Paramount-Skydance Post-Merger Questions; 'Fantastic' Previews; Ellen Plots Showbiz Return

🏃‍♀️ Exclusives, Breaking News & Deadline Originals

View on web New reader? Subscribe SUBSCRIBE. IT'S FREE. 8 QUESTIONS FACING PARAMOUNT & SKYDANCE POST-MERGER INDUSTRY AND INSIDERS ALIKE PONDER FATE OF 'THE DAILY SHOW,' CABLE NETWORKS AND PARAMOUNT+; MORE LAYOFFS ARE LIKELY After a long, complicated slog toward Thursday’s FCC approval, Paramount Global and Skydance Media will now face a number of tricky questions in becoming one company. While the $8 billion-plus transaction will need a few more days to become official, several strategic dilemmas have already been percolating. Among them: layoffs, linear cable, TV production, Paramount+, the NFL deal and, of course, The Daily Show. >>>The Revenue "Barbell" Related: Paramount Shares Rise In Early Trading, But Wall Street Cautious After Skydance Merger Approval By FCC Paramount Co-CEO Chris McCarthy To Depart Upon Completion Of Skydance Acquisition FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez Delivers Blistering Statement On Skydance-Paramount Approval Elizabeth Warren Says Merger Approval “Must Be Investigated For Any Criminal Behavior” Deadline Exclusives & Originals 'Fantastic' Opening  - Disney/Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps pulled around $23 million in previews Thursday night. Domestic outlook was $100M-$110M, but the Matt Shakman-directed movie is bound to shoot higher. >>>Similar To 'Superman' Previews Ellen's Showbiz Return - Ellen DeGeneres has signed with WME for representation in all areas outside of touring. The Emmy-winning actor, comedian and talk show host had been in play since her long-time agent, Eddy Yablans, left CAA in December. DeGeneres’ signing with WME comes on the heels of her signaling a showbiz return. >>>"A Little Bit Bored " Ang Lee Delays 'Mountain' - Ang Lee‘s next film Old Gold Mountain is pushing its production start date sources close to the project have told Deadline. Insiders say Lee is still finessing some creative elements to the shoot and since the production is shooting in northern California. >>>Scheduled For Spring Book Bagged — Netflix has optioned The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, with Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster set to adapt the debut novel by Anna Johnston. >>>Scribes Brought Book To Netflix Welcoming A New Comedy — Sony Pictures‘ 3000 Pictures acquired Open House, a spec comedy written by Ricky Stanicky scribe Jeff Bushell. Pic will be produced by Russell Hollander and Bushell. >>>High School Hijinks              Renewals, Cancellations & Pickups ‘Resident Alien’ Canceled After 4 Seasons Exclusive ‘E! News’ Nightly Show Axed ‘Ghosts’ EPs Land CBS Pilot Order For Comedy ‘Eternally Yours’ ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Renewed Through 63rd Season ‘The Legend Of Vox Machina’ Renewed For Fifth & Final Installment Casting About exclusive Jason Schwartzman is set to join the all-star ensemble of the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios AI pic Artificial that Luca Guadagnino is directing. Exclusive Writer-director Vicky Wight has set the cast for her new film, The Body Is Water. The list includes Isiah Whitlock Jr. (The Residence), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls), Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Academy Award nominee Stephen Rea, Aidan Quinn, Eva Birthistle (Bad Sisters), Allen Leech (Downton Abbey) and more. Exclusive Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark) has signed on for a role in Other Mommy, Host helmer Rob Savage’s new supernatural horror film for Universal and Atomic Monster, based on the book Incidents Around the House. Octavio Pisano is not gone just yet from Law & Order: SVU. Deadline has learned that he will return for the season opener this fall. quotable   "We're terribly sorry" -  Trey Parker jokingly addressing the controversy around this week's 'South Park' episode More News 📺 Another week, another viewership record for HBO's The Gilded Age. Episode 5 of Julian Fellowes’ period drama has drawn 4 million U.S. cross-platform viewers within its first three days of availability. That is a new series high. 🎥 France's world famous Champagne region could be the next location vying for film production. French billionaire and Mediawan co-founding partner Xavier Niel has signed off on the acquisition of a derelict airbase outside the Champagne region’s unofficial capital of Reims, where he plans to build one of France’s biggest film and TV studios. by the numbers   186% -  Rise in streams for 'Jurassic World Dominion' on Peacock thanks to pre-release buzz for the latest franchise installment, 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Hirings, Promotions & Exits   exclusive Montclair Film Names New Executive Director Neon Hires Metrograph Pictures Head David Laub As SVP Marketing & Publicity Obituaries 🕯️ Hulk Hogan, who served as a main catalyst for launching pro wrestling off the top rope and into the pop culture stratosphere when he joined the World Wrestling Federation and became perhaps its biggest star, died Thursday in Clearwater, FL. He was 71. 🕯️ Chuck Mangione , the Grammy-winning virtuoso jazz flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer who had a left-field Top 5 pop hit with “Feels So Good” in 1978 and released some 30 albums during his career, died Tuesday in Rochester, NY. He was 84. 🕯️ Budd Carr, a rock musician-turned-music agent who managed the band Kansas before helping to establish the role of music supervisor in film and TV, died unexpectedly July 20 in Santa Barbara where he lived. He passed away following a routine medical procedure he had undergone four days prior. He was 79. 🕯️  2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries On the Radar Sun - Tour de France final leg Tue - Spotify earnings  Wed - Meta earnings Thu - Comcast, Apple and Amazon earnings Photo of the Day Larger Than Life - A promotion for The Naked Gun greets Comic-Con attendees at the San Diego Convention Center. This email was sent to punjabsvera@gmail.com by Deadline. Please add email@email.deadline.com to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. Visit the Preferences Center to update your profile and customize what email alerts and newsletters you receive. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2025 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 11355 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA, 90064 View in Browser | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Rights | Ad Choices | Terms of Use | Unsubscribe