Paramount will have to wait until March 2027 to face off in court against the dozen states opposing its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

A California federal judge said Tuesday that the antitrust trial will begin March 2 with an expectation that it will run for 12 court days.

The timeline the judge laid out in a written order is much later than the November 2026 start date Paramount had sought. California Attorney General Rob Bonta had petitioned for an April 2027 start.

The order will prove costly for Paramount. Its agreement with Warner includes a "ticking fee" with payments to Warner shareholders of roughly $650 million a quarter, beginning this October, until the transaction closes.

Updates to follow as news develops.