The deal is done, now Paramount plans big sequels to help pay for it

Star Trek, World War Z, Top Gun, A Quiet Place, Transformers and more are on the slate at the now cash-solvent Paramount Pictures. When a major corporate deal is complete, there are inevitably some immediate ramifications. Generally, it’s traditional for a memo to be sent round to staff that slips in the word ‘efficiencies’ in ... The deal is done, now Paramount plans big sequels to help pay for it

Star Trek, World War Z, Top Gun, A Quiet Place, Transformers and more are on the slate at the now cash-solvent Paramount Pictures.

When a major corporate deal is complete, there are inevitably some immediate ramifications. Generally, it’s traditional for a memo to be sent round to staff that slips in the word ‘efficiencies’ in the last paragraph. That, to my knowledge, hasn’t happened at the now Skydance-owned Paramount Pictures, thankfully.

The second is the need to pay off some of the purchase price, and fast. In the case of Paramount, its movie side is now being run by Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg. Refreshingly, the early noise is that the studio is looking to up its output of movies to 15-20 a year, and that also means big franchises are going to be required.

Of immediate priority? Getting Star Trek back on the big screen, Dana Goldberg has confirmed. There hasn’t been a Star Trek film for nearly a decade now, since the so-so Star Trek Beyond, and it’s not been for the want of trying. Not just the infamous Quentin Tarantino flyby, but several filmmakers have tried to get things moving.

Also on the list for Paramount is Top Gun 3, which is known about, and a possible attempt to resurrect a World War Z sequel (a follow-up that died in Paramount development hell, despite several scripts being produced.)

Already known too: A Quiet Place Part III, Sonic The Hedgehog 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem II and a revival of the live action Transformers series (with Michael Bay potentially coming back to smash some stuff up in exchange for money.)

The goal, according to new CEO David Ellison, is to “restore Paramount as the number one studio for filmmakers and talent in the world.” A bold claim, and music to Michael Bay’s ringing ears, that.

Expect things to be moving over the next few months. And hopefully, with no sign of an ‘efficiencies’ email.