David Ellison’s Hollywood profession has been outlined by high-octane blockbusters stuffed with suspense, stunts and inconceivable plot twists.
However on Sunday he landed his largest cliffhanger but, hanging a deal to merge with Paramount after months of negotiations with the corporate and its controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone. If the deal closes, he will likely be in command of a sprawling media empire that features CBS, MTV and the Paramount film studio.
Although Mr. Ellison, 41, joined the solid of Hollywood’s energy gamers greater than a decade in the past, he hasn’t taken middle stage till now. Right here’s a take a look at his profession.
Who’s David Ellison, and what’s his firm, Skydance?
A fast perusal of Mr. Ellison’s web page on the Web Film Database reveals a comparatively undistinguished appearing profession, with minor roles in movies just like the fighter drama “Flyboys” and teenage comedy “The Chumscrubber” (by which he performed “Pupil No. 1”). It wasn’t till he grew to become a producer that his star in Hollywood started to rise.
After he dropped out of the College of Southern California and gave up on appearing, Mr. Ellison turned to producing. His household’s appreciable affect — he’s the son of the Oracle founder Larry Ellison — helped him bankroll big-budget movies like “Mission: Inconceivable — Ghost Protocol” and “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
Alongside the best way, the valuation of Mr. Ellison’s firm Skydance Media ballooned to greater than $4 billion, after private-equity corporations like RedBird Capital Companions and KKR invested in it. Mr. Ellison, the chief govt of Skydance, has co-produced hits like “High Gun: Maverick” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” with Paramount, giving him an entree to the corporate’s executives and its most precious franchises.
Lengthy earlier than he produced “High Gun: Maverick,” Mr. Ellison was one thing of a daredevil himself. In 2022 he instructed The New York Instances that he began flying planes in his adolescence and competed in acrobatic air reveals into his 20s.
How is Mr. Ellison’s household concerned in Hollywood?
Larry Ellison — who had a cameo in “Iron Man 2” — is personally backing Skydance’s bid for Paramount, throwing his wealth and tech experience behind the deal.
David Ellison’s sister, Megan Ellison, can also be a Hollywood fixture: In 2011, she based Annapurna, which produced “Her” and “American Hustle.” Mr. Ellison’s spouse, Sandra Lynn, can also be in showbusiness: She’s the nation singer-songwriter behind songs like “I Consider You” and “Someone Kissed Me at a Bar.” Neither Megan Ellison nor Sandra Lynn are on Skydance’s govt group.
What are David Ellison’s plans for Paramount?
Although Mr. Ellison hasn’t laid out his plans for Paramount publicly, he mentioned them with a particular committee of the corporate’s board months in the past. He has mentioned working with one other main leisure firm on a streaming three way partnership in the USA, preserving with the broader pattern towards bundling, based on two folks acquainted with his pitch to Paramount’s board.
Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, is captivated with different facets of the Skydance deal, two folks acquainted with her pondering mentioned. She thinks Mr. Ellison’s administration group will add tech and animation know-how to the mixed firm.
Mr. Ellison additionally pitched Paramount on a plan to supercharge the corporate’s streaming capabilities with improved suggestions and extra environment friendly offers with information suppliers, an individual acquainted with his presentation mentioned. Skydance has possession stakes in Paramount’s most financially profitable reveals and flicks, together with “Mission: Inconceivable” and “High Gun,” so uniting the 2 corporations may give the mixed firm higher flexibility in managing its franchises.
A key govt in discussions with Skydance is Jeff Shell, the previous chief govt of NBCUniversal. Mr. Shell, who joined the Skydance backer RedBird Capital final 12 months, is in line for a significant working position at Paramount, based on two folks acquainted with the matter.
Does Skydance have ties to different Hollywood corporations?
Although Skydance has a deep relationship with Paramount, it has additionally produced films for different Hollywood studios. Skydance has a multiyear deal to provide animated movies for Netflix, and it has partnered with Amazon on movies together with “The Tomorrow Battle” and “With out Regret.”
Skydance has additionally recently gotten into the sports-media enterprise. Skydance Sports activities, a division began in 2021, struck a deal in 2022 to accomplice with the Nationwide Soccer League to create a manufacturing firm that will increase the attain of sports activities programming. And final 12 months it produced “Air,” a film in regards to the making of Nike’s Air Jordan model.
Lauren Hirsch contributed reporting.
