Top U.S. cinema chains urge settlement of lawsuit blocking $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger

AMC, Regal and Cinemark have urged California AG Rob Bonta's 12-state coalition to settle the antitrust suit blocking Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. An emergency court order holds the deal until 2027 or a ruling. Bonta cancelled a 24 August meeting after leaks, accusing Paramount of "playing games." He calls Ellison's 30-films-per-year, 45-day-window pledge insufficient (Variety, 25 August 2026).