Paramount CEO David Ellison is actively evaluating a potential move to Austin, Texas, as an antitrust battle looms over his proposed merger of Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery. The media mogul has threatened to begin relocating jobs out of California if state Attorney General Rob Bonta does not reach a settlement by October 1.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Ellison and his partners are in advanced negotiations for a large commercial development in Austin known as the Bluebonnet Business Center. This site, located at 9219 Old Manor Road, features Building 4, a 415,000-square-foot facility that could serve as a new studio base. For comparison, Paramount's Los Angeles lot spans approximately 360,000 square feet, while Warner Bros. operates nearly 1 million square feet of soundstage space across Los Angeles.
The potential shift is seen by some as a strategy to reduce costs by moving away from California's higher taxes, regulations, and unionized workforce. One insider criticized Attorney General Bonta's actions, stating they are "trying to kill Hollywood jobs in California while boosting real estate commissions in Texas."
Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has reportedly threatened to start moving operations from California if Bonta does not agree to settle his antitrust allegations by the October deadline. Public records show ongoing work at the Austin site, including the construction of a 25,685-square-foot executive landing suite. Filings dated June 27, 2025, list a $350,000 budget for this buildout, with Powers Brown Architecture designing the space. Municipal permits indicate that specialized contractors are performing upgrades to power, plumbing, and wiring at the property.
This move, if finalized, would represent a significant win for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has actively sought to attract entertainment productions and businesses with tax incentives and state film packages. Austin already has a developing studio infrastructure, including Robert Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios and facilities operated by the Austin Film Society.
A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Representatives for the property's developer and broker also did not respond to requests for comment, as did a spokesperson for Opportunity Austin, an economic development group.