Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Paramount and Domain Capital Group Ink Feature Slate Co-Finance Deal

The slate deal locks in the Patrick R. Leardo-run investment group as a key partner for the studio as it looks to transition to Skydance Media ownership this year.

Paramount Pictures lot
The iconic Melrose Gate of Paramount Pictures | Mark Davis/Getty Images

As it prepares for an ownership transition, Paramount Pictures has inked a 30-title co-financing slate deal with an investment group, Atlanta-based Domain Capital, that looks to back features across a wide range of genres and budget levels.

Upcoming titles that were named as part of the deal include Jack Quaid action thriller Novocaine, the Rihanna-led animated The Smurfs Movie - a live-action/CG-animated film adaptation of the classic comic book IP created by Belgian writer Peyo that is slated for a July 18 release - as well as the Liam Neeson remake The Naked Gun and Glen Powell’s Edgar Wright-directed The Running Man. Domain has also previously partnered with Paramount on Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II as well as holiday hit Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Based on the Sonic video game franchise, this film has already generated US$472 million in worldwide ticket sales against a US$122-million budget.

“We are privileged to be partnering with Paramount Pictures and participating in this slate of films,” said Pete Chiappetta, Domain’s Managing Director of Media, Entertainment & Technology. “The team at Paramount is dedicated to producing quality content that we hope will continue to build on the value of Domain’s film library for our investors. We are grateful to the team at Paramount that worked alongside us to kickstart this strategic collaboration.”

Paramount Pictures chief operating officer Courtney Armstrong stated, “We are thrilled to be in business and partnering with Domain to bring audiences everywhere world-class entertainment. We look forward to building a long and successful relationship.”

Terms weren’t disclosed in regards to how much Domain will cover on each theatrical release.

The multiyear deal is a long-term commitment as the studio conglomerate looks to a new era of ownership. Domain, run by CEO Patrick R. Leardo, said the co-financing slate deal could be extended to 40 features if certain unnamed benchmarks were met. The investment firm had entered into a multiyear co-financing deal in 2023 with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group that included backing the studio’s highest grossing movie of all-time, Barbie, at $1.44 billion. Other Domain co-funded pics included Aquaman and the Lost KingdomWonka and The Color Purple. Domain finances some 10% per each title on the Warner Bros. slate.

Managing Director Pete Chiappetta led the deal for Domain Capital. Paul Neinstein, via Project X Entertainment, acted as an advisor for Domain Capital Group on the deal with Cataldo Law and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton acting as legal counsel for Domain Capital Group.

In July, Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone inked a deal with David Ellison and Skydance Media to merge in a deal that brings together the producer of Top Gun: Maverick with the owner of Paramount’s film studio as well as CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount+ and other assets. The agreement is set to close in the first half of 2025 if it clears regulatory hurdles.

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'Tiny Chef's Spooky Stump Spectacular' Wins 'Best TV/Media - Preschool' Award at 52nd Annual Annie Awards

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, has announced the exciting news that Nickelodeon has received a raft of nominations in the 52nd Annual Annie Awards™, which recognizes the year’s best in the field of animation!

Update (2/11) - The Tiny Chef Show Halloween episode "Tiny Chef's Spooky Stump Spectacular" picked up the "Best TV/Media - Preschool" award at the 52nd Annual Annie Awards!

Tiny Chef wearing a pumpkin Halloween costume and playing the saxophone

  • The Tiny Chef Show Halloween episode "Tiny Chef's Spooky Stump Spectacular" (Imagine Entertainment, Tiny Chef Productions and Nickelodeon Productions) and the Wonder Pets: In The City episode "Save Tate?" (A Nickelodeon Production in association with Apple) both received a nomination in the "Best TV/Media - Preschool" category in the 2024 Annie Awards, along with the Gabby's Dollhouse episode "Pandy's Bad Day" (DreamWorks Animation);
  • Finally, the Nickelodeon Paramount+ Original animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been nominated for five awards in the 52nd Annual Annie Awards:
    • The Tales of the TMNT episode "Bishop Makes Her Move!" (Rustam Hasanov) has been nominated for "Best Character Design - TV/Media";
    • Ayo Edebiri has been nominated in the "Best Voice Acting - TV/Media" category for voicing the character April O'Neil in the episode "Splinter and April Fight a Goldfish";
    • The episode "The Pearl" has been nominated for "Best Direction - TV/Media" (Alan Wan, Colin Heck), "Best Storyboarding - TV/Media" (Laura Gille, Sebrina Gao, Kevin Molina-Ortiz), and "Best Editorial - TV/Media" (Caleb Yoder) awards.


