As Mayor Karen Bass called for a quick resolution to the standoff, her rival in the 2026 elections, Nithya Raman, said the legal process should take its course.

Bonta says the group seeking to block the deal remains open to settlement talks but wants Paramount to address the antitrust concerns at the center of their lawsuit.

After new Paramount CEO David Ellison made commitments that would benefit movie theaters, Cinemark joined AMC and Regal in recommending the merger go through. “The enduring success of our industry requires a healthy theatrical ecosystem supported by financially sound studios and exhibitors that can effectively create,

The CEO and board chair of the trade organization Cinema United suggested that the merger dispute could halt box office momentum and inject disastrous uncertainty into the marketplace.

The country's three biggest chains, Cinemark, Regal, and AMC are supporting Paramount's proposed merger with Warner Bros.

The odds are higher than they were before 12 states sued to block the merger, but lower than after Paramount delayed the acquisition in late July.

The mayor previously stated that she opposed the $111 billion merger deal unless jobs were preserved in the transaction.