All articles tagged with #skydance media
Jon Stewart has signed a two-year contract extension to continue hosting 'The Daily Show' through 2028. The deal secures his presence through the next U.S. presidential election and resolves uncertainty following the Paramount-Skydance merger.
Jon Stewart has signed a two-year contract extension to continue hosting 'The Daily Show' on Mondays and serving as executive producer through December 2028. The deal, announced by Skydance Media, secures Stewart’s presence through the next U.S. presidential election cycle. This move resolves uncertainty following the Paramount-Skydance merger and addresses concerns that the new ownership might curtail political satire. Stewart’s return in 2024 has already boosted the show’s ratings, with its third-quarter audience exceeding 1 million viewers, the highest since 2018.
The action-comedy 'Matchbox: The Movie' premiered on Apple TV+ on October 9, 2026, starring John Cena as a CIA agent who reunites with his childhood friends to recover a stolen nuclear warhead. Directed by Sam Hargrave and produced by David Ellison’s Skydance, the film is based on the Mattel toy brand. While it features high-octane stunts and a large cast including Jessica Biel and Danai Gurira, critics describe it as a hollow, formulaic entry that lacks creative vision, arriving just as Warner Bros. merges into the new Skydance entity.
Apple TV+ released 'Matchbox: The Movie' on October 9, 2026, days after David Ellison’s Skydance Media finalized an $111 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. and Paramount. Directed by Sam Hargrave and written by David Coggeshall, the film stars John Cena as a CIA agent who reunites with his childhood friends to retrieve a stolen nuclear warhead. Critics across IndieWire, The Guardian, and Variety describe the film as a bland, formulaic action comedy that lacks creative ambition. While the action sequences are competent, reviewers argue the movie feels like a low-effort product of corporate consolidation, signaling a potential decline in theatrical quality as Skydance dominates the industry.
Paramount Pictures is developing an eighth 'Transformers' film, with Steven Spielberg appointed as the primary creative producer alongside Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Michael Bay is in early talks to return as director, aiming to restore the tone of the franchise's early entries. The project, based on a script by Jason Fuchs, is set in the modern day, while Shia LaBeouf will not return. This move follows the Paramount-Skydance merger and a period of underperformance for recent installments.
Paramount, now led by Skydance’s David Ellison and Paramount president Jeff Shell, reported a Q4 2025 showing declines in linear ad sales but momentum for Paramount+ and Pluto TV, and the executives avoided discussing Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Ellison acknowledged the film slate underperformed in 2025 and outlined a rebuild plan that includes more theatrical releases in 2026 (16) and a significant expansion of engineering talent to accelerate tech-driven improvements. Shell stressed CBS’s pivotal role in NFL distribution and expressed confidence in the growth of the FAST/Pluto TV strategy despite monetization headwinds, with cost discipline and licensing deals expected to lift profitability as the studio rebuilds and negotiates future rights.
Bari Weiss has joined CBS News as editor in chief, with a mandate to promote balanced and fact-based reporting, while her news site The Free Press becomes part of Skydance Media, reflecting a shift towards more diverse political viewpoints in the network's coverage.
Shari Redstone, after decades of fighting to control her family's media empire, Paramount, finally sold her stake to Skydance Media in 2024, relinquishing her control of the company she once fought to lead, in a deal valued at $8 billion that included significant personal payments.
The Redstone family's control over Paramount and CBS has ended with the sale of Paramount Global to David Ellison's Skydance Media for about $8 billion, marking a significant shift in the media landscape and concluding a tumultuous era for the Redstone legacy.
David Ellison's Skydance Media completed its $8 billion acquisition of Paramount, amid questions about a rumored deal involving President Trump and free advertising, which Ellison declined to confirm. The merger aims to transform Paramount into a tech-forward company with a strong streaming service, while maintaining its legacy of impactful journalism. The deal also involved significant financial arrangements, including payments to shareholders and debt reduction, positioning the new Paramount for future growth.
Skydance Media has announced its senior leadership team ahead of its merger with Paramount Global, with key executives overseeing various divisions such as film, TV, and streaming, under the leadership of David Ellison who will become CEO and chairman of Paramount after the deal closes.
Paramount TV Studios is being revived under new leadership with Matt Thunell as head, absorbing Skydance Television and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, with Taylor Sheridan's series remaining a key focus, and Keith Cox continuing to work on Sheridan's projects.
Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison orchestrated an $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, transforming their influence in Hollywood, with Larry controlling the equity and David overseeing operations, amid regulatory concessions and strategic financial arrangements.
President Donald Trump announced he received a $16 million settlement from CBS over a lawsuit related to '60 Minutes' and suggested he might receive an additional $20 million from future owners Skydance Media, amid ongoing controversy over CBS's decision to cancel 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' and broader media disputes.
Paramount Global has settled a lawsuit with Donald Trump over '60 Minutes,' but uncertainty remains about its ongoing merger with Skydance Media, amid declining TV revenues, industry shifts to streaming, and internal challenges. The company's future seems increasingly tied to its streaming operations, while traditional TV and key partnerships face difficulties, delaying the merger and raising questions about Paramount's strategic direction.