Paramount CEO David Ellison is at the final hurdle before buying WBD. So far, he can't clear it

David Ellison — the founder of a film production company and son of billionaire Larry Ellison — has been at the helm of Paramount Skydance for just over a year. He's been fighting to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for nearly as long. The latest roadblock in his path, a group of state attorneys general seeking to stop the deal, may be his toughest yet. The antitrust hurdle and related delay have left the CEO hunting for avenues to get the deal done. The delay in closing Paramount's acquisition of WBD could add hefty costs on top of the $110 billion proposed price tag at a time when media companies across the landscape are under intense pressure. Yet, with a trial in the antitrust case set for March, Ellison has never felt more confident that the deal not only makes sense, but will get completed, according to a person familiar with his thinking, who asked to remain unnamed to speak candidly. More CNBC coverage of the Paramount-WBD deal"The company believes strongly in this," Paramount's lead trial attorney Jeffrey Kessler said on CNBC in July, adding the company was prepared to bring the matter to the Supreme Court if necessary. Still, Ellison appears to be making little ground with ...