WGA Condemns Ellison's Threat to Relocate Paramount from California

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has sharply criticized Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison's threat to relocate the studio from California unless state Attorney General Rob Bonta settles an antitrust lawsuit blocking the proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. In a statement to Deadline, the guild argued that Ellison's threat demonstrates the company's outsized power over the industry and its disregard for the rule of law, further justifying the merger's blockage. The WGA has filed its own lawsuit, jointly with WGA East and West, in the Northern District of California, seeking to halt the $110 billion acquisition on federal antitrust grounds, citing specific harm to writers. The guild chose to file separately from Bonta and 20 state attorneys general to address labor-specific concerns, though the cases are related and assigned to the same judge. Bonta's case is scheduled for trial in March 2027, and he has dismissed Ellison's threat as blackmail. Ellison made his comments at a meeting with top executives, stating he would begin the process of exiting California on October 1 unless a settlement is reached. That date coincides with the start of a $7 million per day ticking fee under the WBD deal terms. Paramount had requested a November trial date. The dispute has drawn comparisons to the Disney-Fox merger, with commenters debating the merits and political motivations, including Ellison's ties to former President Trump.