An insider in the whole Paramount sale saga says Shari Redstone wants to make her deal with David Ellison’s Skydance and partners.
This is despite an offer of $26 billion all in cash from Sony and Apollo Management.
But why would Redstone want to give her father’s company to Sony? Aside from Spider Man, Sony Pictures has little to offer. This morning a horror movie called “Tarot” reported $750,000 in Thursday previews. The new “Ghostbusters” has fallen flat. “Madame Web” is a bust.
Sony is actually in the middle of re-releasing old Spider Man movies in lieu of new pictures. A Will Smith “Bad Boys” movie is coming that some consider a slap in the face. Otherwise, Sony is banking on Garfield the cat making a huge comeback.
I’m told Redstone — despite conflicting “insider” rumors — wants the Ellison deal for Paramount. She may be looking at Sony and thinking “Anyone but you” (sorry, had to do it). Also, if Paramount is subsumed into Sony, it will disappear. At least with Ellison, there’s a chance of carrying on the tradition of the venerable 100 year old studio.
Stay tuned…
