Paramount has been hit with an antitrust lawsuit seeking to block its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Deadline reports. Filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court, the 46-page complaint was brought by five consumers, Pamela Faust, Len Marazzo, Lisa McCarthy, Deborah Rubinsohn, and Gary Talewsky, who are also seeking to undo Paramount’s previous acquisition of Skydance Media.

Deadline notes the lawsuit aims to stop the proposed $111 billion merger, which has already received support from the Trump administration. The complaint argues that combining Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery would reduce competition across television, streaming, and news media.

Paramount responded to the lawsuit in a statement defending the proposed merger. Deadline quotes a company spokesperson, who told the outlet, “We are aware of the private action filed today in federal district court and are confident that it is without merit.” The spokesperson also argued that combining Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery would “create a stronger competitor” that would better support creative talent and consumer choice.

However, the plaintiffs strongly disagree with that position, claiming the deal would place too much control over entertainment and news content in the hands of a single company. The lawsuit specifically points to CNN as a major concern and focus in this merger.

The filing argues that placing CNN and other news assets under Paramount’s control would reduce the number of independent companies capable of operating large-scale national television news networks. The complaint also claims the merger could weaken competition in news coverage and reduce viewpoint diversity across media.

CNN’s role in the lawsuit also places the network at the center of the ongoing political debate surrounding the merger. The report notes that CNN has remained a frequent target of criticism from conservative political figures in recent years.

mxdwn has previously covered growing opposition surrounding the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. An earlier report covered an open letter signed by Hollywood creatives who argued that the merger could reduce job opportunities and limit creative output across the entertainment industry.

That coverage highlighted broader fears surrounding media consolidation and the growing concentration of power among major entertainment companies. The lawsuit adds another major challenge to the merger as legal and political scrutiny surrounding the proposed deal continues to grow.

As of now, the merger has been approved by WBD shareholders, while Paramount faces increasing opposition from industry figures and legal challengers.