Hollywood Unions Sour on AG Bonta’s Paramount Lawsuit

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is facing growing pressure to end his lawsuit challenging Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Two major Hollywood unions, the Directors Guild of America and IATSE, urged Bonta to settle the case in an open letter sent Wednesday to Bonta and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison. “While we have been consistent in our view that mergers, such as this one, historically offer few benefits to workers, we are also particularly concerned about the negative impact a delay in the decision regarding the proposed merger will have on our members and the industry at large,” the unions wrote. The letter puts the DGA and IATSE at odds with the Writers Guild of America, which has supported Bonta’s lawsuit. The letter was signed by Russell Hollander, the DGA’s national executive director, and Matthew Loeb, IATSE’s international president. “As our members struggle to find employment, the uncertainty surrounding the proposed merger is only making matters worse,” the unions stated. “We are aware of productions that have been put on hold or canceled altogether, leading to further reductions in available work for our members and other ...