top of page
KRIS AVALON

Search


Paramount Requests States and WGA Be Required to Post $1.9 Billion Bond to Cover Financial Losses While Warner Bros. Merger Is Stuck on Hold Pending Trial
David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance asked the judge overseeing the antitrust lawsuits filed by 12 states and the WGA to force the plaintiffs to pony up a whopping $1.88 billion bond to cover the company’s losses related to the delay in its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. via: Reuters Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), opens new tab on Monday asked a U.S. judge to require a dozen states challenging its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab to post a $1.88 b
Kris Avalon
2 days ago2 min read


David Ellison Says He’ll Pull Paramount Out of California Starting Oct. 1 if States Refuse to Negotiate Settlement in Antitrust Suit
Paramount CEO David Ellison told a group of the company’s top executives that he will start the process of exiting California on October 1 if the state’s Attorney General Rob Bonta will not negotiate to settle an antitrust suit around the planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. via: Variety David Ellison is eager to reach a swift resolution in the antitrust case filed by 12 states seeking to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. And, in a move seemingly aimed
Kris Avalon
Aug 124 min read


Paramount Q2 Profit Dips, With Streaming Boost Offset by TV Declines
Paramount $PARA 0.00% Skydance reported second-quarter results on Tuesday and raised its full-year profit outlook, as growth in streaming and film offset a continued decline in its cable television business. via: Variety Paramount Skydance said second-quarter profit fell, even as the company was boosted by its streaming media and studios operations, while its large TV division shed ad dollars and subscribers. David Ellison, the company’s CEO, vowed that its deal to acquire Wa
Kris Avalon
Aug 52 min read


Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Judge Sets March 2027 Trial Date for Antitrust Fight
A federal judge has set a March 2027 trial date for the antitrust challenges to Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. via: Deadline A federal judge has set the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger trial for next March. The date is much closer to the timeline sought by state attorneys general and the Writers Guild America, who sued to block the transaction, rather than a trial start this fall favored by Paramount. U.S. District Judge Arace
Kris Avalon
Aug 53 min read


SAG-AFTRA Comes Out Against Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
SAG-AFTRA leadership has taken a slightly more aggressive stand against Paramount Skydance‘s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, but it has stopped short of joining its sister union, the Writers Guild of America, in bringing the issue to court. via: THR In the wake of 12 state attorneys suing to block the $111 billion transaction, the national board for the performers union adopted a resolution on Saturday to formally resist the merger and support the regulators’ a
Kris Avalon
Jul 282 min read


Judge Pauses Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
Paramount Skydance’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery hit a roadblock Monday after a federal judge temporarily paused the proposed merger, granting a request from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general who sued to thwart the $110 billion deal. via: Variety A judge ordered a temporary halt to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger on Monday, as a state coalition argues it would violate federal antitrust law, leading to higher prices and fewer movies and TV shows. Judge Araceli
Kris Avalon
Jul 205 min read


Paramount Investors Sue David and Larry Ellison Over Alleged Trump Side Deal
Paramount’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is facing yet another legal challenge, as shareholders have sued David Ellison and his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, alleging they struck an undisclosed deal with President Donald Trump to help win approval for the blockbuster media merger. via: Variety Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison and his tech billionaire dad Larry Ellison have been sued by a Paramount shareholder who alleged they cu
Kris Avalon
Jul 165 min read


Paramount Sued By States In Bid to Block $111 Billion Warner Bros. Merger
A dozen states, led by California, are suing to block Paramount from buying Warner Bros. Discovery in a Hollywood mega-merger that would unite some of the nation's largest movie studios, television newsrooms, and other entertainment properties. via: THR A coalition of state attorneys general have sued Paramount to stop its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, a sweeping legal challenge to a merger that threatens to reshape Hollywood amid the absence of the Trump a
Kris Avalon
Jul 135 min read


Freddy’s Back: New ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Movie in the Works at Paramount
It’s been sixteen years since Freddy Krueger was last seen in the Nightmare on Elm Street reboot movie starring Jackie Earle Haley, with complicated rights issues playing a role in the franchise’s complete and total silence over the past several years. Today, that silence ends. via: THR Paramount Pictures has closed a deal for the U.S. rights to the original screenplay of A Nightmare on Elm Street, the movie written and directed by Wes Craven that kicked off the popular horro
Kris Avalon
Jul 133 min read


US States Could Sue Next Week to Block Paramount-Warner Bros Deal, Sources Say
Paramount Skydance Corp.'s (PSKY) $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) could soon face legal hurdles, according to media reports. via: Reuters U.S. states concerned that Paramount's (PSKY.O), opens new tab $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab will hurt competition could sue to block the deal as soon as next week, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken the lead
Kris Avalon
Jul 92 min read


Paramount to Exit Universal Distribution Joint Venture to Win EU Approval for Warner Bros. Merger
Paramount Skydance has committed to withdrawing from United International Pictures, its film distribution joint venture with Universal Pictures, as a condition for securing approval from the European Union for its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a regulatory filing made public on Wednesday. via: Variety The move is in response to a request for Paramount to exit the venture made by the European Commission’s antitrust watchdog last week. The Eur
Kris Avalon
Jul 12 min read


