Aug 13, 08:01 PM

Paramount Skydance Maps 20-Film Slate and Franchise Revivals Under Ellison

Newly installed Paramount Skydance chief executive David Ellison laid out an ambitious blueprint for the combined studio, pledging to return the 112-year-old Hollywood brand to the top tier of filmmaking and streaming. Speaking to reporters after the $8 billion merger closed on Aug. 7, Ellison said the company will boost film production to 15–20 titles annually while also "significantly" enlarging the pipeline for its Paramount+ and Pluto streaming services. Ellison identified Top Gun 3 as an immediate priority and confirmed discussions to bring Michael Bay back to steer future installments of the Transformers franchise. Paramount will also revive dormant properties including Star Trek, G.I. Joe and the Brad Pitt-led zombie thriller World War Z. Co-chair Dana Goldberg added that the studio intends to lean into broad-appeal theatrical family movies, citing The Goonies and Night at the Museum as creative touchstones. The executive team, which now includes former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Shell as president and former Netflix content executive Cindy Holland overseeing streaming, signaled a shift away from the asset sales contemplated by the prior regime. Ellison said BET Networks is “no longer for sale” and will be integral to the company’s streaming strategy. Financial backing for the expansion comes from RedBird Capital Partners. Founder Gerry Cardinale, whose firm holds a significant stake in the new entity, told reporters he is "betting my firm and career" on Paramount Skydance’s transformation and expects a strong return on the increased investment.

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Paramount Skydance Maps 20-Film Slate and Franchise Revivals Under Ellison

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