A US court has extended its order pausing Paramount’s proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, meaning the deal cannot close before 18 August. The extension gives Paramount and the states challenging the merger more time to agree how a preliminary-injunction case will proceed, a decision that could determine whether the acquisition is stopped before completion.

The states argue the merger would weaken competition in major cinema distribution and cable licensing, while the Writers Guild of America has separately alleged it would reduce pay and worsen contractual terms. Paramount disputes the market analysis and seeks a three-day evidentiary hearing; it faces a 30 September closing deadline, after which a $6.9 million-a-day contractual penalty would apply, and the court will hear arguments on 3 August.