{"id":856303,"date":"2026-09-22T06:26:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T06:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/856303\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T06:26:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T06:26:09","slug":"post-merger-paramount-may-overdeliver-on-settlement-with-36-film-2027-slate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/856303\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-Merger Paramount May Overdeliver On Settlement With 36-Film 2027 Slate"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t
California Attorney General Rob Bonta<\/a> can rest easy: A merged Paramount<\/a> Warner Bros. Discovery would already account for 36 movies on the release schedule for 2027.<\/p>\n

\n\tNote, that\u2019s an organic number of theatrical releases which were always set to happen even before the union of the storied studios came together<\/a>. As for 2028, the combined entity currently accounts for 25 theatrical releases, hence another five titles are needed to meet the state AGs\u2019 agreed-upon settlement term of 30 films in the merger\u2019s first two years of existence. That should be easy, it\u2019s still early, and awards season fare often gets dated later rather than sooner.<\/p>\n

\n\tBeyond 2029, the AGs\u2019 demand from the merged entity is for 32 films annually over three years. It\u2019s on Ellison to make sure this union isn\u2019t a repeat of Disney-Fox. Missing the annual theatrical release quota could cost Paramount \u2014 per the pact with the AGs \u2014 its 49% investment in Miramax. In addition, per Bonta, \u201cFor each film that they fail to make, should they fail to make any, $30M is paid to be split three different ways, but 90% of it goes to workers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tDespite all the pom pom waving that the house of Harry Potter and Batman are now one with the house of Transformers, Star Trek and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the question becomes, how will Ellison\u2019s Paramount wrangle this beast? <\/p>\n

\n\tIf merged today, both studios combined would count $838.3M at the YTD domestic box office (Jan. 1-Sept. 20) for an 11% market share, ranking fourth behind Universal ($1.78 billion), Sony ($1.22B) and Walt Disney ($1.03B) \u2014 global annual numbers were not available at the time of this report for Paramount or Warners. However, Universal leads all studios with around $5B WW, followed by Disney with $4B-plus WW.<\/p>\n

\n\tRumors that both studios would have to operate separately were wrong. We hear that as Ellison eyes his early corporate structure that one or two executives would oversee overall theatrical and film strategy and likely one or two executives would oversee each film brand. Note that this is all fluid and still in the works.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn addition, how the new conglomerate plans to deal with the duplication of marketing and distribution groups is in wait and see mode. Per the release breakdown below, there are plenty of weekends where the studios are dating against each other on the same weekend. In most instances, it\u2019s a matter of counterprogramming \u2014 e.g. May 21, 2027, when family animated Warners pic Bad Fairies opens against a new James Wan Paranormal Activity film. However, it\u2019s arguably unprecedented for a major studio to shell out on marketing for two big films from two big labels in the same weekend. Note: It hasn\u2019t been uncommon of late for a big studio to face-off against its adult specialty label \u2014 e.g. Universal going up against a Focus Features title.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe one glaring tentpole-on-top-of-a-tentpole frame is June 30, 2028 where Paramount\u2019s feature take of video game Call of Duty is up against DC\u2019s Dynamic Duo. Also, there\u2019s the situation of some serious summer stacking. July 2027 has James Gunn\u2019s Man of Tomorrow followed by Crawl 2 (granted, it\u2019s a counterprogrammer) followed by Ocean\u2019s Prequel and A Quiet Place III.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Dune\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tTimoth\u00e9e Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWarner Bros.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn the bright side, before this year is over, the combined entity has a possible billion dollar hit and award contender in Warner Bros\/Legendary\u2019s Denis Villeneuve Dune: Part Three, which could create another Barbenheimer effect at the box office in its competition with Disney\/Marvel Studio\u2019s Avengers: Doomsday on Dec. 18.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile the studios can operate separately, Bonta says when it comes to negotiating and creating a marketplace where there isn\u2019t reduced competition, \u201cWe basically ensure the status quo competition with negotiations (remaining) separately. It\u2019s as if the companies never merged. They can\u2019t bundle their basic cable channel assets. They can\u2019t use them together to reduce competition\u2026They have to remain separate and independent in their negotiations, and when they\u2019re working with the cable companies. Same with the theatrical release.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cUsually, when you see [a deal that] reduces competition, you see people paying more for less. So you see less output, less quality. And you see higher prices. We address that by making sure that the fees remain flat, for the three years between the merch company and the exhibitors, the theaters. And then the requirement, this incredible, massive requirement for production output, cures for the less part, instead of paying more for less. You have the flat fee requirement with massive increase in production. So that\u2019s how we address the concerns about reduced competition,\u201d explained California\u2019s AG this morning.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe multi-billion dollar question as far as box office goes is whether Warner Bros. Motion Picture Chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy make the jump to the new entity. De Luca told us earlier this year that no matter which way the merger went (Netflix or Paramount), \u201cWe\u2019re hoping to stay the course.\u201d<\/a> Last year was a banner year for the duo with $4.3 billion WW. This year, there haven\u2019t been as many hits, but the longtime production partners are known for their excellent relationships with filmmakers like their recent Oscar winners Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coolger as well as Alejandro Inarritu and Zach Cregger, to name a few.<\/p>\n

