Hollywood Unions Urge Settlement in Paramount-Warner Antitrust Lawsuit

Two major Hollywood unions representing a combined 200,000 workers are urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison to settle their antitrust lawsuit over the proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, citing the damaging impact of prolonged uncertainty on industry employment. The Directors Guild of America and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees sent a joint letter on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, outlining a list of conditions they say should be part of any agreement to resolve the legal battle.

The letter from DGA Executive Director Russell Hollander and IATSE President Matthew Loeb comes as the entertainment industry faces a production slowdown. "As our members struggle to find employment, the uncertainty surrounding the proposed merger is only making matters worse," the union leaders wrote. They noted that productions have been put on hold or canceled, leading to further reductions in available work. The unions' position contrasts with that of the Writers Guild of America, which has joined Bonta's coalition of state attorneys general in filing lawsuits to block the deal, arguing it would decimate...