Paramount Will Be “Diligent” Exploring Alternatives, CFO Promises, As Management Focused On Turnaround

John Ortiz has been cast in Will Trent!

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer What does the future hold for Paramount Global? The odds of a seismic M&A event seem to be increasing: Private-equity firm Apollo Global has reportedly offered $11 billion for Paramount’s Hollywood studios. Short of carving up the “mountain of entertainment,” as the Paramount+ tagline boasts, analysts say the overture could drive up bidding for the entirety of Paramount Global — which is what Shari Redstone, who owns a controlling stake in the media conglomerate, is understood to prefer. Given that backdrop, let’s consider what Paramount Global comprises — and the potential effect of selling it off in its entirety or in pieces.

Despite the rigors of the ongoing transition from linear TV to streaming, NFL Chief Media & Business Officer Brian Rolapp expects traditional media partners like Fox, NBCUniversal, Disney and Paramount to remain viable for years to come.

Willow Smith has released her new single, “Symptom of Life.” The song came accompanied with a music video, which she also directed, and explores complex topics. She shared some of them in an Instagram post. Jada Pinkett Smith reflects on her Wicked Wisdom metal days and the backlashWillow and Jaden Smith’s fashion evolution through the yearsA post shared by ∴ W ∴ (@willowsmith)The photo is a screenshot of a text related to esotericism, a concept that relates to the secret knowledge that a small group of people hold.

Paramount Global shares, which soared Wednesday on news that Apollo had made an $11 billion offer for Paramount Pictures, has slumped today after a report splashed cold water on the scenario.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Shari Redstone looks like she remains firmly opposed to breaking up Paramount Global. Redstone, president of National Amusements Inc. — the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global — was “unconvinced” by Apollo Global Management’s $11 billion offer to buy Paramount’s film and TV studio, the Financial Times reported, citing anonymous sources.

Shares of Paramount Global popped in afternoon trade on a report that Apollo Global has made an $11 billion bid for the company’s film and TV studio. The private equity giant has been in and out of the mix of suitors, which also include David Ellison‘s Skydance Media and Byron Allen.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Apollo Global Management, a major private-equity firm, has submitted an $11 billion bid to acquire Paramount Pictures, according to a published report. The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, reported that Apollo Global offered $11 billion for Paramount Global’s film and TV studio business. That would apparently not include CBS, Paramount Global’s cable networks or the streaming business that includes Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate are enjoying some down time on set.

EXCLUSIVE: Arian Moayed and Carmen Ejogo have joined John Krasinski and Natalie Portman in Apple‘s Fountain of Youth, a feature film based on an original idea that will be directed by Guy Ritchie and hails from Skydance Media. Also starring Eiza Gonzalez and Domhnall Gleeson, the film will be produced for Apple by Skydance, Vinson Films and Project X Entertainment.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Will Keenan has returned to the entertainment industry, joining Coy Creator, a startup touting a full-service “business-in-a-box” platform for digital creators, as chief revenue officer. Keenan had joined Endemol Shine North America in 2013, where he launched the company’s Endemol Beyond division.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Paramount Global has sold its 13% ownership stake in TV and streaming company Viacom18 to Reliance Industries for $517 million. Reliance was already the majority owner of Viacom18. The pact comes two weeks after Disney and Reliance Industries announced a blockbuster $8.5 billion deal merging their massive Indian TV and streaming businesses.

Paramount Global has sold its 13% equity interest in Viacom18 Media to Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries for the equivalent $517 million.

UPDATED with more details: Neve Campbell said Tuesday that she will return as Sidney Prescott for the next film in the Scream franchise.

Paramount+ may have culled a raft of international originals last month but UK commissioning appears to be continuing apace.

Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate have started production on their new FX limited series.

step up to help out the royal family — should that be something they’d want him to do.With King Charles out of action as he undergoes cancer treatment, and Kate Middleton sitting out of royal engagements until after Easter following her abdominal surgery, the Firm is having to undergo a major reshuffle.“It’s difficult to tell and it’ll be interesting to see what goes on moving forward,” Harrold exclusively told The Post.“Harry is a Counsellor of State, so he is still a very senior member of the royal family and if the time comes, he would step up if he needs to.”“While Harry might not be next in line to the throne, he’s not that far down the line of succession so his importance to the royal family shouldn’t be overlooked,” Harrold went on, adding, “I think it’s within all of their benefits to actually resolve these ongoing issues.”Returning to the UK at a time of crisis is something that Harry has reportedly been contemplating in recent weeks.Although the father of two, 39, is being kept at arm’s length from ongoing succession talks, it seems as though he could make a swift return to the royal fold as the family navigates several health woes.In fact, it’s his wife, Meghan Markle, who is the “apprehensive” one when it comes to the idea of moving back to Harry’s home soil.Meanwhile, 5,459 miles away in London, Prince William and Princess Anne are taking over the reins from Queen Camilla as she’s set to jet off on a quick vacation following a busy few weeks.King Charles’ wife is said to be “exhausted” from having to take on an extra workload following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.Camilla, 76, has taken on 13 official engagements solo since news of the King’s ailing health came to light.William, the heir to the throne,

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Jacob Scipio is headed back to the “Bad Boys” universe. Actor Scipio, who most recently starred opposite Pedro Pascal and Nicolas Cage in the meta adventure “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” will reprise his role as Armando Aretas – the estranged son of Will Smith’s Miami-Dade police detective character Mike Lowery. Scipio is getting a narrative upgrade from his debut in 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” we hear, as the script will see him play the main antagonist in the action film led by Smith and Martin Lawrence.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor The inevitable M&A question came toward the end of Paramount Global‘s hourlong conference call with Wall Street analysts on Wednesday — a session that undoubtedly would have been more contentious for Paramount leaders if they hadn’t started out by serving up sacrifices for the greater good of free cash flow and profit. Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish waved off the inquiry from Bank of America Merrill Lynch media analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich about the tidal wave of media speculation about suitors coming (and going) for the company with a breezy “We’re always looking for ways to create shareholder value.” But it was clear from the earlier commentary and business updates from Bakish and chief financial officer Naveen Chopra that they are charting a course for this year and next to take streamer Paramount+ to the promised land of profitability and keeps the company entact as a standalone entity.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish derided a planned streaming venture backed by Disney, Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery for having “only a subset of sports.”