Elsewhere in the 52nd Annual Annie Awards:

  • The Paramount+ South Park event "The End of Obesity" (MTV Entertainment Studios) has been nominated for "Best TV/Media - Mature";
  • Various episodes of the Paramount+ animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks (Raymond Dunster; CBS’s Eye Animation Productions, Titmouse, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment) have been nominated for "Best Character Animation - TV/Media";
  • The Paramount Pictures blockbuster Gladiator II (Kyle Dunlevy, Philipp Winterstein, Gil Daniel, Michael Elder, Julien Bagory; Production Company: Paramount; FX Production Company: Framestore LTD) has been nominated for "Best Character Animation - Live Action" 
  • And Brian Tyree Henry has been nominated for "Best Voice Acting - Feature" for voicing D-16 / Megatron in Paramount Animation's hit theatrical Transformers One.


A full list of  52nd Annual Annie Awards™ nominees can be found at https://www.annieawards.org/nominations. For a full list of winners, visit http://www.annieawards.org/winners

The 52nd Annie Awards™ is set for Saturday, February 8, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Pre-reception and Red Carpet begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m., and after party immediately following the ceremony.

The Annie Awards™ cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Sponsored Films, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards.

"We are so very thrilled at the nominations this year - it exemplifies the range of talent and approaches to our diverse art form,” says ASIFA-Hollywood Executive Director, Aubry Mintz. “The juried award winners honor the past, present and future of animation. ASIFA-Hollywood’s Annie Awards™ celebrate artists that have made incredible achievements in both the commercial studio world, and the independent filmmaking arenas, recognizing the impact that is made to improve equity and inclusion, and acknowledge innovation as we look towards the horizon."

ASIFA-Hollywood is the world’s foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the Art of Animation and celebrating the people who create it. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation), supports a wide range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, Animation Aid Foundation, Animation Educators’ Forum (AEF), film preservation, open source support, special events, screenings and of course, the annual Annie Awards™. 

Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards™ have grown in scope and stature for five decades. For more information on the Annie Awards™, please visit www.annieawards.org. For ticket information, please visit www.annieawards.org/tickets.

The first presenter of the evening was kept secret until he walked onto the stage. Actor Steve Buscemi and former member of the FDNY presented the first two Annie Awards, along with local Los Angeles firefighter Brian McGrath. ASIFA-Hollywood announced at tonight's ceremony an unprecedented fundraising campaign, AnimAID, created in collaboration with industry co-workers and animation studios, to provide financial support for those in the animation community who have lost so much in the recent LA fires. AnimAID plans to also partner with Sotheby's this spring for a prestigious online auction of animation art, followed by other events to come. For more information on AnimAID and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://www.asifa-hollywood.org/animaid-donate/.


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Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!


Originally published: January 03, 2024 under the title "Nickelodeon Receives Raft of Nominations In 52nd Annual Annie Awards".

H/T: Variety; Additional source: PR Newswire.

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Nickelodeon to Premiere New 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Episodes In February 2025

Get set to dive back down to Bikini Bottom with brand new episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants, premiering this February on Nickelodeon!

'SpongeBob SquarePants' cast

Friday, February 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. - Squidness Protection/Dome Alone: Squidward's amazing new life in witness protection is threatened after SpongeBob and Patrick discover his whereabouts. / While stuck in her dome, Sandy suspects Plankton's up to no good and recruits Patrick to investigate. (#312.)

Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. - Wary Gary/Pinned: SpongeBob goes to extreme lengths to trick Gary into going to the vet. / SpongeBob becomes desperate when he accidentally gets pinned under his exercise equipment and must wait for help to arrive.

Friday, February 28, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. - Jeffy T's Prankwell Emporium/A Taste of Plankton: Squidward's prankster dad visits and brings all sorts of gags with him (much to Squidward's annoyance) / Plankton tries to get a taste of the secret formula by attaching himself to SpongeBob's tongue. (#314.)



Watch the SpongeBob SquarePants Universe, including Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years and The Patrick Star Show on Nickelodeon and Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com.



Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!

CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!


Originally published: January 30, 2025.


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Nickelodeon to Premiere 'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' on Monday, February 17

Nickelodeon will premiere the hit Paramount+ Original animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Monday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT)!

