Brian Robbins Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

SUNDAY AM: Refresh for chart and more analysis Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie is lapping up $23M, a big win for Paramount and Spin Master as the picture is part of a $14 billion global retail franchise which both companies get a nice cut of. And successful movies drive toy sales. It was part of Brian Robbins’ plan when he took over Paramount Pictures Studios to have family brands work at the box office, which also have a rainfall of cash in merchandise, particularly in an entertainment conglomerate that counts the powerful, and evergreen Nickelodeon brand. EntTelligence says Paw Patrol 2 drew 2.3M admissions, with close to half of the pic’s tickets being sold at child pricing.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Ashley Brucks has been tapped to lead Screen Gems, the Sony Pictures division behind the “Resident Evil” and “Insidious” franchises. A deal hasn’t been finalized and several other candidates were up for the post, but insiders say the job is Brucks’ and expect a formal announcement to come soon. She joins the company from Paramount, where she worked as head of development for Paramount Players, a production label focused on making comedies and genre fare.

Entertainment Corporate Communications pro Brooke Robertson has been upped to Paramount Pictures’ Head of Global Communications and Media Relations.

Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are once again riding the burger mobile in the first Good Burger 2 teaser. The duo is back at it again in the Paramount+ sequel 25 years after the original film was released.

EXCLUSIVE: With the new animated version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Paramount has vibrantly revived the near 40-year-old Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird-conceived comic IP for another generation: As the pic barrels toward $100M at the global box office, Deadline hears from sources that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand is heading toward $1 billion+ in global retail sales. 

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor At last, even TV’s smallest viewers will have a reason to watch the Big Game. Paramount Global’s CBS is already scheduled to televise Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 from Las Vegas, and sister cable outlet Nickelodeon aims to get in on the scrimmage. The kids-focused outlet plans to show an alternate telecast of the pigskin classic.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies are developing a sequel to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and planning a two-season series that will serve as a “bridge” between the films. The spinoff series will appear on Paramount+.

Brian Robbins, the CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, on the idea of adding some adolescent anarchy into their animated reboot of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” But there was a problem with the initial designs for the film’s four reptile heroes: Instead of looking like muscular teens, these Turtles were scrawny and malnourished, barely strong enough to wield nunchucks or hurl a throwing star. “They looked like they were on Ozempic,” Robbins jokes. In his peripatetic career, the 59-year-old Robbins has been on every end of these kind of creative discussions, working as an actor, writer, director, producer, digital entrepreneur and now, studio chief.

Keke Palmer made an appearance on The View on Juneteenth where she talked about her achievements and becoming a media mogul. The Scream Queens alum is the founder of KeyTV, a digital network that gives the spotlight to diverse creators.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Jenny Tartikoff, the executive VP of global communications at Paramount Pictures, has departed the studio. “I wanted to let you know that Jenny Tartikoff informed me that she will be departing the company, effective today,” Paramount’s president & CEO Brian Robbins said in a statement. “She has been a trusted colleague to us, and I am grateful for her contributions to the studio and our team. Please join me in wishing her the very best.” Tartikoff, a veteran of Universal and Spotify, was hired at Paramount in November of 2021. She reported to Robbins and was responsible for the studio’s corporate communication strategies, including media relations, executive and internal communications and corporate social responsibility.

This just in….Paramount EVP Global Corp Comm Jenny Tartikoff is leaving the Melrose Lot.

Rihanna is about to be the only girl in the world. 

Martin Scorsese was front and center at Paramount’s CinemaCon session Thursday to show off the teaser for his Killers of the Flower Moon. Caesars Palace Colosseum Theatre gave him a huge cheer.

The wait just got a little shorter for audiences to see Tom Cruise back in action as Ethan Hunt with Paramount/Skydance’s highly-anticipated Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One now set for domestic release on July 12 rather than July 14. That puts it in step with the start of international rollout and is a move designed to take advantage of early summer play.

Rihanna will star as Smurfette in the Untitled “Smurfs” Animated Film, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies announced at CinemaCon on Thursday.Appearing on stage, the singer and entrepreneur will also write and perform original music and serve as a producer for the film.“On behalf of our studio and our creative partners at LAFIG, we couldn’t be more excited to have found our Smurfette in one of the most beloved stars in the world,” Brian Robbins, President and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, and Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation said in a statement. “With Rihanna’s singular creative appeal and musical talents, there is an enormous opportunity to elevate the cultural touchstone of The Smurfs universe in a way that’s never been done before.”Based on the characters and works of Peyo, Untitled “Smurfs” Animated film is directed by Chris Miller, co-directed by Matt Landon, and produced by Rihanna, Jay Brown, Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, and Ryan Harris.Based on the popular animated TV series “The Smurfs,” Smurfette was created by the evil wizard Gargamel to spy on the Smurfs and sow jealousy among them.

Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor have joined the cast of of the Paramount+ and SEGA series Knuckles, with Idris Elba set to reprise role of titular character. Adam Pally, who appeared in the most recent Sonic the Hedgehog sequel will reprise role of Walt Whipple with Rory McCann guest starring. In addition, Tika Sumpter will guest star, reprising her role as Maddie.

EXCLUSIVE: More changes at Paramount+: Tanya Giles, the streaming platform’s chief programming officer, is leaving after a combined 28 years at Paramount Global and its various iterations. A rep for Paramount+ confirmed Giles’ departure to Deadline, declining further comment. There is no immediate replacement, and Giles’ decision to step down is not part of a restructuring, sources said.

South Park co-creator Trey Parker is set to direct a live-action comedy film produced by Kendrick Lamar, according to reports.The untitled collaboration between Lamar and South Park creators Parker and Matt Stone was announced last year, who were all producing the project with the rapper’s longtime manager Dave Free.According to Above The Line, Parker will now direct the film himself, from a script written by South Park producer Vernon Chatman.Production on the project was supposed to begin in spring last year, but it’s claimed Parker’s commitments to South Park pushed the schedule back to an unknown date.As per the initial announcement, the comedy film “will see the past and present coming to a head when a young Black man who is interning as a slave re-enactor at a living history museum discovers that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once owned his”.Speaking about the project, Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures, said: “On behalf of Paramount Pictures and the wider ViacomCBS family, we look forward to ushering in the first theatrical collaboration from these creative visionaries, and galvanizing audiences worldwide around a powerful storytelling experience.”South Park is currently in its 26th season, which recently attracted attention through an episode that parodied Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Lamar is set to headline festivals Outside Lands, Roskilde and Open’Er later this year, which comes after the release of his fifth studio album ‘Mr.

EXCLUSIVE: Almost 16 years ago Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott wowed audiences with their hit crime drama American Gangster, and now it looks like the the two A-listers are ready to get back together in a big way. Sources tell Deadline that Washington is in final negotiations to co-star in Scott’s sequel to his Oscar Best Picture winner Gladiator for Paramount.

Parker Finn has just signed a first-look deal with Paramount to write, produce, and direct features.

$217 million at the global box office last fall, filmmaker Parker Finn has signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures. “I am honored and thrilled to be joining the Paramount family,” Finn said in a statement.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Somebody must be flashing their pearly whites. Paramount Pictures has entered a multi-year, first-look deal with Parker Finn to write, produce and direct features.  The pact comes on the heels of Finn’s breakout horror hit “Smile,” which became a sleeper box office sensation. Finn wrote and directed the creepy tale, which went on to be the top grossing original horror movie of 2022, raking in $216 million worldwide on a $17 million budget. It was based on his short film “Laura Hasn’t Slept.” “‘Smile’s’breakthrough success is a testament to Parker’s unique and fresh filmmaking, and we are thrilled that he will make Paramount his home,” said Paramount Pictures President & CEO Brian Robbins.

Paramount Pictures has hammered a multi-year, first-look deal with Parker Finn to write, produce and direct features. 

Ahead of the SXSW world premiere and the March 31 opening of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Paramount Pictures has closed a multi-year, first look deal with the film’s directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein and their newly formed production company GoldDay under which they’ll write, direct and produce features.   

Paramount has entered a first-look, multi-year deal with GoldDay, the newly formed production company of filmmakers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The “Game Night” and “Vacation” writer-director-producer duo has teamed up with the studio and eOne on “Dungeons & Dragons: Honors Among Thieves,” which hits theaters on March 31.According to a release, GoldDay will focus on “telling unique stories that defy easy genre classification,” with the intention of creating “entertainment that takes viewers on a journey they haven’t been on before.

After expanding his role to include Nickelodeon Studios back in March, Paramount COO Andrew Gumpert is exiting the Melrose lot, effective this week. The announcement as just made by studio Boss Brian Robbins tonight.

Amanda Bynes, along with fellow former All That cast members Lori Beth Denberg, Danny Tamberelli and Kel Mitchell, will reunite at 90’s Con for the show’s largest reunion since the popular Nickelodeon series wrapped 18 years ago. It also marks Bynes’ first major public appearance since her conservatorship ended last year. Hosted by Thats4Entertainment, the convention runs March 17-19 in Hartford, CT.

Ahead of the opening of Damien Chazelle’s $80M early Hollywood opus Babylon, the Brian Robbins-run Paramount Pictures studio is doubling down on the filmmaker and his producer wife Olivia Hamilton with a multi-year, first look directing and producing deal with their Wild Chickens Productions.