Paramount CEO Confident Merger with Warner Bros. Discovery Will Close

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Paramount Global CEO David Ellison reaffirmed confidence in completing the $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery despite ongoing antitrust lawsuits in the U.S. and opposition from UK actors warning of job losses and reduced creative output. The merger remains on hold pending legal rulings, with key regulatory decisions expected later this year that will determine the fate of the combined media giant.

Paramount Global CEO David Ellison expressed strong confidence on Monday that the company will successfully complete its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, despite ongoing legal challenges and opposition from prominent actors in the United Kingdom. The proposed $110 billion merger, which would combine two major media conglomerates, remains under scrutiny amid antitrust concerns.

Ellison communicated to Paramount staff that the company has complied with antitrust regulations and has secured approvals or non-opposition from competition authorities in 65 jurisdictions worldwide, including the European Commission, the United States, China, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, and South Korea. He emphasized that, but for pending lawsuits, the merger could have closed in recent weeks.

“We remain highly confident that this transaction does not pose any legal issues, and we will complete it and bring these two companies together,” Ellison wrote, noting that the deal is currently on hold as legal proceedings continue. Paramount agreed last Friday not to finalize the acquisition until a U.S. court rules on antitrust lawsuits filed by a coalition of 12 states led by California and a separate legal action by the Writers Guild of America. The merger agreement includes an expiration date of June 4, 2027, by which the deal must be closed.

Meanwhile, opposition has also intensified in the UK, where actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong publicly urged Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to block the merger. In an opinion piece published Monday, the actors warned that the combined entity could lead to significant job losses, fewer commissioned projects, and reduced creative risks in British film and television. They characterized the transaction as a “calamity” for UK media and urged urgent intervention.

Nandy has indicated that she is “minded to intervene” in the deal, raising the prospect of a full public-interest investigation, but has yet to make a final decision. The UK government is expected to announce its position when Parliament reconvenes following the summer recess in September.

As the legal and regulatory processes continue, both companies face uncertainty over the timing and ultimate fate of the merger, which would reshape the global media landscape by uniting Paramount’s portfolio—including CBS, Paramount Pictures, MTV, and Nickelodeon—with Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets.

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