Skydance Investors in Talks to Gain Control of Paramount Global Via National Amusements Takeover
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Skydance Media and Paramount Global‘s controlling shareholder are engaged in talks that could fold the home of CBS, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central into a new entity controlled by the people who produce starry Hollywood franchises such as “Mission Impossible” and “Tranformers.” Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount’s corporate parent, National Amusements Inc., is in early discussions with a consortium of investors led by Skydance founder David Ellison,. (above, pictured), according to a person familiar with the matter.
The talks may not come to fruition, this person cautions, but if they do, the investors would purchase a controlling stake in National Amusements that they would subsequently use to merge Skydance with Paramount Global.
Representatives for Skydance did not respond to a query seeking comment. National Amusements and Paramount declined to comment.
Skydance has for several years produced many of the biggest films released by Paramount’s movie studio, including “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.” The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the companies were engaged in discussions.
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