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an all-new original 2D animated series. All 12 episodes of the premiere season of Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originally made their debut on Friday, August 9 on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada, and on Saturday, August 10 in the U.K. and Australia. The series also airs on Nickelodeon channels internationally.

From the universe of the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles explores the adventures of everyone's favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers onto the streets of NYC. Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey are faced with new threats and team up with old allies to survive both teenage life and villains lurking in the shadows of the Big Apple.

The series serves to bridge the time between the critically-acclaimed feature film Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, released in 2023, and its upcoming sequel, currently slated to be released in theaters on October 9, 2026. A second season of Tales of the TMNT is also in the pipeline, set to be released in 2025.


Reprising their roles from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem are Micah Abbey (Cousins for Life) as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. (The Chi) as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu (The Walking Dead: World Beyond) as Leonardo, Brady Noon (Family Switch) as Raphael and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) as April O'Neil.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles guest stars include Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live) as Rod, a lazy rich kid who loves Mutants so much, he'll do everything in his power to become one, and Alanna Ubach (Ted) as Bishop, a brilliant inventor who believes mutants are the greatest danger to humanity and that all of them, including the Turtles, must be eliminated. Additional guest stars include:  Rose Byrne as Leatherhead; Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut; Post Malone as Ray Fillet; Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Pigeon Pete; Timothy Olyphant as Goldfin; Jillian Bell as Lee the Eel; and Danny Trejo as Mustang Sally.

The series is produced by Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures, who brought audiences last summer's smash-hit Paramount Pictures film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is executive produced by Chris Yost (The Mandalorian, Thor: Ragnarok) and Alan Wan (Blue Eye Samurai, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [2012 Series]). Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, TV Series Animation, Nickelodeon, and Nikki Price, Director of Development and Executive in Charge of Production.

Stream the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, including Mutant Mayhem on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!


Buy TMNT merch on the OFFICIAL Paramount Shop: https://www.paramountshop.com/pages/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles

Subscribe to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles OFFICIAL YouTube channel - the ultimate home for all things TMNT! Here you’ll find Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello’s best moments from all your favorite TMNT series. Join the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their fight against evil, and be the first to get notified of exclusive original content you won’t find anywhere else! https://at.nick.com/TMNTSubscribe


Originally published: January 18, 2025.

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Nickelodeon to Premiere 'PAW Patrol: Air Rescue' in February 2025

When the stakes are high, the PAW Patrol takes to the sky to put trouble into a spin, so hang tight for a supersonic rescue mode in PAW Patrol: Air Rescue, premiering Monday, February 17, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon! The all-new PAW Patrol theme introduces all-new locations, vehicles and gear.

PAW Patrol: Air Rescue

Monday, February 17, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. - Air Rescue: Pups Save the Airport Opening: Sweetie tries to take the Princess' place at the grand opening. (#11.; new theme premiere)

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. - Air Rescue: Pups Stop a Rocket-Powered Pogo Stick; Danny's rocket-boosted pogo stick accidentally causes a fire; the Air Rescue team must save Danny. (#11.)

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. - Air Rescue: Pups Stop a Rocket-Powered Pogo Stick/Air Rescue: Pups Save the Sky-High Stunt Show: Danny's rocket boosted pogo stick accidentally causes a fire! Now it's up to the entire Air Rescue team to save Danny and stop the forest from going up in flames. Then, when Francois' big stunt show goes horribly awry, the Air Rescue pups are on a roll! (#11; only "Air Rescue: Pups Save the Sky-High Stunt Show" is new.)

Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. - Air Rescue: Pups vs the Hum-Cloud: Humdinger builds a mechanical rain cloud to sabotage the Air Rescue Pups' Air Show. (#11.)

About PAW Patrol: Air Rescue

When there's trouble in the skies above and beyond Adventure Bay, it's time for some high-octane
AIR RESCUE!

Launching from their all-new ADVENTURE BAY AIRPORT, the pups will suit up in aerial rescue gear and take to the skies to save the day!

What's New:
- New Airport HQ in Adventure Bay
- New Air Rescue Vehicles

Content:
- 4x11 Min Carts
- 2x22 Min Specials

Nickelodeon and Paramount will release their first PAW Patrol: Air Rescue DVD on March 4!


PAW Patrol fans can stream full PAW Patrol episodes and movies, including The Mighty Movie, on Paramount+. Try it FREE today at ParamountPlus.com.

Shop all things PAW Patrol on the official Paramount Shop.

Subscribe to the official Rubble & Crew YouTube channel!: https://www.youtube.com/@RubbleOfficial


Originally published: January 12, 2025.

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