Paramount executives are seriously considering relocating operations out of California as the antitrust lawsuit over its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery drags on. CEO David Ellison and chief legal officer Makan Delrahim have indicated the company could begin moving as early as October if settlement talks with California and 11 other states fail to progress.

The legal battle has delayed Ellison's consolidation strategy, which aims to combine Paramount with CBS and its streaming services alongside Warner Bros. Discovery - the parent company of HBO and CNN.

Delrahim stated at a Politico-sponsored conference that the company would ultimately "go to a place where you're wanted," signaling growing frustration with the prolonged regulatory scrutiny.

The potential relocation represents a significant shift for the Hollywood-based studio, with executives reportedly exploring alternatives to maintain momentum on their ambitious media merger strategy.