Could Texas soon be home to one of the biggest production companies globally? Everything is bigger in the Lone Star State – and soon, Paramount might just know it too.
Paramount Skydance has been in the throes with the state of California and its Attorney General’s Office regarding its intended merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. That prospective deal has spurred California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general to file anti-trust lawsuits against the mammoth media company.
Amid those filings, Paramount has floated its intent to relocate out of California, including a potential move to Texas. The Lone Star State joins Tennessee and Georgia as prospective home bases, should California not settle its lawsuit, per reporting from TMZ on Wednesday, September 16. Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, has threatened to leave California should an agreement not be reached by October 1, per TMZ.
MySA reached out to the Austin Film Commission regarding any potential relocation. A spokesperson confirmed the commission has not been in contact with Paramount regarding either an expanded presence or full-on prospective relocation.
“That said, Texas is a top-tier destination for major media production,” Brian Gannon, senior director of film marketing for the Austin Film Commission, told MySA, adding: “With a four-decade film legacy, an experienced local crew-base, established studio facilities, diverse locations, local incentives, and Texas’ expanded $1.5 billion film incentive investment, it’s clear that Austin offers a competitive environment for continued industry growth.”
To date, the Texas capital has hosted over 400 different feature film productions, 25 television series and more than 2,500 commercial shoots, Gannon noted. In total, those projects have indirectly resulted in $67.4 billion in economic impact generated since 1986.
Already, Texas and Paramount have established ties, with Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan partnering with the movie mammoth on a filming hub in North Texas. The Fort Worth base spans 450,000 square feet and is among the largest studios nestled in the Lone Star State.
As for communities beyond Austin specifically and Texas at large? Paramount is reportedly looking into properties in Nashville and Atlanta, per reporting from Politico and entertainment outlet The Wrap.
According to the LA Times, both parties involved are expected to meet next month for court-ordered settlement talks in mid-October.
This article originally published at Will Paramount relocate to Texas? What we know amid California legal battle.