Paramount agreed Friday to delay its planned $81 billion merger with Warner Brothers Discovery until next June or until the merits of a lawsuit against the merger are resolved. Twelve states, led by California, have sued to block the merger, alleging that it would "extinguish competition" in Hollywood and reduce choices for consumers. Paramount said it would not close the merger with Warner Brothers until at least five days after the lawsuit is resolved or until June 1, 2027, whichever comes first. “Today’s agreement is a significant win because the result is exactly what we have sought from the outset: a direct path to a trial based on the evidence," a Paramount spokesperson told Deadline. The federal judge will still need to approve the plan to postpone the merger before it's finalized.