\n\tRumors have swirled about DeLuca and Abdy heading over to Sony, or Netflix (that latter rumor fueled around town after their longtime comms chief Katie Martin Kelly departed Warners for the streamer). The reality is that the duo have a four-year extension on their contacts until 2030 to run Warners. A world where the pro-theatrical De Luca and Abdy continue to stay at the helm of their ship isn\u2019t out of the question.<\/p>\n

\n\tEllison said in a memo to Paramount staff today, \u201cWe are tentatively planning to close in approximately two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tGet ready\u2026 <\/p>\n

\n\tHere\u2019s how the release schedule looks at this point in time for mid-October 2026 through the end of 2028. Those movies with the same release dates are in bold.<\/p>\n

\n\t2026<\/p>\n

\n\tOct. 16 \u2013 Street Fighter (Par\/Legendary)
The Devils (WB Clockwork)<\/p>\n

\n\tOct. 23 \u2013 Clayface (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 6 \u2013 The Cat in the Hat (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 13 \u2013 Ebenezer (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tDec. 18 \u2013 Dune: Part 3 (WB\/Legendary)<\/p>\n

\n\tDec. 23 \u2013 The Angry Birds Movie (Par) <\/p>\n

\n\tDec. 25 \u2013 Mr. Irrelevant (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\t2027<\/p>\n

\n\tJan. 8 Untitled horror (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tJan. 15 \u2013 Children of Blood and Bone (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tJan. 22 \u2013 Animal Friends (WB\/Legendary)<\/p>\n

\n\tJan. 29 The Rescue (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tFeb. 5 \u2013 Remain (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tFeb. 26 \u2013 K-Pop: The Debut (Par)
The Revenge of La Llorona (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tMarch 12 \u2013 WB\/New Line Event Film <\/p>\n

\n\tMarch 19 \u2013 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tMarch 26 \u2013 Godzilla x Kong: Supernova (WB\/Legendary)<\/p>\n

\n\tApril 9 \u2013 Boys for Life (Par)
Panic Carefully (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tMay 14 \u2013 F.A.S.T. (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tMay 21 \u2013 Untitled James Wan Paranormal Activity (Par)
Bad Faires (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tJune 11 \u2013 Possession (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tJune 25 \u2013 Ocean\u2019s Prequel (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 9 \u2013 Man of Tomorrow (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 16 \u2013 Crawl 2 (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 23 \u2013 A Minecraft Sequel (WB\/Legendary)<\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 30 \u2013 A Quiet Place III (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tAug. 13 \u2013 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Par)
Shiver (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tAug. 20 \u2013 Get Lite (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tAug. 27 \u2013 Untitled Paramount Primal Horror movie<\/p>\n

\n\tSept 10 \u2013 The Conjuring: First Communion (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tSept. 17 \u2013 Untitled Paramount Event Film<\/p>\n

\n\tOct. 1 \u2013 The Great Beyond (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tOct. 22 \u2013 Untitled Paramount Event Film
Untitled Comedy Event Film (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 5 \u2013 Untitled Paramount Film <\/p>\n

\n\tNov 12 \u2013 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Par)
Margie Claus (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 19 \u2013 Untitled Gremlins movie<\/p>\n

\n\tDec. 17 \u2013 Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tDec. 25 \u2013 Untitled Nancy Meyers movie (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\t2028<\/p>\n

\n\tJan. 14 \u2013 Longlegs 2 (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tFeb. 4 \u2013 Heart Eyes 2 (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tFeb. 18 \u2013 The Batman 2 (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tMarch 3 \u2013 Untitled New Line Event film (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tMarch 17 \u2013 Oh! The Places We\u2019ll Go! (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tApril 7 \u2013 Evil Dead Wrath (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tMay 12 \u2013 One Italian Summer (Par)
Final Destination 7 (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tJune 2 \u2013 Days of Thunder (Par)
Untitled WB Event film <\/p>\n

\n\tJune 30 \u2013 Call of Duty (Par)
Dynamic Duo (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 7 \u2013 Untitled WB Event Film <\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 14 \u2013 Untitled Paramount Horror Movie<\/p>\n

\n\tJuly 21 \u2013 Hello Kitty (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tAug. 11 \u2013 The Flood (WB) <\/p>\n

\n\tSept 8 \u2013 Gladys (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tOct. 6 \u2013 WB New Line Event Film (WB) <\/p>\n

\n\tOct. 13 \u2013 Untitled Daniel Trachtenberg Animated Family Movie (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 3 \u2013 Untitled Duffer Brothers Event Film (Par)
The Lunar Chronicles (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 17 \u2013 Live-Action Hybrid Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Par)<\/p>\n

\n\tNov. 22 \u2013 Untitled Baz Luhrmann (WB)<\/p>\n

\n\tDec. 22 \u2013 Sonic Universe Movie (Par)
Untitled WB New Line Event Film <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"California Attorney General Rob Bonta can rest easy: A merged Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery would already account for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":856304,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[18205,88,4208,228983,93508],"class_list":["post-856303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-david-ellison","tag-entertainment","tag-paramount","tag-paramount-wbd","tag-rob-bonta"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=856303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/856304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=856303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=856303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=856303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}