Paramount Accuses Netflix of ‘Panic-Level’ ‘Scorched-Earth Campaign’ to ‘Poison’ Regulators Against Warner Bros. Deal
Paramount has slammed rival Netflix in a letter to the Department of Justice for campaiging against the Warner Bros. Discovery merger amid regulatory review of the deal the David Ellison company. via: Variety Paramount Skydance‘s top lawyer claims Netflix is so worried about the prospect of competing with a merged Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery that the streaming company is going all-out to try to “poison regulators and other stakeholders” against the pending $111 billion d
Kris Avalon
Jun 94 min read


Mark Ruffalo Says Hollywood Stars Declined to Sign Open Letter Against Paramount-WB Merger ‘Because They’re Afraid’ the Studio Will Blacklist Them
Emmy-winning actor Mark Ruffalo has claimed that Hollywood figures are “afraid” to oppose the proposed merger of studios Paramount and Warner Brothers. via: Variety Mark Ruffalo revealed in a new op-ed for The New York Times co-written with American Economic Liberties Project research director Matt Stoller that many Hollywood stars declined to sign the recent open letter that’s fighting to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger. “The most revealing thing about that letter wa
Kris Avalon
May 83 min read


Paramount Pictures & Warner Music Group Ink Multi-Year First-Look Deal For Theatrical Pics Based On Performing Artists
Warner Music Group has entered into a first-look deal with Paramount, the companies announced on Thursday, representing another push for WMG into film content after it had announced a deal with Netflix for documentaries back in March. via: Variety There aren’t any projects in development, though WMG’s roster includes legends like David Bowie, Cher, Phil Collins, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Joni Mitchell, and Frank Sinatra, as well as con
Kris Avalon
May 82 min read


Major Hollywood Figures Sign On To Letter Opposing Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
Alongside sitting politicians in Congress (Senator Warren has warned of antitrust issues), there is now a group of over 1,000 Hollywood creatives signing a new petition letter opposing the billion-dollar acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by David Ellison‘s Paramount Skydance after their hostile bid (backed by multiple Gulf state investors linked to foreign governments, who would end up part owners of a U.S. media entity, CNN) pushed Netflix out of their previous deal. via
Kris Avalon
Apr 135 min read


Paramount President Jeff Shell Sued for $150 Million Over Alleged PR Contract
Jeff Shell, the president of Paramount Skydance, was sued Monday by a man who claims he is owed $150 million for crisis communications services and for Shell’s refusal to help produce a TV show. via: Deadline “Jeff knows he f*cked up,” an insider told Deadline this AM as the long anticipated action by Robert James “RJ” Cipriani hit the court docket. “His second act is over,” the source added of Shell, who was booted from NBCUniversal in 2023 under the cloud of misconduct with
Kris Avalon
Mar 92 min read


Paramount’s $110 Billion Warner Bros. Deal Backed by Arab Sovereign Funds Raises Soft Power Concerns
A few months ago, Larry and David Ellison's Paramount said it had lined up big backers for its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery: three Middle Eastern countries, which would contribute a total of $24 billion to help buy the media conglomerate. via: Variety Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery is not just a Hollywood deal. Powered by $24 billion from sovereign wealth funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the proposed merger is sparking deb
Kris Avalon
Mar 35 min read


David Ellison Unveils Sweeping Vision for Warner Bros: “This Is About Reinventing the Business”
David Ellison isn’t planning for a Game of Thrones-style Red Wedding scenario at HBO. via: THR David Ellison wants to forge a modern media and entertainment empire, and Warner Bros. Discovery will become its centerpiece. The CEO of Paramount on Monday spoke for the first time about the $110 billion megadeal, which will see the smaller company, backed by tens of billions from his father Larry Ellison and tens of billions in debt from a consortium of lenders, swallow the larger
Kris Avalon
Mar 23 min read


‘G.I. Joe’ Reboots in the Works at Paramount; Max Landis Pitching a Script Years After #MeToo Allegations Derailed Career
Paramount is looking to revive its “G.I. Joe” franchise, with Max Landis and Danny McBride each penning scripts based on the Hasbro toy franchise. via; CBM In news that's certain to raise a few eyebrows, Max Landis is set to make a Hollywood comeback... seven years after his career took a nosedive during the #MeToo movement. The controversial writer has been hired to pen a new G.I. Joe movie for Paramount, and the studio has also enlisted Danny McBride to work on a separate s
Kris Avalon
Feb 272 min read


Netflix Says Paramount Has Paid $2.8 Billion Breakup Fee for Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Netflix confirmed today that it has received the full $2.8 billion breakup fee for its WBD acquisition deal from Paramount — a move many industry observers see as clearing the runway for Paramount Skydance to finalize its acquisition push. via: Variety Per an SEC filing, Netflix said Warner Bros. Discovery “provided notice to Netflix that it had terminated the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms in order to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with PSKY in res
Kris Avalon
Feb 272 min read
NICE TO MEET YOU
An Open Book
Welcome to my blog, a place where I can share my greatest inspiration and candidly display the different sides of my passion project. Ever since I launched my site it has been creating buzz, gaining an increased following from day to day. I invite you to explore my content and learn about what makes me tick. Please reach out and engage—I’m happy to hear from you, as well.


Video Channel
LET’S CONNECT
bottom of page