David Ellison Floats Hollywood Exit as States Threaten His Warner Bros. Deal

Mr. Ellison told Paramount executives he is considering pulling the company out of California amid a lawsuit brought by state attorneys general.

California has seen production spend stabilize in recent months, though Paramount could undermine that recovery. Attorney general Rob Bonta called the threat "another attempt to blackmail the state."

Paramount’s board has approved a plan to move the Hollywood studio out of California if the state’s attorney general Rob Bonta doesn't agree to settlement talks in his bitter antitrust case by Oct. 1, according to reports.