Twitter did not seek sales. Now Elon Musk will not buy. Cue Strange Legal Drama.

Elon Musk’s settlement with Twitter has set the stage for what could be one of the most unusual courtroom battles in the history of a takeover – a rejected acquisition target that has never sought to be bought, and potentially tries to force the buyer who buzzed on the deal to see it through.

In just over three months, Mr. Musk aggressively pursued a takeover that Twitter first resisted, then triumphed and gave up – while using the platform itself to ridicule Twitter and its leaders and hint at his changing intentions.