Skydance and Paramount's Merger May Promote Legendary Studios' Departure
In a significant move for the film industry, Legendary Entertainment and Paramount Pictures are currently engaged in negotiations for a multi-picture global theatrical distribution deal. The talks, which have been ongoing since the spring, are still in the early stages, with no agreement finalized yet.
The development comes after Legendary's multi-year output deal with Sony Pictures expired at the end of 2024 and was not renewed. Previously, the production company had ended its deal with Warner Bros. in 2022.
Under the proposed deal, Paramount would take on Legendary's upcoming film slate, except for the "Dune" sequels and films from the MonsterVerse franchise ("Godzilla" and "Kong"). These franchises will remain with Warner Bros. due to pre-existing agreements.
The new deal with Paramount would cover a wide range of projects, potentially including big titles comparable in scale to recent hits like “A Minecraft Movie” and other non-Warner Bros. productions.
Paramount's interest in the deal follows its leadership changes after the Skydance acquisition and a strategy of aggressive dealmaking. The deal, if finalized, is expected to increase Paramount's features output from 15 films a year to 20.
Notably, the deal excludes China but provides a streaming window for Paramount+. As of now, no titles have been announced for the proposed deal between Paramount and Legendary.
Meanwhile, the Duffer Brothers' Upside Down Productions have moved from Netflix to Paramount, and the production company is partnering with Paramount for comedic genre projects like Animal Friends, starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Momoa.
The future of other major franchises, such as Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, can be found on io9, while updates on the future of Doctor Who and the DC Universe on film and TV are also available on the platform.
It's worth noting that the Monsterverse, including Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and Denis Villeneuve's Dune series, are staying with WB Discovery. The first Monsterverse movie, Godzilla (2014), was originally in development at Universal before the rest of the franchise was moved to Warner Bros.
Legendary doesn't have an exclusive theatrical agreement with the studios it's currently working with, which leaves room for potential future collaborations and deals. Stay tuned for more updates as the negotiations between Paramount and Legendary continue.
- Gizmodo might cover the potential impact of the multi-picture deal between Legendary Entertainment and Paramount Pictures on the future of the movies-and-tv industry.
- As Legendary moves forward with Paramount, Io9 could provide updates on the future of major franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek.
- In light of the deal, Paramount's output is set to increase from 15 films a year to 20, possibly offering more entertainment options that include big titles similar to "A Minecraft Movie."
