging them in social media posts.
• Join Future Film Coalition. Become part of a growing community working to strengthen the civic, cultural, and economic infrastructure supporting independent film. Our coalition is free to join.
• Support our research. FFC is a new 501(c)(3) organization, and your tax-deductible contribution will help us produce independent research, public education resources, and policy analysis that will serve the field long after this case concludes. One of the greatest challenges facing independent film is that, despite its enormous cultural and economic contribution, our field has never had the kind of comprehensive national research that other industries rely on when making the case for public investment, economic development, or policy change. That's why we're working to launch the first national economic impact study of U.S. independent film production — providing baseline data that will help policymakers, regulators, funders, and the public better understand the industry's contribution to communities across the country. Contributions of any size will help kick this work off as soon as possible.

Together, we'll continue working toward a future where independent filmmakers, creative workers, small businesses, and audiences benefit from a more competitive, diverse, and sustainable media ecosystem.

Thank you for being part of this movement.