Twelve states, including California and New York, sued to block Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on Monday, arguing that the $81-billion US merger would "extinguish competition" in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers across the U.S.

The deal already cleared federal regulators, but now faces a challenge from a coalition of 12 states.

A group of Democratic states is challenging Trump’s Department of Justice to block Paramount’s takeover.