Paramount CEO David Ellison made an unexpected cameo at CinemaCon, handing exhibitors good news: the studio is committing to a 45-day theatrical window, starting immediately, and 90 days to SVOD, recieving a big round of applause from the room.
Stepping on stage after a sizzle produced by Jon M. Chu and narrated by Tom Cruise, Ellison said he wanted to look exhibitors “directly in the eyes” ti promise at least 30 films a year if and when the planned merger with Warner Bros. closes.
There’s been palpable will-he-won’t-he-show speculation in the halls of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas this week at the largest gathering of theater owners. There’s noise, with many slamming the deal, including the head of CinemaCon host organization, Cinema United, guilds and thousands of creatives in an open letter. The fear is fewer movies and job losses.
It also has supporters. Adam Aron, CEO of giant theater chain AMC Entertainment, told Deadline this week that he has lots of respect for Ellison and thinks the merger will be a positive for the business. Jerry Bruckheimer echoed that at a panel yesterday. The merger is still waiting for some approvals but Ellison has said he expects it to close in the third quarter.
“The Paramount lot is alive again, and we could’t be more exited,” Ellison said. Paramount under Ellison and studio co-heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein is ramping up its slate, inking first-look deals (including with Chu) and partnerships, and has its own, new story to tell, on its own, and at a moment when the box office is on the best roll it’s had in years. The sizzle ended with Cruise perched atop the water down on the Paramoun lot.
More to come